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• Refining the administrator elections process
• Blocks for promotional activity outside of mainspace
• Voluntary RfAs after resignation
• Proposed rewrite of WP:BITE
• LLM/chatbot comments in discussions

User:Prom3th3an

Prom3th3an (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) I'm wondering whether I'm the only one who has had enough of this individual. As far as I can see from their contributions they add nothing whatsoever of value to the project and their childish disruption soaks up far too much time and energy by editors who are actually here to be useful. Recent "contributions" , , and this nasty exchange they just removed from their talk page really sums up the way they drain oxygen and energy from the project. I'd personally like to see them indefinitly blocked but, if there is not consensus for that, I'd like to see a topic ban from wikipedia space. I'd appreciate thoughts and comments on this Spartaz 18:22, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

That looks pretty serious. Has there been a request for comments on this user? SoArrr!Why 18:30, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

RFCs are only useful when there is a chance to reedem a useful editor. This doesn't look like an option to me. Spartaz 18:32, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, that really is only an opinion. If multiple editors have attempted to resolve conflict/issues with him/her, then a RfC would be perfectly applicable and would gain wide community input. Wisdom89 _{(T / )} 18:35, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, I think with WP:AGF we should assume him to be a user worth redeeming. But my question was just to learn if there was one, because if so, we'd have something to work with, some disputes already lined out, some opinions already expressed. As for Wisdom89's comment, well, we don't know if they have. I think a RFC/U might be a way to see if multiple users have such opinions. SoArrr!Why 18:40, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

I also be thinkin' a RFC be the way to go. It be crazy to make editors walk the plank without parlay first. I be inclined to think there be a way to bring the scalawag back to our side. Cheers, me hearties. lifebaka++ 18:50, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, since RfCs are finally becoming quasi-useful, it wouldn't hurt to go that route. Wizardman 18:52, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Personally I see it only as more drama and a further waste of the communities time but I can see which way this is going. Spartaz 18:56, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

I predicted this earlier in the month, where I referred to his hostility and bitterness (his words) towards administrators a "trainwreck" waiting to happen. He has had his rollback and account creator privileges revoked, and has been banned from IRC for trolling. It's clear from his prior incidents, battling various administrators and his actions at IRC, that he no longer is a constructive contributor and is only picking and choosing his battles, to which I was warned of earlier that I'd be invoking a witchhunt. seicer | talk | contribs 18:59, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Evidence of what could be classed as disruptive:

• Closing a Mediation Cabal case.
• *Spamming* a lot of user talkpages with what look like "tips".
• On a similar note, I'm struggling to know why he has this page in his userspace...

• Also, he has 6,297 edits in total, only 1,957 are in the Mainspace, only 31% of his edits... D.M.N. (talk) 19:10, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

I'd support a ban of limited duration. His recent exchange with Raul on his talk, coupled with previous blocks and warnings et al, are all enough to earn himself a break from the Wiki. Either a block for a while, or, at least, a stab at mentoring him. But, alas, I fear, it is "too late" for some users. Utan Vax (talk) 19:31, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

• Based on the above, I'd support indefinite block. D.M.N. (talk) 19:41, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

None of those diffs seem to warrant any kind of temp ban from project space - especially the "tips" spam Wisdom89 _{(T / )} 20:35, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

"Your probably jealous of Jimbo that's all. «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l» (talk) 04:59, 27 July 2008 (UTC)" A response to me on Jimbo's talk page. It is worth pointing out that dis uzas spelin and gramaz r wurs dan most peepils. Support indef. Erik the Red 2 (AVE·CAESAR) 22:03, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Has anyone noted this user's struck-out comments at #Request for community ban above? I notice that nobody has commented about them there. Corvus cornix_talk 22:17, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

From my run-in with him earlier (aluded to by Corvus), I think it's clear that this user has earned a community ban. Raul654 (talk) 22:42, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

He struck the comments - he shouldn't have made them in the first place, but at least he had the decency to strike them. DuncanHill (talk) 22:54, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Right, struck them but left them there for everybody to read. Corvus cornix_talk 23:03, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

I did not want to change the context of Raul's reply, as it would have seemed out of place if I removed the remarks (Like he was attacking me for no reason) so i did the next best thing, struck them out per WP:CIVIL. I also gave a sincere apology on his talk page.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 10:11, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

When you want to remove one of your comments that someone has already replied to, one approach is to replace your comments with something like "Comments removed. Raul (or whoever), please accept my apologies and feel free to remove this part of the thread and your reply". That is an alternative to striking. Another possibility (though it takes a few estra edits) is to include a link to the diff of the comment being removed or replaced (that raises the same concerns as leaving stuff visible, though it places stuff a click away, though it does reassure those who want to make sure that you didn't remove more than you needed to). Finally, to ensure that the subthread doesn't end up not being replied to, leave Raul a talk page message explaining what you did and repeating your apologies and your offer for him to remove the whole subthread. You can even add a link back in the subthread saying "Raul notified of this offer". That way, if Raul doesn't follow up, but choses to leave the subthread in open view, people know that is his choice, not just yours. Yet another alternative (I saw SandyGeorgia do this recently) is to put off-topic or distracting parts of a thread in a collapse box, though sometimes this backfires and draws more attention to the off-topic stuff. This might all seem complicated, but then that is a consequence of people opening their mouths and talking before they think. Stuffing the genie back in the bottle takes some diplomacy sometimes, and some damage takes a long time to repair. Having said that, I personally think your explanations and contriteness here should give you a chance to show you can reform and improve (though I say that without looking in detail at what has happenned). Some of things things that you have done to irritate and annoy people are not deserving of a community ban, IMO, but as I haven't looked in enough detail, some of it might be of more concern. Still, padding the charge list with non-serious concerns not only wastes people's time, but does actually, IMO, weaken the overall case (which is not to say that a re-presentation of the ban proposal concentrating on the possibly serious stuff wouldn't be more deserving of consideration). ie. I agree with those who say an RfC (with clear presentation of evidence, as opposed to a chaotic ANI thread) is needed. Carcharoth (talk) 10:32, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Im afraid I was not aware of the other methods of removing ones own comments without changing the context of anothers. Its not everyday that situation pops up so I hadnt put much thought into it. Given your detailed summery of alternative ways of doing so, I agree I could have handled it better, but that is the beauty of hindsight.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 10:52, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

It wouldn't have taken much foresight to see that the comments should never have been made at all, let alone the issue of what to do about them once made. Orderinchaos 11:35, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Personally, i find blanking of comments disruptive, as it interrupts the flow of a thread, and (especially when those comments have been replied to or commented on) may alter the meaning of a thread as a whole. I much prefer striking, though I do agree that this should be done with an appropriate edit summary, and in some cases a talk page apology. DuncanHill (talk) 13:38, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Raul, that's the second time recently I've seen you propose or support a community ban based on someone attacking or insulting you. If a community ban is needed in such cases, surely it will happen without you weighing in on it? To put it another way, if (according to some) it is not acceptable to personally block someone for insulting you, is it acceptable to support a community ban (which would end up being a block by a more circuitous route) for the same reason? I think what I'm trying to say here is that if you were involved in the precipitating or recent incident, you should be a "witness" if you like, rather than part of jury. Does that make sense? Carcharoth (talk) 10:44, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Proposal and support of a community ban by an involved editor are two different things. The first is more improper, as it can been seen as vindictive or vengeful, and can be, and often is, dismissed easily. The second is more important, as it says ' I can't try to work with this user anymore, and am all out of AGF'. Support statements can be more carefully examined for vindictiveness or actual 'run of of patience' feelings. Sometimes we have seen insulted users come here and say 'no, not yet, I'm willing to accept him getting one more chance', so reading the opinions of those offended is worthwhile to the group. ThuranX (talk) 12:20, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

That's a useful distinction to make, between proposal and support. I agree with what you are saying here. Especially the "the opinions of those offended is worthwhile to the group" bit - I should have said that in my initial comment. I'd still be more comfortable if people stated in commmunity ban discussions whether they had any previous involvement with the user (and to be fair, most people do make that clear if asked). The difficult thing to see, when looking at a community ban discussion, is to see who the genuinely uninvolved people are. Carcharoth (talk) 12:49, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Prom3th3an - Proposed community ban

Prom3th3an is clearly no there to do anything constructive, but simply to stir people up and crate drama. His block log is demonstrative of this, as are his ridiculous comments. His mainspace contributions are minimal. I do not believe Prom3th3an is a net positive and propose a community ban. Giggy (talk) 22:49, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

His block log shews effectively only two blocks - all the rest are adjustments. DuncanHill (talk) 22:51, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

and let me add that they were for very minor disruption. Oppose community ban or topic ban. Take it to RfC. I suspect mentorship could work well here and I'll happily take him under my wing. He's got a lot to give, he just needs to change his attitude a bit. Ryan Postlethwaite 22:55, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Arghh. Make him walk the plank for his disruption, incivility and drama-mongering. Erik the Red 2 (AVE·CAESAR) 22:51, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Looks like it's time to help this obvious troll find the door--endorse ban. Blueboy96 22:55, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

• Oppose community ban per Ryan. The block log is unconvincing..and the number of edits to the mainspace is pretty irrelevant. Take it to RfC. Wisdom89 _{(T / )} 23:54, 19 September 2008 (UTC)
• I am on the wall on this one, I have seen some rather questionable contributions on and off wiki that make me want to support here but at the same time I am not sure that all other resources have been exhausted (RfC ect..). I think I would support a ban if I was to see a few more attempts to educate and solve this issue. Tiptoety 23:57, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

  I'll echo Tip - if other avenues are exhausted to no avail, I'd reconsider, until then, I think talk of a community ban is premature. Besides, aren't bans invoked after an issue is brought to Arbcomm? Wisdom89 _{(T / )} 00:11, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

No, a ban doesn't need arbitration committee sanction these days, and hasn't for a long time. We do still (as a committee) handle appeals because some bans have been poorly judged, but the majority are fair. A ban isn't usually a step the community goes to without some good reason, so it's more to ensure fairness and a route for review if there's a genuine issue. RFC isn't needed either, many community bans happen without it.

