/------------------------------\
| The Respectable SysOps Guide |
|    by:  Michael Rapp         |   LAST REVISED: 12/17/90
|    aka: Captain Vizor        |
| SysOp:  USS Vulcanix         |
|         713/774-0088         |
\------------------------------/

This is a guide that ALL SysOps should follow if they are to be viewed by the
modem world as "Respectable", and their BBSes known a "Quality" BBS.

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1. Respectable SysOps don't put up a board without a hard drive. They already
   have a 20MB or greater one made by a major company like Seagate.

2. Respectable SysOps have 2400 baud or greater.  The one exception is that
   chat boards may have 300 because of the expense of 5 or more phone lines and
   modems.

3. Respectable SysOps do not run their BBS when the fan has broken down.

4. Respectable SysOps turn off their monitor as often as possible.

5. Respectable SysOps don't care if a user is going to put up a board next
   week.

6. Respectable SysOps try to help the user get his/her board started by
   offering hints and tips.

7. Respectable SysOps who operate boards that require money for access do not
   give free validation to someone just because they run "THE ULTIMATE BBS" and
   have a 250 MB hard drive.

8. Respectable SysOps laugh when users say 'I have your voice number' or 'I am
   a Phed'.

9. Respectable SysOps are very annoyed when users leave numbers like
   'CAN-NOT-TELL' or 'PRI-VAT-E!!!'.

10. Respectable SysOps do not make up excuses to leave a person with whom they
    are chatting like 'My dad is calling me'.

11. Respectable SysOps NEVER have pirated software on their boards.

12. Respectable SysOps ALWAYS check uploaded software for viruses before
    putting it online.

13. Respectable SysOps have a dedicated computer with a dedicated phone line
    and modem for their board.  They never take it down except to run BBS
    maintinence or to call a few BBSes that they like.  They never tie up the
    board for more than an hour calling other BBS systems.

14. Respectable SysOps don't say 'L8r', 'k-K00l','B@SS' or any other related
    terms.

15. Respectable SysOps when on chat boards do not use macros every five minutes
    saying "Call the SPECTRUM ELITE! ???/???-????".

16. Respectable SysOps NEVER leave mail to users asking them to post.

17. Respectable SysOps get EXTREMELY angry if their boards are crashed
    intentionally by other users. If unintentionally, they go get a Pepsi and
    try to fix it.

18. Respectable SysOps ALWAYS make a backup of their user list and other
    important files every week.

19. Respectable SysOps don't care about "improper sign-offs".

20. Respectable SysOps don't think that they are God and are better than
    everyone else.

21. Respectable SysOps help the new users, not cut them down.

22. Respectable SysOps NEVER have a message base such as "ABUSE THAT USER".

23. Respectable SysOps don't care what another user posts about him/her on a
    "kid" or "looser" or "sleazy" board.

24. Respectable SysOps put up the BBS as a service.

25. Real SysOps don't get out their sector editor and put their name on every
    piece of software they have in hopes of gaining national recognition.

26. Respectable SysOps NEVER let users threaten them in any way.

27. Respectable SysOps NEVER EVER answer their board line by voice.

28. Respectable SysOps NEVER chat with users when they themselves are in a bad
    mood.

29. Respectable SysOps know that users tend to like SysOps who take the time to
    chat to work out a problem the user is having online.

30. Respectable SysOps always wait at least 15 seconds before breaking into
    chat.

32. Respectable SysOps never type their fastest.  Users respect SysOps who are
    accurate.

33. Respectable SysOps NEVER say "My board is the best" or "if you're going to
    pay, make it my board", this will more discourage users than attract them.

34. Respectable SysOps NEVER copy an obvious, original idea from another board.
    Users admire SysOp that come up with their own ideas.

35. Respectable SysOps try to modify the original BBS software as much as
    possible.  Users tend to get bored if they call boards that just leave the
    software exactly in the original "generic" condition.
