    # File lib/rbot/botuser.rb, line 871
          def permit?(user, cmdtxt, channel=nil)
            if user.class <= BotUser
              botuser = user
            else
              botuser = irc_to_botuser(user)
            end
            cmd = cmdtxt.to_irc_auth_command

            chan = channel
            case chan
            when User
              chan = "?"
            when Channel
              chan = chan.name
            end

            allow = nil

            allow = botuser.permit?(cmd, chan) if chan
            return allow unless allow.nil?
            allow = botuser.permit?(cmd)
            return allow unless allow.nil?

            unless botuser == everyone
              allow = everyone.permit?(cmd, chan) if chan
              return allow unless allow.nil?
              allow = everyone.permit?(cmd)
              return allow unless allow.nil?
            end

            raise "Could not check permission for user #{user.inspect} to run #{cmdtxt.inspect} on #{chan.inspect}"
          end