Roughly speaking, what you're really after for a community ban is a consensus that the patience of the community is pretty much done, it's not visibly changing, general net detriment (repeating problem, unhelpfulness), and time to say "the problems mean this isn't really working out for all of us". That may or may not be the case in any given situation... hence communal discussion. RFC is useful when there's a wish to explore in more depth, for example if there are concerns but unsure how widespread, or if it's not completely clear what the real problem is. If it's fairly straightforward, then a debate like this at ANI often covers the same ground more quickly and with less wasted bureaucracy. If there is a clear and visible serious problem, with strong evidence, then there's no "rule" saying RFC has to be undertaken. It's useful as a clarifier though, in some circumstances. FT2  02:24, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

• Support per reasoning above and Grawp-style vandalism off-wiki. -- Manticore (talk) 00:39, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Comment I too would like to see an RFC first. Ncmvocalist (talk) 00:56, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Support - I've personally had enough, and Manticore brings up a god point. Xclamation point 03:15, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose community ban Prom3th3an has never caused me any grief, and has seemed like a perfectly reasonable editor to me. I would like to see an RFC first. Thor Malmjursson (talk) 03:25, 20 September 2008 (UTC) (not an admin- delete if this is not a valid comment)

• Support - He's harassed me and basically in IRC and Misplaced Pages to stir up trouble with other users. His morals are lacking. - Tyler Puetz (talk) 03:25, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Errrrr... just how do you intend to prove that he has harrassed you in IRC when you have already admitted to me that you do not keep a log? That's gonna be kind of tough, don't you think? Thor Malmjursson (talk) 18:44, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

• Oppose - Just file an RFC and we can get a ban from that consensus. I know we aren't a bureaucracy, but I really don't want AN/I to get the image as a good venue to community ban a user. These are the drama boards but plenty of users don't read them or don't feel comfortable commenting. I'm not saying an RFC reaches a wider audience, per se, but it gives him a chance to have people with defend him and weigh in. Absent some serious incident, I don't think we should be debating a ban in this venue. As for the up/down on the ban in general, I'm neutral. I've seen that user here and there and usually not liked what I have seen, but that could be said about me in plenty of cases, so: meh. Protonk (talk) 05:15, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

ANI is the venue to propose and decide on a community ban. RFC rarely result in blocks or bans and they would need to be endorsed here if they did. Based on the statement below do you see any evidence that they will change their ways? Spartaz 06:50, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

I always though WP:AN was the venue for community ban discussions? ANI is for urgent incidents. AN is for the longer, more careful discussions, such as community ban discussions. I'm annoyed I didn't notice this before. ANI and subpages (in the case of another discussion) are not the places for ban discussions. Quite apart from the fact that they distract from the incidents that need dealing with and take longer, community ban discussions should be treated with respect, not suddenly produced in the heat of the moment as part of an ongoing ANI thread. That is a knee-jerk reaction. Any community ban proposal should have careful presentation of evidence, and clearly delineate the point at which the discussion will end. Otherwise you get discussions closed as a ban after only a day, and others that drag on for weeks. Carcharoth (talk) 15:49, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

• Support - Per this D.M.N. (talk) 07:42, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose ban proposal: a ban is not yet warranted by Prom's behaviour. I reiterate the suggestions that an RFC be filed, and note that the proposal to put Prom. into Mentorship would indeed be wise; I think he simply needs a stronger editor to guide him on the right track (eg., with his small heated exchange with Raul yesterday, he apologised upon my suggestion -- obviously willing to listen and learn). I would caution him in the strongest possible words, however, to think before he acts and to give due thought to the consequences of each edit he makes; if he fails to remedy the currently poor conduct he is practising, I do fear a second ban proposal would not result in such a sympathetic consensus. Anthøny ✉ 10:33, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose per AGK (Anthony) and my comments further above. Premature - RFC needed first. Carcharoth (talk) 10:49, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose as premature. This user, who is fairly young, needs serious help and probably mentorship to get them on track, there is too much drama and too many incidents to ignore. However a community ban at this stage when other means have not been tried first are ridiculous. Orderinchaos 11:33, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose If you give him time (and intense mentorship), he'll come around. Shapiros10 _{My work} 11:40, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose Prom said he is sorry on IRC, I have the log :) Give him more time 2 weeks perhaps.

iDangerMouse. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 116.71.56.28 (talk) 11:47, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

He said sorry the last time too. Then this happened. Orderinchaos 11:48, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Give him 2 weeks only.... iDangerMouse —Preceding unsigned comment added by 116.71.56.28 (talk) 11:53, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

• Oppose per Anthony as well as my own earlier comment. Having discussed it with him, he's noted he's ready for mentorship or anything the community will throw at him, and appears to be genuinely regretful of his actions. I considered this a very serious matter and did let him know of how this could've turned out. He knows that he has a fair amount of work ahead of him, and this might require a frustrating amount of time and effort, and is willing to do what it takes. I see no reason not to afford him another chance. Ncmvocalist (talk) 14:56, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Comment -- this looks like self-perpetuating wikidrama. You are giving attention to people who misbehave because they want attention. Misplaced Pages isn't a social network, people. You don't need to psychoanalyse problem editors. If they cause problems, slap blocks on them, escalating lengths in case of repeated offense. Some will get it, others will keep going until blocked for good. All this social drama draws away admin resources from issues with the actual encyclopedia (disputes, trolling, pov-pushers). There is no need to community-ban this user. He's been given a couple of blocks of a few hours' lengths. Well, if he keeps prancing around, just double the block length in every future block and the problem will go away one way or the other. Thanks. --dab (𒁳) 15:05, 20 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose. I met him only as a mediator, and he shown himself to be a good one. I was later surprised to learn of the drama surround him, but I cannot support an argument for blocking that is framed like that one ("Prom3th3an is clearly no there to do anything constructive").--_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 06:46, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose community ban, but I would support a topic ban from the noticeboards (except for matters directly concerning his own conduct) for a period of time to be determined. Prom needs to refocus on what it is we are here to do. I would also be willing to resume adoption/mentoring of Prom, as I had ended that relationship when he entered admin coaching. –xeno (talk) 06:59, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
• Saw this on IRC earlier, I would Strongly Oppose a community ban, but I would Support mentoring. Can I just add that one of the blocks (the incivility one) was defending me after the whole Chemistrygeek incident. He, like many, believed I was innocent (which a CU showed I was) and his incivility was because he was "taking on the system" so to speak, saying that it was all ridiculous. (Or at least that's how I saw it). I do not endorse incivility (and I know I myself have been) but surely when it is for the good of the encyclopedia (ie not losing me as an editor) I think we can let it pass. Thanks, BG7even 08:25, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose. If the user causes disruption, please go ahead and post some examples of it. The reasons adduced above are blah. I especially despise the notion that "hostility and bitterness towards administrators" is a good reason to cut somebody off from contributing to the project. No, we're supposed to put up with stuff like that. We're admins, not royalty. Bishonen | talk 22:17, 21 September 2008 (UTC).

Statement

I've just spotted this, and I must admit I am absolutely flabbergasted at the amount of people who think I am deserving of a community ban or other type of restriction. However, I heed your concerns and this has been a wake up call. I think that a RFC/U would have come notice to me as to how much trouble I was causing and I wish people would AGF instead of making s summery like "RFCs are only useful when there is a chance to redeem a useful editor. This doesn't look like an option to me" I would seriously give anything a try to avoid a community ban, I must admit it looks ugly, but when you break it down I am trying.

• In regards to Raul I was totally out of line, I should not have acted upon what one hears on IRC, after realising this I removed or struck out my comments and apologised to Raul without any sort of request, I understand if he would still want me community banned, but never the less its the intention and the thought that counts.
• I closed the mediation case with best of intentions because it had principally moved on to RFAR and the mediation case was WP:STICK.
• The tip "spamming" was to members of this Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_AP_Biology_2008 group, I could have put it on the project page but I it to seem a bit more personal considering the barnstar’s I gave them all (which is funnily not mentioned) for the effort and enthusiasm they have put in. They are all new users and I thought that those two tips would help them fit in. I gave them the tips after congratulating the co-ordinator for the idea.
• The joke block page is in good humour, its a preload that comes up when you click "To vandalise my user page click here instead." on my message portal. It was going to be used for April fools day (see history) but until such a time I changed it to its current revision.
• My block log has two blocks, one 3 hour block for civility issues and one 12 hour block for WP:TE. There are far more colourful block logs out there who belong to users who did mend, I would like the same opportunity.
• The so called "Grawp-style vandalism off-wiki" on a test wiki that has nothing to do with Misplaced Pages, has nothing to do with Misplaced Pages or its projects. However if you want an explanation email me. Note that Manticore is actually a key staff member on the test wiki and has not interfaced with me on Misplaced Pages at any point, I question his motives as it would seem clear he would have a clear-cut bias.
• In Re: To Tyler Puetz's claims, He was ranting and trolling on IRC, saying how he cheated on a history exam and how he has been through courts (careful to mention for civil and criminal) for hacking and causing massive damges and how the CEO was pissed etc, How He has called the FBI and the police heaps etc. His age made it quite clear that he was making all this up, I and several others told him to stop, he didnt so I !op for trolling and an op re-centered the conversation. I find it ammusing how he said my morals are lacking, when on IRC I said I had morals in regards to his cheating confession. I dont think I need to say anything more about that
• In regards to the very short removal of rollback and ACC which was initiated by MBisanz, it was restored within an hour later with the following sumamry's "after review, the user hasn't abused rollback, but doesn't need the account creator flag" and "Further review - this editor had a clean record up until now & removing these bits smacks of punitive measures"
• The block silence for "trolling on IRC" was because I was discussing my 3 hour block intesivly, I have since then not been silenced. I was not aware that IRC was offically related to wikipedia, so I dont know why it was raised here.

