Saturday, March 20th, 2004


Dear #OKers,

There is an issue I must address tonight, an issue I expect every attendee 
to comprehend wholly, without the slightest need to differ, because no 
remonstrations or counterarguments will be heeded. 

Over the last few months, and perhaps even more accurately, over the 
past year, the channel #occult_knowledge has been subject to full 
transmutation. Those who have been here a long time like I have must 
reminisce the original intent this channel: To discuss the occult, and *not* 
to congregate occultists and magicians in one place to hang out. The 
former premise was the one transmute into the latter. The concern I want 
to impart through this memorandum is not only my own, but also of many 
other attendees, some even AOps and SOps. Many faults have been 
detected by me and others; furthermore, I will share them, enumerate them, 
and whatever comes to mind at the moment, all of this to share the 
vexation it causes me to see a perfectly decent discussion room go ape over 
asinine behavior, more particularly of a secular nature. This is a 
message I typed down but minutes ago:

[22:39] <Inquisitor> I have discussed with several people about this, 
and have found it unacceptable that this channel is every day more of a 
social club than an occult agora of sorts. I do expect that the people 
currently present will understand and cut back their trivialities, not 
entirely, though some discreetness would be appreciated. Frankly, I 
have not had an interesting discussion here in months and I currently 
loathe that my mind's eye envisions this triviality going on and on 
evermore.

For one, the use of constant /me commands is becoming utterly irksome. 
It used to have a use until some rather vivacious people decided it 
was time to adopt this aforementioned command to give hypothetical licks, 
kisses, hugs, pounces, and so forth. The /me situation has gone 
overboard lately, and it incites the most inane comments to come forth. It 
is certain to me that if they are not used proactively in an interesting 
discussion, they just create diversion and silliness. Add to this the 
continuous preference for casual conversation over the occult and we 
have the proverbial chatroom. This, people, has to stop, and will stop. 
It is not my wish to stop you from talking about general life 
sometimes, it is evidently permitted; but measure from all of you will be from 
now on petitioned by the operators, and hopefully the very attendees 
will help us keep this in line for those who wish not follow this advice. 

The message I typed in the channel is enough to make you all understand 
what my motives are, and what I expect to make of this place. Come up 
with occult topics, discuss them, make this a room where you can 
actually *learn*. If you have nothing of value to add, do not do licks, 
pounces ands start a chain of hypothetical stupidity. We are quite fed up 
with it.

Be cogent at all times, and discuss wisely,

-- Inquisitor
Channel SOp