blog: umode +g

_posts/2015-04-02-umode+g.md

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+---
+layout: post
+comments: true
+title: "Using umode +g / blocking unauthorized PMs"
+category: [english]
+tags: [english, irc]
+---
+
+Since the [Limnoria episode](% post_url 2015-03-25-leaving-bots-life.md %})
+I have been blocking PMs from everyone, because multiple people thought
+that as I am not part of any those communities anymore, the best way to get
+support is PMing me which is wrong.
+
+I get tired with telling people to go to proper channels, so I told my
+ZNC to set umode +g automatically at freenode which accidentally went
+to all networks (as I didn't have network level \*perform loaded), but I
+am happy this way.
+
+* I don't receive any unwanted PMs, so PM [harassement] has dropped.
+* People learn basic politeness by having to ask before PMing.
+
+[harassement]:https://github.com/Mikaela/freenode-harassement
+
+So what if someone wants to PM me and does that without asking?
+
+The sender sees the following:
+
+> Mikaela :is in +g mode (server-side ignore.)
+> Mikaela :has been informed that you messaged them.
+
+And I see the following:
+
+> Michaela ~Mikaela@PirateParty/FI/Member :is messaging you, and you have
+  umode +g.
+
+All messages appear in server buffer and then I have some options:
+
+* If I know Michaela and I trust that she has some good reason to PM me,
+  I can `/accept Michaela` and ask her to send the message again.
+    * I know Michaela, because Michaela is my altnick on many networks and
+      and this example comes from [PirateIRC] which is first network that
+      was open and that doesn't freeze [HexChat] when attaching to ZNC.
+* If I have no idea who is Michaela, I can whois her to see if we share
+  any common channels and ask on those what she wanted to talk in PM
+  and if I see reason for it, I `/accept Michaela`.
+* If I know that Michaela is some horrible person on channel, I can ignore
+  the notification on PM attempt as she is not going to say anything nice
+  or that is worth hearing, very likely harassement...
+
+[PirateIRC]:http://pirateirc.net/
+[HexChat]:https://hexchat.github.io/
+
+If I had done `/accept Michaela`, she would be able to PM me until
+
+* I removed the authorization using `/accept -Mikaela`
+* I or Michaela disconnected
+* Michaela changed nick
+    * **I am not fully sure about this**
+
+I can also check which people are allowed to PM me using `/accept *`. PMing
+someone automatically adds them to `/accept` on modern IRCds if you are on
+umode +g.