I felt that alot of the points people has raised needed addressing as I felt it was Mis-construed or skewed by leaving out alot of the points such as my apology to Raul or the tips were not actually talkpage spamming or the rollback removal was actually an admin's mistake and was quickly reverted.

  «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 06:00, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Does it not worry you that so many people have had enough of you? Please can you explain how you will change your behaviour if you are not blocked/banned? Spartaz 06:47, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

It is of upmost concern and hurtfullness that I have ended up here, being discussed. If you had asked me four months ago the possility of me being here or having a block I would have laughed the suggestion off becuase Community bans were are thing that happened to other people. Now the scenario seems so more real. I was, up untill now organising measures in place to help me get back on track, I can but hope that I have the chance to finish them, and to see if they work.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 07:24, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Some people have brought it to my attention that my statement implies I may be trying to defend my actions as completly innocent. This could not be further from the truth, I admit I have done many wrongs over the past 2-3 months however I am willing to change. If its any constellation I think mentoring would be the best resolve from this and that I would try my hardest to gain as much as possible from it. I am willing to burry the hatchet, get over that which has plagued (what some have described as) an otherwise promising editor for the past 3 months. I still have alot more to give and do. Again I stress that this particuler discussion has been a wake up call that going around feuding with other editors whom you have a brush with isnt acceptable. And I am most willing to consider anyones suggestions or requests.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 09:17, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Information (for what it's worth) -- I had not heard of Prom3th3an until the Steve Crossin incident (~Aug 23). In that incident, the Arbitration Committee were emailed with anonymous emails of what we felt to be a game-y and uncertain faith nature ("Have you figured out who it is yet?"), and then made posts on-wiki about it that led to this by Deskana and these comments by myself: Prom3th3an's comment, mine, Prom3th3an's 2nd post (later modified), mine. FT2  07:08, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

To be honest I think we should give the "devil" his due, After your requests for me to effectivly "butt out" of the whole steve-crossin thing, i did exactly that (butt out) from memory.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 07:28, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

So, where to from here?

Given a community ban appears to have been rejected, what should take place? I think for Prom3th3an's sake, there needs to be clarity, so that he can move on in the appropriate manner without this hanging over him in an unresolved fashion. My own idea of a solution would be some form of enforced mentorship, with recourse to blocks (not indefinite - enough to stop the behaviour without being punitive) if we see repeats of the personal commentary incidents.

I talked to the user at length last night on IRC and I think it's a reasonable conclusion he is good faith and means well, that the eruptions are more stemming from a lack of control/forethought than any genuine ill will, and that an area of concern is priorities. The priority of an encyclopaedia should always, first and foremost, be building its content and providing the means for content to be built, and anything else (drama, social networking, who's saying what at Jimbo's talk page, adminship etc) comes a distant second. He is an intelligent and capable user who is in the top classes at school, and I feel he could become a highly useful contributor with appropriate guidance and direction as long as he is willing to cooperate.

The level of mainspace contributions in recent weeks is something I have already raised with him, and seeing just two more in the eight days hence (both of which could be classed as technical or minor), I really hope to see an improvement in that as well. Orderinchaos 03:03, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Thankyou for your input, concerns and direction Orderinchaos. I totally agree with the "priorities" statement and I have one thing to add and that is, I dropped all the work I had to do this weekend (including Year 11 assignments, 3 of them) to attend to this ANI thread, more particularly the community ban thread that another user has described as "self-perpetuating wikidrama" (Whether or not I personally agree with that statement is irrelevant), I would hope that what ever method/outcome the community decides is swift (without being hasty), free of unnecessary drama and stress for all. In self reflection the community ban thread achieved something it may not have intended, that being it made me realise that I've been walking a misleadingly fine line for some time. My thanks go to those who have shown faith that I can change, it is a moral booster that will help.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 04:32, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Stalled?

Im starting to get concerned that this (what would have seemed as productive) discussion has stalled. Theres still the matter of wether we accept the proposal above, or weather the community wants a RFC/U. I would like to get this dealt with (and over and done with) sooner rathor than latter   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 12:36, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

If we can find a willing mentor who the community would trust, I'd be happy to vote for its closure. I have a few people in mind but it would be unfair to name them without asking their permission. Orderinchaos 13:55, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

FGS Ψrom3th3ăn does not need a mentor, he knows where he went wrong, or at least where the community feels he went wrong. I completely concur with Bishonen, Admins have to remember they are here to ensure the smooth running of the project, they are not here to act in an overiding and imperious fashion, we have another body who acts in that fashion on our behalf. Ψrom3th3ăn has a had a wake-up call, give him a chance to sort himself out, and this will probably be the end of the matter. No story. Giano (talk) 18:47, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I have to agree with Giano ... from what I see, Promethean has had his proverbial member slapped. Many of his "reasonings" are indeed sensible, but I believe it has been the sum of the issues that has led people to where we are today. I would be quite happy to say "hey, Promethean ... you've played with fire. Today, you've been singed, next time you might get burnt." Let's not tie him to any rocks quite yet, as I'm not in the mood for liver (mythology puns purposeful). BMW(drive) 11:57, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

If nothing else, I have met someone who knows whom my username is derived from. Rather ironic to say the least.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 13:22, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I'd be surprised if most regular editors my age hadn't picked up on the Prometheus reference - I dunno how much Greek mythology gets taught to youngsters these days but I'm a grumpy old 'un and I recognised it immediately. I'd say that we can archive this discussion now. You clearly have a sense of what issues you need to work on and I don't see anyone clammering for the task of mentoring you and perhaps you can manage without. My final advice is to stay out of project space and go do some article work - yes before you say anything this is advice I can probably take myself. Spartaz 19:42, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Aye, lay the past to rest   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 23:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Raul

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

It seems that Raul is on a whichhunt now, that was the only usurp he has been involed in since the 9th of april. His motives are extremely clear and certainly morally wrong. What im I supposed to do? If I was trying to runaway I would make a new ccount, clearly im trying to get the numbers out my name.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 23:36, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

It does look rather mean-spirited of Raul to do this, and certainly a change of name like this does not look in the least like someone trying to hide. Raul also seems unfamiliar with the well established practice of allowing editors to remove comments from their talk page. DuncanHill (talk) 00:04, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Also note the time difference between the two edits, make of that what you will. Withdrawing and resubmitting per (the message behind) Fruit of the poisonous tree and because the bot made an error. I have given Raul a courtesy notice that I have done so and that I hope he doesnt make me do it again.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 01:03, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Usurpation is a courtesy we extend to users in good standing, which Prom3th3an is not. Changing his name is a further attempt to selectively wipe his history of disruption here, which is evident from his past behavior here. I have denied his request. Furthermore, it's worth pointing out that he just "resubmitted" his request (e.g, deleted all the commentary about it) and then threatened to do it again if I re-added my comment. If have re-added my denial of his request, and informed him that if he re-removes it, I will be blocking him. Raul654 (talk) 01:13, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Gosh, you just pointed out what he already came here to tell everyone he did. You have made it blatantly obvious that you want to get rid of him, how petty and vindictive can you get? DuncanHill (talk) 01:16, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Raul is just pointing out that Prom3th3an is a disruptive editor not in good standing, and blocking a user over a repeated removal of a denial of a request is perfectly legitimate. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 01:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Oh yes, I forgot that there are no other bureaucrats at all who could have made the decision. DuncanHill (talk) 01:21, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

A second opinion could be obtained without deleting Raul's first opinion. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 01:30, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Or Raul could have given his opinion, and asked for another bureaucrat to make the decision, given his recent spat with Prom. Avoiding the appearance of a conflict of interest is, I think, generally regarded as good practice. I'll add that Prom announcing on ANI what he had done is not the action of someone trying to hide it. DuncanHill (talk) 01:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Let's be clear here - Prom picked a fight with me. Until that time, I had never had any contact with him (I think I might have seen him in IRC once or twice) He does not get to pick fights with users, and then cry about a conflict of interest when he later interacts with them. (Trolls have previously tried that with members of the arbcom) Raul654 (talk) 01:39, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

