Rules and sanctions

All users of ScoutLink, including our Webchat/IRC, TeamSpeak, and Minecraft services, must follow our rules at all times. You can find our rules listed below, as well as the different sanctions carried out when the rules are broken, and how to appeal. For more information on how to stay safe on our network please visit www.scoutlink.net/safety.

Please note that your use of ScoutLink’s online services is subject to our Privacy Policy.

Rules

  1. Always follow your Scout/Guide Law.
  2. We do not allow the exchange of any explicit material.
  3. Do not flood, spam, or otherwise misuse our services.
    This includes repeatedly sending the same text, or sending random characters/words that don’t make sense.
  4. Unauthorised bots are not permitted on the network.
    This includes automated scripts and clients.
  5. Follow our safety information and do not share personal information.
    This includes email, phone number, social media, etc.
  6. Users or Volunteers over 18 years of age are not permitted to interact with underage (u18) users over private messages.
    They can interact only on public/supervised (2 or more Ops) channels.

It isn’t possible for our rules to cover every eventuality. We trust our Operators to use their discretion, as well as their common sense when dealing with issues. This is why we require that you follow direction from our Operators. They are here to keep you safe.

Additional rules for TeamSpeak

In addition to the above rules, these are extra rules that apply to our TeamSpeakers:

  • Do not idle on the server for more than 30 minutes
  • Do not broadcast sound files or have music in the background.

Additional rules for Minecraft

In addition to the above rules, these are extra rules that apply to our Minecrafters:

  • Deliberately destroying or stealing others players work is not allowed. If you didn’t build or collect it, it’s not yours to change or steal.
  • Hacked clients, mods that offer added functionality and gives an unfair advantage is not allowed. The same goes for using glitches or bugs for your or others gain. Optifine, shaders and texturepacks that does not alter functionality is allowed. If in doubt, ask the Minecraft Team.
  • Advertising other services, games or servers is not allowed.
  • Accounts and/or ingame items and money should never be exchanged for real life items, money or services.
  • Inappropriate/sexual/explicit usernames, skins, builds and similar is not allowed.
  • Do not give away location or role of other players in minigames like werewolf. No teaming up in minigames that doesnt have that functionality built in. Its unfair to everyone.
  • Your account is your responsibility. Keep your username and password safe. Using services to gain access to other accounts that you havent bought is also forbidden.
  • Building 1×1 paths and 1×1 towers is forbidden.
  • Keep redstone and mob count as low as possible. They are resource intensive. If you are making something that uses a lot of this, ask the Minecraft team for permission first.

Sanctions

Kick

You have been kicked from #channel-name by operator-name (Spamming/flooding the channel. See scoutlink.net/rules)

This means that an operator (also known as a moderator or ‘op’) has removed you from the channel for a specified reason. A kick is not permanent and you will be able to return to the channel. You should make sure you know what you did wrong before returning, and read the rules again or ask the operator who kicked you.

Ban

Cannot join #channel-name (You are banned)

If you continue to break the rules after being kicked, this will result in a channel ban. This is normally used alongside a kick at the same time. A ban prevents you from rejoining the channel for a specific length of time which will normally be stated in the kick message. A ban will give you time to think about your behaviour in the channel.

Kill

* You were killed by operator-name ((Spamming/flooding multiple channels. See scoutlink.net/rules)) Closing link: your-nick [your-username@your-hostmask] (Killed (operator-name (Spamming/flooding multiple channels. See scoutlink,net/rules)))

If you get a message like this, this means that the Operator has closed your connection to the network. Check the ‘kill’ message to find out why you have been disconnected. Kills are used for repeated rule-breaking after multiple warnings, or as a first sanction in exceptional situations.

G-Line (network ban)

-chestnut.scoutlink.net- *** You're banned! Email banned@scoutlink.net with the ERROR line below for help. Please also vsit www.scoutlink.net for our rules. Closing link: (your-username@your-ip) [G-Lined: Set by operator-name. 1hr duration. Spamming/flooding in mulitple channels. See scoutlink.net/rules]

If you see something like this when you try to connect, this means that you were banned from the whole Scoutlink IRC Network. Such a ban is only used if you repeatedly break the rules or for extreme behaviour.

Automatic G-Line (network ban)

You're banned! Email banned@scoutlink.net with the ERROR line below for help. Closing link: (your-username@your-ip) [G-Lined: TOR exit node detected]

This is an automated ban. We use a blacklist for TOR exit routers, which is a specific type of connection that people use to get around bans or restrictions. We do not have the ability to make exceptions to the blacklist. For more information about TOR see https://www.torproject.org/about/overview.html.en. Contact your system administrator to obtain more information or for another way to connect without being banned.

You're banned! Email banned@scoutlink.net with the ERROR line below for help. Closing link: (your-username@your-ip) [G-Lined: You are listed in DroneBL. Please visit http://dronebl.org/lookup.do?ip=your-ip]

This is another type of automated ban. We subscribe to a blacklist of computers which are known to engage in malicious activities or are infected with malware (known as a ‘botnet’). You should thoroughly malware scan your computer and follow the instructions in the link. Please note that the link in the G-line reason is unique to you, as it will contain your IP address.

Appealing and complaints

If you have been banned and would like to appeal against it, go to scoutlink.net/banned and fill out the form, and then the relevant person will contact you about the ban. If you are still unhappy after this, you can ask for your appeal to be passed to the ScoutLink Council. Decisions made by the Council are final.

If you have a complaint, go to scoutlink.net/contact, select “help@scoutlink.net” from the drop-down, and fill out the form. We will get back to you as soon as possible. If you are still unhappy after this, you can ask for your complaints to be passed to the ScoutLink Council. Decisions made by the Council are final.

For any safeguarding questions or concerns please contact safeguarding@scoutlink.net and see scoutlink.net/safety for more information.