Why am I banned

Channel Bans and Network Bans

Network staff do not intervene in channel politics or bans. If you have been banned and believe you should be unbanned, you **must** contact the **channel operator**—preferably the one who imposed the ban—or the **channel founder**. For channel-specific bans, please reach out to the **channel founder** or a member of that channel's staff. Network administration only intervenes in channel matters if they violate our **Acceptable Use Policy**.

Helpful Resources

• 🌐 **Why Am I Banned?**: Find out here

Finding Out Who You Can Contact

Who Banned You?

To determine which ban is preventing you from joining a channel, use the following command:

/whyban #channel

Example:

Ban coolguy!*webchat@783.kpl.493.227.IP matches coolguy (set by mysticfox on 2024-03-18 19:45:23 UTC)

If you're still in the channel, you can also view the channel's ban list by typing:

/mode #channel +b

If you're unsure which ban applies to you, perform a whois on yourself:

/whois YourNick

Notes

• If you accidentally banned yourself and have sufficient access, you can unban yourself with the following command:

 /msg ChanServ UNBAN #channel

• To unban someone else, use this command:

 /msg ChanServ UNBAN #channel -b banmask

Who is the Channel Founder?

To view the channel's information, including the founder's nickname, use this command:

/msg ChanServ INFO #channel

Example:

-ChanServ- Information on #Giggles:
-ChanServ- Founder    : Jalapenio
-ChanServ- Successor  : Tommy
-ChanServ- Registered : Apr 25 18:51:57 2022 +0100 (1 year, 4 weeks, 4 days ago)
-ChanServ- Mode lock  : +nt-lk
-ChanServ- Flags      : Secure, KeepTopic, Fantasy
-ChanServ- Prefix     : ! (Default)
-ChanServ- *** End of Info ***

Messaging the Channel Operator or Founder

To send a private message to the channel operator or founder, use the following command:

/query nick Your message here

If they are offline, you can send a memo with:

/msg MemoServ SEND nick Your message here

If they decide to maintain your ban, kindly respect their decision. Channel staff enforce their own policies, and channel matters, including bans, are at the discretion of the channel founder.

Network Bans

If you find yourself banned from HybridIRC, it is likely due to a violation of our network policies. Bans are typically enforced for reasons such as inappropriate behavior, disruptive activities, or breaches of our **Acceptable Use Policy**. The specific reason for your ban can vary based on the nature and severity of the incident.

If you are unsure of the reason for your ban or believe it was issued in error, we recommend reaching out to our support team for further clarification. We are committed to a fair and transparent process.

Common Reasons for Network Bans

• **Unsolicited Advertising**: Promoting products, services, or content without prior consent is prohibited on HybridIRC.
• **Malicious Attacks**: Any form of harmful behavior, including but not limited to distributing malware, launching network attacks, or engaging in actions that disrupt the service or its users, will result in a ban.
• **Engagement in Illegal Activities**: Utilizing automated bots, scripts, or other tools for malicious purposes such as spamming or creating disturbances violates our terms and is strictly forbidden.
• **Harassment or Abuse**: Any form of harassment, including bullying, abusive language, or targeting other users with hostile behavior, is not tolerated and can result in a ban.
• **Impersonation**: Pretending to be another user or staff member to deceive others is strictly prohibited.
• **Evading Bans**: Attempts to evade an existing ban, such as by creating new accounts or using proxies, will result in extended or permanent bans.
• **Inappropriate Content**: Sharing or promoting offensive, graphic, or inappropriate material that violates community standards will lead to disciplinary action, including bans.

Network Ban Durations

Ban durations vary depending on the severity of the violation. While under a ban, you will not be able to access the network. If you believe your ban is unjust or have any questions, please contact our support team for assistance.

DNSBL (DNS Blacklists)

DNSBLs are used to block connections from known sources of spam and malicious activity. If your IP address is listed on a DNSBL, you may be blocked from accessing our network as a precautionary measure.

If you are banned for any of the following reasons:

• **Tor Exit Nodes**: Access via Tor exit nodes is not permitted on this network.
• **DroneBL**: If you find yourself listed on DroneBL, please visit their website and follow the provided instructions for IP address removal.
• **EFnet RBL**: If you are listed on the EFnet RBL, visit their website for IP address removal instructions.