You're not a member of the Arbcom anymore are you? Anyway, you could very easily have given your opinion, and asked another bureaucrat to make the final decision, which would have reduced the likelihood of drama. When he reposted, you could have asked another bureaucrat to review the history of the request, again, that would have been a more open and constructive way of dealing with it. DuncanHill (talk) 01:45, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(ec) I don't think getting a second opinion from another b'crat will cause fire and brimstone to rain on Misplaced Pages. Of course, that does entail allowing the comment made by Raul to remain. I will not comment on the worthiness of the request. —kurykh 01:22, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Your reason in your first deny made it clear you are not in the frame of mind to make decisions about me per my recent attack, of which i withdrew and apoligised several times for. Userpation does not aid in covering ones past so please check your facts. I'm tempted to resubmit the usurp minus your opinion as i will be the first to admit your are an influential editor and would bias the outcome hence fruit of the poisionous tree. I think the other crats are smart people and are capable of making the decision without your two cents worth. If i am wrong about that please let me know. Also good standing is your opinion, the actualy term is "we prefer only to grant requests from reasonably well-established users". I think I am beyond well established. You were clearly at WP:USURP for a reason that is what we a are discussing.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 01:49, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Also note that the deny reason slaps of punitive measures, which ARE agaisnt policy.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 01:58, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Am I missing something, or is there a request here for admin action that is unusually latent. Prom3th3an was nearly banned earlier in this thread for disruption, has been block or final warned on several occasions, and is now disrupting the usurption facility, which isn't even an admin forum. This should be at WP:BN since this is a crat dispute, and even then, I believe Raul has properly exercised his discretion. If Prom3th3an adds another Usurp/Rename req, I would support a block for disruption. MBisanz 02:08, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I have been blocked twice for clarity, and i was far from being banned.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 03:00, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Ok, and the administrative action you are seeking today for teh rename issue is? MBisanz 08:39, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

None now, This ANI thread did what it was made to do, get the attention of others. I have now gained control of the account globally via unification on simple wiki. WJBscribe has indicated that the username change should go ahead, an excerpt is "Prom3th3an is, by virtue of having obtained control of the Promethean global account, the only one who can use the name on this project anyway. I will ask Raul654 to reconsider his position with respect to this request. " This thread can be laid to rest.   «l| Ψrom3th3ăn ™|l»  (talk) 12:25, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Bureaucrats have a high degree of clue. I bet that all of them who are active have noticed what Raul654 has done, and they will surely comment if they think something is improper. There is no chance this will go unnoticed. I think the thread here is misplaced, and prone to create drama. I suggest Prom3th3an takes their concerns to the bureaucrats' noticeboard if they are unsatisfied with the result here. I am closing this discussion now. Jehochman 13:12, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Quackwatch

User:Levine2112 reverted my explained removal of an off-handed comment without substantive explanation. Another editor shares my concerns that he is being tendentious and obstructionist. He has stated that he thinks people pointing out that he is edit warring are "lying". He's also on a weird harassment campaign of editors who resist his alt medicine POV-pushing. Please advise. ScienceApologist (talk) 17:53, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Also note previous run-ins with this character: Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Levine2112. ScienceApologist (talk) 18:00, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Levine2112 has been placed on 0rr for the article based on his/her threat to edit war. Any reverts by said user to that page will result in a block. User has been notified. Vsmith (talk) 18:58, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

User warned as requested below. Vsmith (talk) 20:45, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

What threat to edit war? I simply stated that I was going to revert. Not continually revert. Just revert that once. There is no implication (much less a threat) of edit warring on my part. -- Levine2112 20:32, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Hang on a sec... I'm not opposed to a 0RR restriction, if needed, but let's make sure that we have proper authority for it. There's a requirement that the editor be formally notified ahead of time, with a template or formal warning to their talkpage which informs them of the ArbCom case, so they have an option to avoid the restrictions if they wish. See Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Homeopathy: "Prior to any sanctions being imposed, the editor in question shall be given a warning with a link to this decision by an uninvolved administrator; and, where appropriate, should be counseled on specific steps that he or she can take to improve his or her editing in accordance with relevant policies and guidelines." Also, there should be a time limit specified. Lastly, these bans need to be logged at the appropriate ArbCom case page. But no matter what, it's the same as when blocking an established user, we have to warn them first, and give them the opportunity to modify their own behavior, before imposing a sanction on them. --Elonka 19:29, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

I'd say said user is aware of the Arbcom case - so it seems the legalese stuff is a bit redundant. Duration of restriction - how about a month. Will amend my notification to said user's talk page. Vsmith (talk) 19:45, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Amended notice. User has the option of avoiding the consequences of the restriction - simply don't revert. Vsmith (talk) 19:53, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

The purpose of general sanctions is to bring an area into good conduct that's been a persistent problem. To do that, administrators need, and use, a wide range of restrictions which they apply at reasonable discretion, and that is backed by the Arbitration Committee's decision. So yes, for an editor who is engaging in revert warring, 0RR is a completely appropriate answer and uses the remedy exactly as intended, to achieve the goal.

However you're slightly misunderstanding the practicalities. Such sanctions are usually intended to deal with actual disruption in most cases, not just that they "might" or "will". Admins and other established users should be aware and take note of others' concerns more than most. Just because a sanction exists does not mean it should be used before its time. You haven't said "please don't edit war", nor warned him that he faces restriction if he reverts in a non-collegial manner, and that's fairly useful to do.

The warning in our decision is not arbitrary, it's not just "he knows sanctions exist" or "legalese". It is so the user knows they themselves specifically will face restriction if they persist in a specific behavior they are doing. It's not optional. The correct use of a sanction like this is to consider if the time's come to restrict their conduct, and if so to tell them that if they repeat you intend to do so. At that point, it's their call. Could you amend your post and make it clear - and perhaps a bit more congenial too.

You might like to try something like this: "This really isn't okay. The topic area is under restrictions to prevent exactly this kind of edit warring. If you have a dispute, please follow communal norms. If you unilaterally revert, whether right or wrong I shall place you under a restriction, since this kind of edit warring has to end." That kind of wording is both firm, but also, explains fairly the concern, and gives a better chance to resolve it amicably. FT2  20:08, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for further clarifying for me. The problem I saw was that the user stated an intent to revert or edit war on a particular point. That threat on such a contested page was going too far. Said user is well aware of the nature of the page and the arbcom case - so it seemed best to nip the threatened behavior in the bud. But, as I seem to be lacking support - I'll amend again. Vsmith (talk) 20:24, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Understand. A "recipe" I often find myself ending up using is something like this: be clear what the problem is (disputed article to the point it has had general sanctions approved on it). Be clear what they are doing that's not okay and why (proposing to revert war which is exactly what we're trying to prevent). Say what they should do to solve their problem (dispute resolution, not edit warring). Say what is likely or will happen if they continue (restrictions on reverting, whether right or wrong). That helps a lot in disputes, and also as an admin helps you ensure you stay firmly in a neutral "whats best" stance by being clear what you're trying to achieve.

The reason why an article gets general sanctions in the first place is when its impossible to sort out the content issue until the conduct issues are brought under control, so it's a case of "right or wrong, doesn't matter, this isn't okay". That applies to an awful lot of disputes, and helps users understand you aren't taking sides if you say so. You also want to be careful that if someone's are being provoked, or others are doing stuff too, to note it. It reduces the risk that people see you as being one-sided. It takes a few more words, but it can help avoid confrontation and heated anger and get people who might have disagreed, to understand what you're trying to accomplish and why. Hope this helps :) FT2  21:02, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

• Levine is a seasoned edit warrior and proponent of fringe views, a 0RR restriction is reasonable I would say. Levine is fully aware of the contentious nature of these edits and the history and restrictions which apply to the articles, requiring additional explicit warning seems to me to be needless bureaucracy and an invitation to gaming the system. Guy (Help!) 20:32, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

• I am helping to mentor ScienceApologist. Levine2112 cannot credibly claim to be unaware of the sanctions in effect at these articles. They have been involved in the homeopathy disputes since before I set up the community article probation that predated the ArbCom case. Jehochman 20:43, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

• There was notification at the talk page.Talk:Quackwatch/Archive 12#Notice Here is evidence Levine2112 is aware of the original probation.User talk:Levine2112/archive7#Homeopathy article probation notification User talk:Levine2112/archive7#Article Probation .28civility.29 QuackGuru 22:16, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

• • I've notified Levine of the ArbCom pseudoscience sanctions. PhilKnight (talk) 23:29, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

This demonstrates, IMHO, complete ridiculousness or complete misunderstanding. My goal was to have a stable article and discussion environment and I did nothing to betray this goal. I had no intent to edit war, nor did I allude to any such intent. I simply stated that the "agreement" which ScienceApologist claimed existed, obviously did not and was his own fabrication. In fact, the only agreement at that point was to revert to a version of the article which all parties felt comfortable enough with while discussion resumed cordially on the Talk page. This is all I did. I reverted once to the version which was agreed upon and stated my intent to do so on the Talk page. Please read the Talk page here and see how Fyslee, Arthur Rubin, Ludwig2, and myself (all on different sides of the disputed article) all agreed to revert to the stable version and begin discussing any desired changes. I am happy to take the "warning" but I object to characterizations of my behavior as "edit warring". The only edit warring that I saw was from ScienceApologist who started the downward spiral of this article from its previous peaceful and stable version to the quagmire of edit warring that it is now in. We can all see the results of his actions (and the allowance of such actions). The article is in turmoil. It has been almost completely whitewashed (much reliably sourced criticism has been removed) and thus no longer comes close to conforming to NPOV or CON. Whereas before, there was at least a willingness to discuss controversial edits before they were made, now there is no such regard given. I am glad that Elonka's restrictions have been re-imposed because that seems to be the only thing which curbs edit warriors such as ScienceApologist and QuackGuru (among others). My feeling remains that the article should be reverted back to the last stable version, and discussions about any edits proceed at Talk with none being enacted without consensus. -- Levine2112 16:30, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

