DALnetizen - Oper Interview

Oper Interview - LadyFizz

If there is a DALnet IRCop you would love to see an interview with, drop us an email to zine@dal.net with your suggestion.

DALnet takes pride in its wide variety of friendly dedicated opers that try their best to offer assistance when needed and accommodate users in every way they can to ensure their stay on our network is safe and enjoyable. The existence and success of DALnet relies on the good will of our staff. From our big list of devoted individuals I chose one of our many role models she goes by the nick LadyFizz.

Angelwink: Who are you LadyFizz as a person, and as an oper?
LadyFizz: I'm just a normal person just like anyone else who has gotten themselves addicted to this IRC thing :) As an Oper, I just do the best I can to help with whatever comes along.

Angelwink: What do you do in life?
LadyFizz: I've done various jobs in real life. I've worked in public relations, substitute teaching, athletic coaching, Internet resources for a local school, helping friends get addicted to this Internet craze, part-time secretary/bookkeeper and most importantly raising a family.

Angelwink: What are the things that you like mostly and the things that you dislike?
LadyFizz: I'm a pretty easy going person most of the time, but I'd have to say the things I dislike the most are dishonesty and those who ask for 'favors'. I've been fortunate to have met some great people on IRC and we have formed lasting friendships that will go on for many years :)

Angelwink: What are your hobbies (aside from being an IRC addict *G*)
LadyFizz: My hobbies revolve around family, sports and traveling. I grew up in a sports family. I feel sports have a lot to offer. Discipline, teamwork, time management, personal interactions, respect for authority and peers are just a few things that are learned through sports. I've been fortunate to travel to many great cities, but there are so many more to see and I hope I can cover a lot more in my lifetime :)

Angelwink: What's your favorite phrase/word/quote?
LadyFizz: As corny as it may sound, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That good old Golden Rule can get you far in life :)

Angelwink: When were you first introduced to this network? how was the experience?
LadyFizz: I first started on EFnet then migrated to Undernet for year or so. During that time I found DALnet in late '95 when there were probably 500 users or less. I can't remember the exact number. I just remember meeting friends there because it was quiet and small and it was easy to talk without the interruptions of lamers. I got wrapped up in helping people on #mirc on undernet and eventually met ducky on DALnet who convinced me that DALnet was the place to be :) The rest is history :)

Angelwink: Tell me about your nickname, where did it come from?
LadyFizz: To be honest, I can't remember where the Fizz part of it came from. That's the nick I first started using. I do remember having to strike a deal with a guy on EFnet who also used the nick Fizz. He used it on EFnet and I used it on Undernet. Then a friend dubbed me LadyFizz: and there you have it.. LadyFizz: was born :)

Angelwink: You're the founder of #mIRC mind telling us a little about the channel please?
LadyFizz: #mIRC is a help channel dedicated to tech support with the popular chat client mIRC. We have a great group of channel operators there with varying knowledge of mIRC and computers in general. While we try to keep the topic to help with mIRC, the ops may occasionally take that extra step and help a user with another subject in which they are proficient. The channel ops on #mIRC make that channel what it is today... they're the best :)

Angelwink: When did you receive your first O:line and what server was it?
LadyFizz: Unlike others who know their anniversary date, I don't have the exact date when I received my first O:line, but it was sometime in mid '97. I think I was in such shock when it happened that the first few months were a blur :) My first server was scorpion.* which delinked soon after I got my O:line, then dragon.* server picked up our staff. I then moved to orion.* then settled on liberty.* in June of 1998, thanks to toolman :)

Angelwink: As you first started, were you given a hard time by anyone whether opers or users? What were the procedures that you took to deal with it?
LadyFizz: I can't say that I was given a hard time by anyone, but as with any new opers, we were all watched closely and encouraged to ask questions of our trainers and other more experienced opers. Things haven't changed that much over the years :) When I did encounter situations I wasn't sure of, I would always go to one of my trainers or another oper whom I trusted and respected their judgment and advice.

Angelwink: How was your life affected by your responsibility as being an IRCop?
LadyFizz: My online life changed a lot. At first it took time away from my friends. It also showed me where the true friendships were. It was difficult to find that balance between the oper duties and my own time. I hope I've found that balance for the most part. If I slip, I have a couple of friends who smack me back to reality when I get too involved and frustrated :)

Angelwink: What would you say are the positive/negative things about being an Oper on DALnet?
LadyFizz: The positive things about being an oper on DALnet are the truly caring opers I have met over the years. Always there to listen or help with just about anything that comes along. They are opers who have put a lot of time into making the network a better place and doing the best job they can to make sure everyone has a pleasant experience here. The negative thing about being an oper is the frustration we encounter with people who feel it's necessary to pass off trojans/flood/clone and generally make IRC life miserable for all of us.

