# $EPIC: silence,v 1.4 2001/11/27 22:06:33 anders Exp $
Synopsis:
   silence [[+|-]<nick!user@host>]
   silence [<nick>]

Description:
   SILENCE is a server extension available on undernet servers.  Its
   purpose is similar to IGNORE, and acts as a complement, and not a
   replacement to IGNORE.  

   When you SILENCE_ someone, every server on the network is told that
   you do not want to receive any messages from that person.  Whenever that
   person tries to send you any more messages, his local server will drop 
   the message directly at the source.  This saves you the trouble of having
   to receive the message and process it with IGNORE, and it saves the
   network the resources of sending a message that you do not want.  This
   technique can be very effective against flooders.

   If you do not provide an argument to SILENCE your current silence
   list will be shown.

   The argument of SILENCE may be a plus ('+') or a minus ('-') followed
   by a full nick!user@host pattern which is of the same composition as a ban 
   (MODE +b), except that at least one '*' wildcard must be used.  If the
   prefix is a plus, the pattern is added to your silence list.  If the prefix
   is a minus, the pattern is removed from your silence list.

   The argument of SILENCE may be the nickname of another irc user.  You
   will be shown that user's silence list.  This can be useful in case you 
   wanted to know if you or someone else are being silenced by that person.

   This command will only work on servers with the SILENCE extension 
   (mostly undernet servers) and the number of entries in your SILENCE
   list is limited, usually to 5 entries.  SILENCE is not a replacement
   for IGNORE since IGNORE offers finer-grained control and is not
   limited in size.

Options:
   +<pattern>   add a pattern to your silence list
   -<pattern>   remove a pattern from your silence list

Examples:
   To add someone to your silence list:
      /silence +*!*jerk@*.moron.org

   To remove someone from your silence list:
      /silence -*!*friend@*.bestbuds.com

   To see the silence list for FooBar:
      /silence foobar

See Also:
   ignore(1); on(5) silence

Restrictions:
   This command is limited to Undernet-based servers (i.e. it won't work on
   EFnet).