What was the mind's worst disease comment about anyhow? I would like an explanation. Thanks. QuackGuru 19:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

It is a little Eastern philosophy which I though may help you. If you are truly interested and want to learn more consider watching this short video presentation. -- Levine2112 19:54, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Unaddressed issues

And this justifies you again blatantly violating CIVIL, HARASS, and NPA? Your misrepresentations of others? --Ronz (talk) 18:13, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

It justifies my actions as being ones of helpfulness in the face of disruptiveness. That's all. -- Levine2112 18:20, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Huh? You're saying that repeated, blatant violations of CIVIL, HARASS, NPA, etc are acceptable if the editor making the violations thinks they are helpful? --Ronz (talk) 18:36, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I am confused. Which one(s) of my actions at the Quackwatch article or talk page are you interpreting to be a blatant violation of anything? Please provide a ref and an explanation of why you specifically feel I have blatantly violated CIVIL, HARASS or NPA. Thanks. -- Levine2112 18:42, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Funny how you're suddenly confused after you said you were justified. What do you think it was you justified?

One diff has already been given. It speaks for itself for anyone familiar with the policies and guidelines in question. --Ronz (talk) 19:01, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I am confused by you stating that I have blatantly violated CIVIL, HARASS or NPA in terms of the Quackwatch article. Please provide diffs that justify such an accusation or please withdraw it. -- Levine2112 19:26, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Please, if anyone is going to be making accusations of policy violations at ANI, it's necessary to provide proof, in the form of diffs. Without proof, please don't make the accusations, thanks. --Elonka 21:28, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Agreed. Given that, I would like be given proof that I threatened edit war. This is the stated reason for my "warning". I would like to be provided with some proof in the form of diffs that I threated edit war. Without such proof, the warning should be rescinded. -- Levine2112 21:40, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

The diff has been provided. How many times in the same discussion should a diff be given? Per WP:TALK I expect that editors contributing to a discussion will actually read the discussion and look for the references to previous points within the discussion. --Ronz (talk) 00:53, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

So, in the diff provided which is being called 'harrassment' , Levine says "hope this helps you if you want the truth to stand clear before you, never be for or against. the struggle between "for" and "against" is the mind's worst disease...."

In what way is this harrassment? I would say it is quite the opposite. Sticky Parkin 01:56, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Truly. And I thank you. -- Levine2112 03:30, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Just maybe I'm referring to the other diff? I guess looking at a total of two diffs is too much for some editors. --Ronz (talk) 17:38, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

That second diff reveals that you were harassing me yet again - even after I've asked you over and over not to post on User page. Yet you still did, and really only to harass me. In my edit summary I point out that your post was false. You said that I shouldn't revert an edit without commenting on the talk page, but if you look at the facts, you will see that indeed I did comment on the talk page and explained quite clearly why I was going to revert. So what's the issue with the second diff as you see it? As I noted, I appreciated your apology to me following that post as I thought you had recognized that what you posted was untruthful and viewed as harassment. So why are you changing your mind now? -- Levine2112 17:49, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

(unindent) So you're allowed to violate CIVIL, NPA, and HARASS because, whenever it is convenient for you, you say I'm not allowed to post on your talk page? Sorry Levine2112, but I'm allowed to post to your talk page. Get over it. Stop using it as an excuse for your misbehavior.

Regarding my apology, please do not misrepresent me to justify your harassment and incivility. I told you, "I'm happy to explain my previous comment in detail." Let's look at some diffs:

• 20:12, 19 September 2008 Levine 2112 reverts without any corresponding discussion
• 22:28, 19 September 2008 Levine 2112 reverts again, still without any corresponding discussion
• 00:59, 20 September 2008 Elonka starts a discussion about the edit-warring
• 01:36, 20 September 2008 Levine 2112 joins the discussion

My comment to the four editors involved in the edit-warring, including Levine2112, was "Please do not simply revert edits. Instead, please make a clear corresponding comment on the talk page discussing your reasoning." --Ronz (talk) 18:30, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• • Okay, so by the look of this, I commented in clear correspondence to my reversion within 5 hours of my edit. However, your message to me came at 17:17, 20 September 2008, nearly 16 hours after I had post my clear corresponding comment. So we would have to agree that telling me that I did not provide a clear corresponding comment is a false claim on your point. Perhaps you missed the fact that I posted a corresponding comment. If that is the case, I apologize for calling your post a "lie" rather than just an "oversight on your part". Regardless, I must have taken your advice to heart because this whole ANI post seems to be about my corresponding comment to ScienceApologist that I was going to revert his edit BEFORE I reverted. In retrospect, I wasn't clear enough because Vsmith misinterpretted my post to mean that I was threatening to continually revert, but in actuality all I meant was that I was going to revert that once. Vsmith and I have talked about this and he has apologized to me for the misunderstanding. As for you telling me to "get over it" - frankly, that is rude. If I request that you stop posting to my User page, you are certainly allowed to disregard my wishes, but it is still rude behavior on your part nonetheless. -- Levine2112 18:42, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

What happened next? Levine2112 reverts without a valid reason. Levine2112 did not explain his reason for reverting, only his intent to revert. QuackGuru 18:57, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Incorrect. I explained quite clearly that the edit I was reverting was made without discussion or agreement. That was my reason for reverting. Is that so difficult to understand? -- Levine2112 19:01, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

That's not a valid reason to revert without a clear explanation of your disagreement with the edit. You reverted without any specific objection to the edit. QuackGuru 19:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

You say that it is not a valid reason to revert an edit. I disagree. I think given that the article is fragile, that the edit was contentious, and that there was an agreement among the other editors to restore the article to the prior stable version and discuss all future edits and reach an agreement before implementation, my reason for reversion was quite valid. My only mistake was not clarifying that my intent to "revert accordingly" should have been written "revert once accordingly" because it seems that Vsmith had interpeted it to mean "revert over and over again accordining". Frankly, I thought the "once" was implied, but I guess I can see how others may not infer that. Anyhow, Vsmith has apologized to me for misunderstanding my intent and now that my intent is clear to you (and all), you should not continue to say that my intent was to edit war. That is not even an assumption of bad faith - it's just bad. -- Levine2112 19:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Reverting because you feel the article is fragile is not a valid reason to revert. No specific objection was made to the edit. There is no agreement among editors to discuss edits first. Please tell us a valid reason you reverted or is it because you don't like Barrett? QuackGuru 19:45, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Again, I continue to disagree with you. I feel that given that the article is fragile, that the edit was contentious, and that there was an agreement among the other editors to restore the article to the prior stable version and discuss all future edits and reach an agreement before implementation, my reason for reversion was quite valid. If you read the archives, you will see that there is a clear agreement among editors to discuss edits first. In general, this should be the case in all contentious articles. There is always WP:BOLD, but in the case of contentious articles, it is best to follow WP:CON. This is what Elonka has been trying to enforce at the article and this what many of us - including myself - have come to respect. Editors such as you seem hellbent on quibbling over what is the meaning of ORR or what is a revert, when at the end of the day, if we all just work together, we can accomplish writing a decent encyclopedia article - which by the way, is our mission here. -- Levine2112 19:59, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This comment by Levine2112 asserts that he disagrees with the edit but never explained any objection to the specific edit. Levine2112 wants everybody to discuss all edits first. If editors do not have a specific objection to the edit then we have consensus. Please abide. The text failed verification anyhow. QuackGuru 21:55, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

So, because Levine2112 discussed two reverts within five hours of making them, after someone else brought up the issue of edit-warring, Levine2112 feels justified in responding to a edit-warring warning by assuming bad faith, making personal attacks, harassing others, and misrepresenting others. Thanks for clearing that up Levine2112. --Ronz (talk) 19:30, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. I discussed one reversion within 5 hours and the other I discussed minutes BEFORE the reversion. I never edit warred. I made no personal attacks. I harrassed no one. And I misrepresented nothing. You, Ronz, on the other hand, have assumed bad faith in placing a message on my page claiming that I didn't comment on my reversion 16 hours after I had commented on my reversion. You have harassed me by commenting on my talk page when I have asked you time and time again to stay away. You have misrepresented my actions over and over again. You continue to harass me here with your spin and condescending tone. I assure you, your poor behavior here is not going unnoticed by a couple of key admins. So before you go pointing fingers, consider your own actions here first and how they are looking to others. -- Levine2112 19:52, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Aside

On an aside, would somebody care to explain how the article Quackwatch falls under Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Homeopathy? Shot info (talk) 22:20, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Where Elonka said Homeopathy, I guess she should have said Pseudoscience. PhilKnight (talk) 22:41, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Perhaps, but the evidence doesn't support that - and even at this very moment in time still doesn't support that. Shot info (talk) 22:45, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

We used the Homeopathy case before, because its scope is "articles which relate to homeopathy, broadly interpreted", and the Quackwatch article is homeopathy-related (the term is right in the article). Though if folks think that the newer Pseudoscience case might be more appropriate to use at this point, I'd have no big problem with switching over. The discretionary sanctions are the same, regardless of which case we use. --Elonka 23:31, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