Angelwink: Was there any memorable situation that you'll never forget when you started as an IRCop? any funny incident that happened to you?
LadyFizz: I'll never forget the first time I opered on DALnet. I typed the /oper command and poof! all these windows popped up in front of me with information scrolling through them. I just sat and stared at the monitor seeing a totally new world on IRC. There was so much information passing before my eyes it was hard to process it all at once :)

Angelwink: You were once a mentee, how does it feel to be a mentor now?
LadyFizz: I don't really think of myself as a mentor, per see. I just try to repay the kindness to others that was shown to me when I first got on IRC and received my first O:line. I try to be available to any other oper for anything I can help them with. I was helped by some very special people whom I deeply respect. They were always available to help with situations that came up. They helped to make my transition into the oper world a much more pleasant experience. I've tried to follow in their footsteps.

Angelwink: You're not part of any DALnet teams as I noticed, is there a reason? :)
LadyFizz: I was lucky enough to have a hand in the creation of the current oper training program. That was a program that had fallen to the side for a time and I felt it was a necessary part of becoming a new oper on DALnet and that it needed to be reinstated. There were many of us involved in a presentation to the EB for this new program and when it was approved we were on our way :) After about 3 years of doing training, I found my online time and real life was starting to revolve around setting up training times at all hours of the day and night. At that point, I decided it was best to step down and get my real life back in order :)

Angelwink: "What's the most difficult thing about your role that you have had to face with the dynamic changes of the network"? Is that the kind of thing you were expecting?
LadyFizz: I think we could all see that something had to change with how lost/forgotten passwords were dealt with. The number of CSops available at any one time was growing smaller and smaller and the user base was growing in leaps and bounds. Exploits/trojans/attacks were (and still are) growing rapidly. It was time to put the responsibility on the users for their password security.

Angelwink: A while ago did you ever think that DALnet would grow this big? what good what are the things that you feel have been improved since and what has deteriorated?
LadyFizz: Who would have ever thought DALnet would be holding 100k+ users at any one time? I know I didn't. It's mind boggling to me that there are that many users online just on DALnet. Services is greatly improved with its stability and all the new commands to help users with their passwords. Exploiting users has now become the game of the new millennium. That is the most frustrating part of all this. Trying to educate users to take extraordinary care with what they do on any Internet medium is a losing battle with all the idiots who love to trick users into doing things that could be detrimental to them. Most users don't have a clue that just clicking on an URL that was spammed to them can infect them and allow others to exploit them. It's truly sad.

Angelwink: How much time do you spend on DALnet? if you're not on duty, what do you usually do?
LadyFizz: Some days I'll be online for hours on end while other days you won't see me at all. My real life now dictates my online time :) With summer coming up, I suspect you won't see as much of me as during the cold dank winter months ;> I'm one who is usually on duty. If you see me online I'm usually available unless I'm wrapped up with a lengthy problem. If I'm not on duty I'm probably not online... real life calls frequently ;>

Angelwink: Someone said: "It seems like being an IRCop is like trying to successfully run a kindergarten with 200 kids by yourself." Do you agree?disagree? and why?
LadyFizz: It sure seems that way sometimes. There are those who seem to think it's fun to register channels or use nicknames they've gotten hold of to abuse services and others. It takes time away from helping those who really need help when we have to chase the kids around :)

Angelwink: Any special message LadyFizz: has to pass on to all the users that ask or beg for Olines thinking it's a power trip and have no conception of what the job is all about?
LadyFizz: If you like to be flooded, attacked, abused, badgered, lied to, told to do things that are anatomically impossible and called every name in the book.. then this is the job for you! In all seriousness though, this job takes a person who can work under authority and follow the policies set forth, even if you don't agree with them, and take responsibilities for your actions. I have seen it become a power trip for some and they are no longer around.

Angelwink: In the February interview of the zine i asked LadyDana: 'From the many fellow opers that you know, could you pick one person and tell us what you think of him/her'? her choice was you, now it's your turn to be asked this question.
LadyFizz: That is a tough one and I hesitate to name just one because I could write a book about the many incredible people over the years who were supportive and gave me excellent advice. I would have to name two people, rnt and Fuggs. I have known these two since forever it seems :) They were both on training with me. We had a great time and their expertise and people skills brought so much to the training process. Their great attitudes toward IRC and life in general are truly amazing :)

Angelwink: What does DALnet mean to you?
LadyFizz: DALnet is a place where I have made many wonderful friends. If not for DALnet and mIRC software our paths would not have crossed. It all really started with a little bratty dragon and a certain male angel and has grown from there. The last 3 years we have had a gathering and gotten to meet in person. What a treat :) These people are the same online as in real life, and I think that is a true testiment to their characters.. wonderful people :)

Angelwink: How would you like to be remembered LadyFizz:? :)
LadyFizz: I would like to be remembered as someone who did all I could to help make DALnet a better place. I've put heart and soul into DALnet and I hope when I leave that some of that will be left for others to follow :)

Angelwink: In conclusion, any final words? comments? and is there anything you would like to say in reguards to this interview? ;)
LadyFizz: Whew! You asked some tough questions :) Thanks for the opportunity :)

Angelwink: It was really an honor LadyFizz:, thank you so much for your time, we wish you the best in every step you take and hope you enjoy many more years on DALnet.

(Editor's note: This interview pretty much covered it all so I cant think of anything else to add this time really apart from it has been a great experience for me to have had the chance to interview a variety of interesting individuals that forms what we call on DALnet our dragon realm)

©Angelwink 2002