This may be long, but I want to explain it in as much detail as possible so that it can be as clear as possible.



Maintaining the Service
Obviously, the primary function of the JJ2 list server is to list the current JJ2 game servers so that they can be retrieved by JJ2 clients. Therefore the primary objective is to keep the service working and available to all. If an identifiable source happened to be exploiting the service in such a way that disallowed others to use it, then that source should somehow be disallowed to make use of the exploit, preferably in the most minimal way possible. For example, if someone was performing a DoS attack on the server, and the attack was such that others couldn't use the server, then it would be right to ban the attacker. But only for the duration of the attack, because once the server is no longer being actively threatened, it should fully return to it's purpose of being available for use.

Dead Servers
The list server was made for the purpose of listing games so people could join them. So, if a server proves to be un-joinable (assuming you knew the password, if it was passworded), then it has lost it's reason to be listed, and should be removed. Of course the possible game server should be given ample time to prove that it's un-joinable, so for example the timeout time should be something about a minute.

Game Server Names
Unless a game server's name has somehow impaired the service, be it for the servers or the games, a game server's name should remain unaltered so as to maintain the consistency of the service. In the case that a game server name somehow interferes with the service, it should be altered only so far as it needs to in order for it to no longer be an interference. For example, a game server name contains some special characters that mess up the list. Only the special characters need to be removed for the list to no longer be messed up, so that would be the appropriate course of action whereas de-listing the game server would be too much.

Blank Server Names
(I felt it necessary to address this specifically because it is kind of an odd case, and the issue has come up.)
Game servers with a name that appears blank (may it be just a space, or a color code (pipe: | ), or something else otherwise valid) should be left unaltered. It is allowed by the game from both the server and client ends, and so the service remains unhindered.

Legality
It is necessary for the service to remain within legal bounds because otherwise it could be shut down by legal action. Laws that are applicable to the service should be gathered and posted so anyone can easily read them. Administrators of the service should also have a clear understanding of how the laws apply to the service, and possibly should post their understandings as well. Again, whatever needs to be altered should be altered only as far as it needs to.

Working as a Network
The list server service was made to work as a network of list servers. All servers must maintain the same set of rules/protocols/whatever, because otherwise the network will fall apart. Using the previous section to expand upon this, if one server must obey a certain set of laws, all other servers must obey that same set of laws, even if they would otherwise not be bound by those laws. If any server in the network does not agree to and abide by the rules/protocols of the rest of the network, then that server must be removed from the network.



You'll notice there's nothing there about personal attack servers. Nothing besides server names should remain as unaltered as possible. The reason for this is because personal attacks have nothing to do with the functionality of the service. Think about this: even if someone was un-allowed to put their personal attack in the name of their game server, they could still host a public server and make the attack in there. Even if they weren't allowed to list that server, they could go on some other game server. If the attacker wanted to, they could make a website, post everywhere they could, send out emails, write letters, yell in the background on some public television, go downtown with a megaphone, go to the person's house, or any number of other things to attack whoever they're attacking. My point is, making some effort to prevent people from naming their servers in a personal attack manner wouldn't be worth it. Plus it would give the administrators too much of a grey-area to work with -- deciding if something is really a personal attack or not, and how severe it is.

Anyway.. there you go.