I'm curious as to your reasonings for how you got to your conclusion. So what you are saying is effectively "If Article X has a word that is mentioned in a RfA then it falls under the broadly interpreted clause"? Shot info (talk) 23:36, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

I've notified Levine of the ArbCom pseudoscience restrictions. PhilKnight (talk) 23:34, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

FWIW Phil, I think you have two RfA crossed in your warning to Levine (the SA/Martin one and the Pseudoscience one). Shot info (talk) 23:36, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

That's more or less intentional, the Pseudoscience restrictions require the notifications to be logged on the other ArbCom case page for some reason. PhilKnight (talk) 23:39, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Ok, I just thought you may have had a cutnpaste error :-) Shot info (talk) 23:42, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

The reason for the crossover is that when the ArbComm set up the pseudoscience discretionary sanctions, it was as part of a request for clarification/amendment of both prior cases. The MartinPhi/ScienceApologist case is more restrictive about which admins can enforce its remedies (members of two Wikiprojects are prohibited). Supposedly, from conversations with the amendment clerk, the ArbComm was going to issue a later clarification about they actually intended, but until they do, better to keep the admins out of trouble by having the links and logs on the page where the admins will be cautioned that certain admins may be supposed to avoid enforcement activity. GRBerry 19:03, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• Quackwatch is a major critic of homeopathy and one of the few sites on the web that takes the time and trouble to point out that water memory is complete bollocks, and why. It is also a major source of criticism of other forms of pseudoscience and quackery, so the article (and indeed the site) is under constant attack from kooks, quacks and other assorted ne'er-do-wells. The major bone of contention right now appears to be that mainstream sources lend the site a credibility that the frings and pseudoscience proponents would rather it did not have. They try to fix this problem by citing biased, polemical, unqualified or non-expert sources - in other words, another example of trying to use Misplaced Pages to fix a real-world dispute. I suggest arbitration (again) as nothing else seems to shut these people up. Levine's idea of a "decent article" is one which undermines the credibility of a source he clearly dislikes intensely. I have strong suspicions that Levine has a real-world conflict of interest here. At the very least, 0RR should apply, and actually I would be more comfortable with a complete ban from that article for that editor. Guy (Help!) 22:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC)
  • After discussion between myself and admin Vsmith, we decided to place the article on a 1RR restriction for 30 days. See also Talk:Quackwatch#Conditions for editing. --Elonka 22:55, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Goodone121 and Huntingon's disease

Goodone121 (talk · contribs) has listed Huntington's disease as a good article despite inadequate GA review. This issue started on 10 September when he nominated that article on WP:GAN despite no previous involvement and without discussion with the main contributors (the ones who would need to action any recommendations made). In discussion with Leevanjackson (talk · contribs), the main contributor, I did a review anyway which failed. A few weeks later, with most of my recommendations still awaiting implementation, Goodone121 nominated the article again, and again without any discussion. I removed the nomination, because Delldot (talk · contribs) (who had already reviewed the article on a prior occasion) and Leevanjackson agreed that the time wasn't ripe.

Now Goodone121 has started a WP:GAR, which nobody has commented on, and now claims that the Huntington's article therefore meets WP:WIAGA and must therefore be a GA. There has been no review, and there is basically consensus that the article is not ready for prime time.

Delldot and myself have warned Goodone121 that he was being disruptive, yet the behaviour continues. I would very much like an uninvolved admin to review this case with a view of blocking this contributor, who is wasting the time of some very content-heavy editors. JFW | T@lk 20:04, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

I would like to say, I renommed only when progress was made. I also listed as the template said that the initiating editor should close. I am not using this as a "backdoor ". —Preceding unsigned comment added by Goodone121 (talk • contribs) 20:10, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

I have warned the user. John Vandenberg 12:23, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks John. This is now the second time this user has landed on ANI. I think a block would be inevitable in case of reoffending. JFW | T@lk 16:45, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Unfortunately, the editor continues to insist that the Huntington's article is GA despite general agreement that it is not. Could anyone review these edits and consider a block? JFW | T@lk 14:23, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

IP back for a fifth time

Please see this Also, should I just keep reporting this guy under the same section? --Enzuru 01:23, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Back here too. --Enzuru 01:46, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Sorry, I can't figure exactly what's going on. Could you list the prior IP addresses or something to help explain. Would you rather I just semi-protect your talk page? -- Ricky81682 (talk) 01:49, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Sorry for being unclear. This individual previously were warring on Ayatollah Sistani, Ayatollah Khamenei, Shia Islam, and List of marjas, and after the first two blocks (one of which is here), started on Template:Shia Islam and Twelve Imams and now are undoing any change I make as you can see here. An IP I listed earlier included this one. --Enzuru 02:16, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Also this IP --Enzuru 02:19, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Enzuru is referring to this and this , both above, the only other thing i can find in the archives is this, , which seems to be unrelated--Jac16888 (talk) 02:35, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I have blocked 64.55.144.50 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) for 12 hours and 193.188.117.66 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) for 24 hours. There is probably no point blocking 193.188.117.67 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) anymore. John Vandenberg 04:02, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

They are back here --Enzuru 08:16, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Blocked. John Vandenberg 09:43, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Back here (taken care of but only temporarily) and here --Enzuru 22:26, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

He was at it again but was only blocked temporarily. --Enzuru 09:07, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have hard blocked 193.188.117.64/29 for a month. This range is within the range operated by Bahrain Telecommunication Company, so please write a stub about this company so we know who to contact about abuse! ;-) John Vandenberg 10:04, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Only a redirect was needed. --> Batelco. -- fayssal - Wiki me up 10:32, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

There exists Boycott Batelco as well though I am not sure if it is notable enough to warrant an article. -- fayssal - Wiki me up 10:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

217.17.242.219 is directly operated by Bahrain Telecommunication Company, but I dont think a long range block is appropriate against this. The person could come back on a different IP in the "217.17.242.*" range. We will have to play that one by ear.

The IP 64.55.144.50 could strike again; if that specific IP does reappear, it should be hit with a month long block.

John Vandenberg 10:19, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

John, I saw you blocking some of those IPs with "edit warring" as a rationale :) -- fayssal - Wiki me up 10:32, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have blocked 84.255.189.236 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) for 31 hours, and reverted. Error: No valid IPv4 or IPv6 address in arguments is the Batelco ADSL service. If 84.255.189.236 re-offends, increase the block duration incrementally until we work out how long the ADSL IPs persist for. If another IP in that range repeats the same nonsense, that should also give us a clue how often the IP addresses rotate. John Vandenberg 22:37, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have blocked 64.55.144.3 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) for 31 hours. John Vandenberg 23:06, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have blocked 129.250.211.6 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) for 31 hours, and protected a few of the articles and templates for a week. John Vandenberg 23:16, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have blocked 129.250.211.0/24 as this person has appeared on this range again. John Vandenberg 06:49, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Wikiport

• Wikiport (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · nuke contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Brand new editor Wikiport (talk · contribs) has been engaging in very disturbing conduct over the last few weeks. He has twice made spurious speedy (G11) nominations of Fox News Channel (here and here, and later claimed both were "typos" (note edit summaries). He has removed an admin's comments from a talk page. He got in a rather nasty spat with admin Pedro (talk · contribs), and also accused him of threats. When met with any opposition he accuses established editors of serving agendas. See examples of his snide faux-friendly attitude here, here, and here. He continually refuses to read the appropriate FAQ or archived discussions, which specifically address the issues he's raised. The final straw has come in his baseless accusation of sockpuppetry. He's been amply warned and counseled, administrator assistance appears to be necessary. Thanks in advance! //Blaxthos ( t / c ) 02:30, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I see that Pedro gave him a "last warning." You've informed him so I think I'd rather wait on Pedro's response before blocking on this. At this stage, it just him accusing you, "Blax", so I've warned him about his response to your complaint of personal attacks. -- Ricky81682 (talk) 03:01, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I am a new editor, so yes I admit I have stepped on a couple of land-mines. I did make two (G10) nominations for the Fox News Channel. However, I was quickly corrected by Pedro, in which everything was explained. Now, regarding the accusation of sock-puppetry, I didn't accuse Blaxthos of it, I merely stated that I have seen controversy regarding him and an issue regarding immigration; a question which was raised long before my arrival. Now, in my attempt at trying to get other editors BESIDES Blaxthos to look at the FNC article, it has been met with constant opposition from him. I understand his issue of the archives, but it still doesn't prevent other editors from having a say in the matter. I have asked Blaxthos on both talk pages, and the talk page for FNC to cease this silliness and move on to something constructive. I will collect the pertinent links and post them here. Thanks! Wikiport (talk) 03:15, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

FTR, I've never been accused of (or engaged in) sockpuppetry, nor have I ever been blocked or party to any sanction or administrative action. Anything more than a glance reveals I discovered a battalion of sockpuppets via WP:RFCU, which were blocked indefinitely, The thinly-veiled accusation, repeated again here as a sideways insinuation after being sternly warned by Ricky81683, is a willful misrepresentation of the facts, and only validates my point. //Blaxthos ( t / c ) 03:48, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

This is his chief complaint, as I stated, I never accused him, truthfully I didn't even know what a sock-puppet was until I saw this information below on his own talk page. This is silly, and getting a bit out of hand. It seems that he isn't willing to let bygones be bygones and move on to something more creative than arguing.

