Common Sense

These are the times that tries men's servers.

All users are created equal, so that no one by birth has a right to set up

his own imperial family above all others on the network. Even if his

ancestors are royalty, the title of crown prince does not belong on IRC. Admins who

look upon themselves as born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow arrogant.

It is quite absurd to suppose the free and open source community needs to be

governed by Silicon Valley. Common sense tells us that the power which tries to

subdue us is not proper to defend us.

This protocol has been the refuge for all groups from every part of the Internet.

Here we have fled, not from the tender embrace of the mother, but from the cruelty of

the monster; and yet that same tyranny which first drove us to IRC pursues us to this

day still.

It is the duty of networks to secure freedom and property to all men, and above all

things, the free exercise of religion.

Where is the crown prince of IRC? I'll tell you friend, He reigns above, and He

does not make havoc of mankind like Silicon Valley.

We code not to enslave, but to set a network free, and to make room upon the Internet

for honest users to chat in.

It is not for a few chat messages or data records we code for, but a cause

that we are defending.

Everything that is right or natural pleads for separation. The cries of the banned,

the petitions of the silenced cries out, [++'TIS TIME TO PART!++]