• Blaxthos (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• HereICome2 (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Pparcell (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• RosieT96 (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• EarthlyPrincess (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Johanna63 (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Marlayn (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
• Code letter: G
• Supporting evidence:

Again, I read this from Blaxthos's talk page, and took it as "controversy", and quite frankly concerned as he seems to continually push his consensus. I simply pointed out controversy existed. Wikiport (talk) 03:53, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Read the section just above it, posted here.

For private reasons, I haven't used a user account for years. I have, instead, been an IP anon on Misplaced Pages. However, IP anons cannot submit checkuser requests. Can you submit it for me? Here's the request I wrote.

That's a sample checkuser an anonymous editor asked me to format properly and file for him (which was done) that resulted in the aforementioned army being blocked. Please take the time to read before pulling the trigger. Just more validation that this user doesn't understand what's going on, and refuses to better his viewpoint by reading anything at all. //Blaxthos ( t / c ) 04:01, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I think we have both voiced our opinions more than enough on this subject. Let's allow for someone impartial to take a look at everything. Thanks again! Wikiport (talk) 04:10, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Echoing what I have said on your user talk: I have reviewed your editing, and found it extremely poor. Your content changes are adding fuel to the fire rather than assist to address the problem you see, this was particularly disingenuous, and your comments to users have an acidic tone. This is your final warning: either edit with respect for other editors, otherwise you will be banned. John Vandenberg 05:45, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

This edit is actually reasurring - it seems he's finally understanding that I made my actions with the +sysop hat on and not as fervent editor of the article (Fox News Channel). Nevertheless, I think Wikiport needs to start assuming a bit more good faith and needs to watch how he phrases his remarks. He also needs to learn that templating the regulars and making throaway "you've been reported" comments is not going to help his cause. I think I've made it abundantly clear that editors will be pleased to hear him out and help him with any perceived issues at the Fox News article, and that equally he needs to reciprocate this help by meeting others with civility and courtesy. Bluntly, I could have blocked him for WP:POINTy actions but I've held of as I do wish to help. How long my or others patience lasts is entirely in Wikiport's hands. Pedro :  Chat  10:19, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Guys, I find your deep reserves of patience towards Wikiport amazing -- he's truly lucky. I'm not sure how much sincerity any of his comments include (especially the "reassuring" one), but as of this morning the taunts and incivility continue. Maybe it's because I've been dealing with him more closely, but I'm wary of the utility of re-re-final warning him "for real this time". Simply put, my patience is depleted; I don't believe he's here to improve Misplaced Pages at all. //Blaxthos ( t / c ) 11:42, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

That diff preceeds my warning to Wikiport, and I definitely took that diff into account, which is why I gave a "final" warning. If there are any further problems, let me know. John Vandenberg 23:20, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Blaxthos, lets agree to disagree. There are much more important issues that warrant the energy being spent here. Thanks! Wikiport (talk) 00:30, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Return of the Vandal User:Pionier

It seems that the former vandal User:Pionier is back again, using an IP address User_talk:62.200.52.25. He is doing almost exactly the same edits as before Miguel Pro, Cristo-Rei etc. and is removing category Jesus as he did before. And the IP traces back to the London area, again.

I started a design document that will eventually detect people like him more easily and that document uses this fellow as an example. Here is teh document: User:History2007/Content protection. I guess he just prompted me to go and finish that database, with his return. If you have any suggestions on my design for the database, please feel free to add comments on the talk page for that document.

He made several edits today and he knows how to disguise them, so they look innocent. He aims to distort the category structure in Misplaced Pages. And he gets away with some of it. User:Renata3 blocked him for 48 hours, but he will be back. Please look out for him.

Key question: Is he the same person as Eurovisionman? Both in London, both persistent, but using different personas? He may have a real multi-personality disorder anyway.... Please do look out for him. Thanks History2007 (talk) 06:28, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I think you are right about him being Eurovisionman, he's also editing from 64.230.7.84, so it could possibly be proxy servers? (The IP addresses aren't located near eachother physically)

--Ambrosius007 (talk) 06:43, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Stranger things have happened...64.230.7.84 (talk) 06:49, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

There are edits by 62.200.52.25 that are still on top; adding many pages to Category:Lithuanian Roman Catholics without text & references supporting that claim. I have blocked 64.230.7.84, however 62.200.52.25 is probably not worth blocking as this person is probably not using this IP any longer. John Vandenberg 07:29, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, this persona of this multi-person has a serious obsession with Lithuania, Christianity, Jews and chess players. He can NOT stop himself and will edit those pages driven by whatever psycho-ailment he is suffering from. But that very same obsession is his trademark and calling card, so he is easy to identify, in this persona. It is a question of reverting "everythig" he changes because some of his changes look innocent, but are not. It took me a few minutes to realize how he was quietly distorting Miguel Pro. His changes should not be left on any page. I think he would be a good topic for a dissertation in psychology on obsession. History2007 (talk) 07:54, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Generally, someone who has abused multiple accounts to the point of being indefblocked has lost the right to contribute to Misplaced Pages, and their sockpuppet's stuff is usually removed immediately upon discovery. If an editor in good standing later wants to restore any of the edits, though, that is fine, too, I'd think. --Bradeos Graphon Βραδέως Γράφων (talk) 14:00, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Unfortunately, many of his edits still persist and no one notices them because they are innocent looking. E.g. Cristo Rey Network has been added as a catehory to many pages to which it has no relevance. There must be better tools fo rdealing with these people, e.g. AdminTools that do multipage reverts with ease, etc. Is there an "Amninistrator's ToolBox" in Misplaced Pages that makes life easy for the admins? History2007 (talk) 20:04, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Only rollback, really. Guy (Help!) 12:19, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Just in case - previous WP:AN/I threads about the same user: Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive377#Abuse by User:Tvarkytojas User:T_bullshider PLEASE PLEASE HELP, Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive325#Persistent disruptive re-categorizing anon, Misplaced Pages:Administrators'_noticeboard/IncidentArchive284#User:Pionier. --Martynas Patasius (talk) 22:10, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Re MEDRS guideline and my action in edit war

WP:MEDRS was/is meant as further help and infomation (as guidelines are meant to be) on some aspects mentioned briefly in the main WP:RS guideline. Having been developed over some 22 months and a RFC to promote to guideline for about 3 weeks with heads up posted widely, I concluded that at 84.2% a clear majority consensus had been reached and promoted the essay to guideline (not that this seems strictly needed by an admin). See Wikipedia_talk:Reliable_sources_(medicine-related_articles)#Rfc_Promotion_of_MEDRS_to_guideline. Long discussion threads then had on the talk page, as well as my user talk page and at Misplaced Pages talk:Consensus (see Misplaced Pages talk:Consensus#RfC: definition of consensus and its following thread) where, IMHO, the minority opinion sought to have this overturned on two aspects. Firstly issue of whether secondary sources should be prefered in general over primary sources (WP:MEDRS merely reflects current WP:RS in this regard) and secondly that WP:Consensus needs be an absolute 100% unanimous decission for WP:MEDRS to be a guideline and that even a small minority dissent therefore equates to no consensus. Majority view has been that consensus requires only an overall clear majority (but respecting of course minority views). 3 editors removed the guideline tag from WP:MEDRS, with Paul gene (talk · contribs) removing a total of 7 times in the last week (being reverted back by 4 different other editors).

Yesterday I took several actions which have been critisied on the talk page, which would be more appropriately aired here and therefore I welcome other admin review:

• Paul Gene seems to be edit warring and against multiple other editors, I so issued a warning on his talk page and reverted the page back to (IMHO) the consensus version. (others have commented on his involvement per User talk:Paul gene#MEDMOS and MEDRS)
• Given though he has not been the only editor who has expressed disquiet at the guideline status, it would not have been best approach to directly temporarily block this one editor, but instead given the constant to & fro over the page's tagging seems a edit war in general and I have for now protected the page (open to issue of "wrong version protection" given previous restoring of what was RfC 84.2% opinion). Explanation for this given at Misplaced Pages talk:Reliable sources (medicine-related articles)#Edit warring - page protected (in essence guideline tag does not imply total agreement from all editors and thus promotion to being a guideline does not require total unanimous agreement, else if I alone objected to WP:RS or WP:MOS should these not be guidelines? Also example given of WP's 1st policy promotion being just a few % more than this RfC's).

Subsequent critism of my actions at Misplaced Pages talk:Reliable sources (medicine-related articles)#Administrator's poor judgement and improper actions. Thoughts please both on my approaches here (if I did wrong or poorly, then I appologise and please do unprotect or revert back from "the wrong version" as well as take over admin mopping around that page). David Ruben 12:35, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• This looks like a straightforward case of a user trying to use Misplaced Pages to "fix" real-world problems. At root, he seems to be opposed to the use of review articles because, well, they don't support the conclusions he'd like them to support. And up to a point he's right - I have seen complete twaddle published by Cochrane - but in the end he is saying that we should, as editors, make the judgment between the competing merits of primary surces ourselves, and that simply is not permitted by policy, so in the end if the real world is wrong, Misplaced Pages will be wrong too. Guy (Help!) 14:28, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

As Guy says, a lot of users want to use directly medical studies insted of medical reviews because they don't agree with what the reviews say. This guideline just makes clear that medical studies are primary sources. This dispute is really about "Reviews X, Y and Z, which were published on the leading journals of the field, are all wrong because they don't take into account studies U, V and W which I personally consider relevant". Exact same situation as the homeopathy arb case. --Enric Naval (talk) 16:13, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• What is unfortunate about this particular timesink is that, in a content dispute, WP:V suffices to cover the content at MEDRS anyway, and the additional info there was only intended to provide specifics about medical sources. Whether the page is or isn't a guideline will not change good, policy-based editing on medical articles in practice; the absence of the page as a guideline will, however, make editing harder for new editors. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 16:52, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• So, would you suggest a topic ban from that page? Guy (Help!) 11:02, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I've discussed this with some people, and I think we can assume good faith on the part of Paul Gene. We just need to explain consensus to him better. I can't immediately oppose a temporary topic ban (for failing to work on consensus) or temporary block (for edit warring), but I'd like to see if it's possible to talk with him first. :-) --Kim Bruning (talk) 17:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

That is the same group that recently tried to remove all information about malpractice from the Medecine article. A "consensus" of tendentious editors does not count as such, specially since they are trying to overrule RS. --Mihai cartoaje (talk) 11:47, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

+ See: Wikipedia_talk:CONSENSUS#Consensus_being_replaced_by_silence_at_Wikipedia_talk:Reliable_sources_.28medicine-related_articles.29.23Rfc_Promotion_of_MEDRS_to_guideline --Kim Bruning (talk) 17:41, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

See also Paul gene's announcement that he's starting an RFC/U. Perhaps he doesn't trust ANI to deal with admins? WhatamIdoing (talk) 01:32, 24 September 2008 (UTC) (who is not watching this page).

Why I started Rfc instead of answering Davidruben here.

1. Because WP:Administrators policy recommends it: "The first step is to discuss the issue which has led up to the problem with the administrator in question in an attempt to resolve the situation in a mutually acceptable manner. If no resolution is reached, file a Request for Comment, outlining your concerns with the administrators behaviour"

2. Because he did not respond to my question about his actions as WP:Administrators policy recommends. Instead he posted here.

3. Because he did not extend to me a courtesy of notifying me that my actions are discussed in a posting here, as this page recommends.

4. Because Davidruben here raises irrelevant content issue (secondary vs primary sources). Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard recommends: "These pages are not the place to raise disputes over content".

5. Because the real question is – is it appropriate for an administrator involved in the content dispute to use his administrative powers? It is clear from Davidruben's posts at WP:MEDRS that he is very involved in the dispute. He believes that the dissenting editors are incorrect. There is nothing wrong with that. However, it is wrong to protect the version he likes.

In my Rfc I only seek a minimal remedy - Davidruben should excuse himself from the discussion WP:MEDRS page. I do not seek to defame his character or place doubt on his otherwise excellent work as administrator. If he excuses himself voluntarily, I would strongly support closing the Rfc.

Relevant paragraphs of WP:administrators policy. Skip them if you know the policy by heart ;)

"Administrators are expected to lead by example and to behave in a respectful, civil manner in their interactions with others... Administrators (and other experienced editors) should especially strive to model appropriate standards of courtesy and civility to other editors and to one another."

"Administrators are accountable for their actions involving administrator tools, and unexplained administrator actions can demoralize other editors who lack such tools. Subject only to the bounds of civility, avoiding personal attacks, and reasonable good faith, editors are free to question or to criticize administrator actions. Administrators are expected to respond promptly and civilly to queries about their administrative actions and to justify them when needed."

"Common situations where avoiding tool use is often required: Conflict of interest/non-neutrality/content dispute — Administrators should not use their tools to advantage, or in a content dispute (or article) where they are a party (or significant editor), or where a significant conflict of interest is likely to exist. With few specific exceptions where tool use is allowed by any admin, administrators should ensure they are reasonably neutral parties when they use the tools...In most cases even when use of the tools is reasonable, if a reasonable doubt may exist, it is frequently better to ask an independent administrator to review and (if justified) take the action."

" actions on an article are minor, obvious, and do not speak to bias, is usually not prevented from acting on the article, user, or dispute.... That said, an administrator may still wish to pass such a matter to another administrator as "best practice" in some cases (although not required to)....However, if there is doubt, or a personal motive may be alleged, it may still be better to pass it to others where possible."

Paul Gene (talk) 11:32, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

So, re point 2: RfC/User started "Because he did not respond to my question about his actions", yet I posted (modified) notice 14:16, 22 September 2008 of seeking review here at WP:AN/I, yet the RfC then created 04:05, 23 September 2008 - that's not a failure to respond, but seems forum shopping. re point 3: no direct need inform editor on their page, partly as I had notified at WT:MEDRS where discussion had been active but more that I very specifically sought views on "my approaches" (and not a request for Paul topic ban or block). re later comments, I'm not sure an admin closing a RfC and then explaining their reasoning (as I had done, but which Paul sees need to include quote "Administrators are expected to respond promptly and civilly to queries about their administrative actions and to justify them when needed") is itself participating in the content dispute, nor therefore taking action in an edit war therefore inapropriate - but that was why I happy sought this AN/I (as Paul quotes "to ask an independent administrator to review") and indeed I offered (above) an appology if due and excuse from further oversight to another admin if thought appropriate; subsequently seeking RfC for reasons stated seems at best therefore superfluous. David Ruben 13:34, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Misza13

I have blocked Misza13 for running an unauthorized bot and refusing to comply with the BRFA policy. Work it out. Prodego 21:32, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

This must be one of those advanced forms of satire, involving actual indefinite blocks. east718 // talk // email // 21:33, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Goddamn I hate this board. Immediately unblock. --MZMcBride (talk) 21:35, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Prodego, are you intending to stick around and discuss the block, or are you leaving the block for others to deal with and hopefully lift as we see fit ? Nick (talk) 21:37, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Jeez, unblock Misza, leave a flaming bag of dog-doo on Prodego's door for such a flagrant abuse of his tools and violation of WP:POINT. WilyD 21:39, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I would not agree with unblocking. Was Misza13 really running an unapproved bot? Surely such users get blocked. -- how do you turn this on 21:41, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Blocks aren't punative. Nondisruptive users don't get blocked without warning - period. Prodego has had this explained to him many times in the last week or two while he's been plotting this block. He knew it was a bad block, and he did it any way. Not to prevent disruption - there was none. Only to punish Misza13. Terrible, terrible action remarkably unbecoming of an administrater. WilyD 22:13, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

(ec)I should also note that as of only a few days ago, this version of the bot policy had stated that should the measure pass, admins would have about 2 weeks to comply with it by filing a BRFA. The new version of the page is different, but it does seem, at least to me, way excessive to immediately block someone due to the page only changing within the last couple days. Very angry mob-ish. --slakr 21:41, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Misza's last admin action was over an hour ago, and the one before that was nearly 20 hours ago, so I don't see why an immediate block was necessary before discussion. Not to mention that Misza's bot is immensely helpful, despite lack of official approval. Mr.Z-man 21:42, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• Unblock - even if the allegations are true, Prodego was not the admin to have blocked in this case - throwing WP:POINT out of the window. weburiedoursecretsinthegarden 21:43, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Got beaten to the unblock :( I don't see any necessity of an immediate block. I also haven't heard of factual complains about Misza's work ever. Nor he ever wasn't available for discussion. There is no need for such a pointy block. Sorry, Snowolf 21:44, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Bad block. Seriously, Misza's been openly running an adminbot for more than a year. His code is open source and public. And given your involvement with Misplaced Pages:RFAr#Unapproved admin bots it seems strange you wouldn't block any of the other admin bots. Misplaced Pages talk:BOT#adminbots proposal already has an ongoing discussion about adminbots, which you have apparently ignored. One of the unresolved points of active discussion is how to deal with existing admin bots, including discussion of a grace period and/or grandfather clause. Misza is participating in that discussion, contrary your statement about "refusal". There is no need to start handing out blocks right now with no evidence that Misza is causing harm. Dragons flight (talk) 21:43, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I was about to undo this incredibly bad block myself, but I see Anetode beat me to it. Blueboy96 21:46, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I disagree with the block and am glad Misza13 was unblocked by Anetode (talk · contribs) and then this action was supported by NawlinWiki (talk · contribs). Also - why is this discussion taking place both here and at WP:AN? Cirt (talk) 21:47, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Because otherwise people might only make a complete tit of themselves once? Guy (Help!) 22:07, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Your comments need a health warning Guy. That's the funniest thing I've read for ages. Carcharoth (talk) 23:24, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Dammit all to pieces, Guy, I've spewed Pepsi all over my keyboard. That was awesome. Gladys J Cortez 00:32, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Unblock. (multiple edit conflicts) To call this action harsh would be a severe understatement. What was the WP:POINT of all this? RFerreira (talk) 21:52, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• I hearby propose that every single admin be desysopped and banned, and 1500-someodd new admins be chosen at random from the pool of remaining editors. I'm guessing there is about a 75% chance that this would improve upon the current situation; there's a distinct lack of sanity, rationality, calmness, respectfulness, and humilty around here lately. --barneca (talk) 21:48, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Good fricking grief. it seems that any time an admin blocks, shouts 'i blocked X' in here, then logs off, there's going to be drama. More and more lately, I feel they know that, and do it in that way for that reason. Ugh. ThuranX (talk) 21:49, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Not always, no... Georgewilliamherbert (talk) 02:49, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Has Misza filed a BRFA to get his/her bot approved by the community? I do agree this does look punitive, and should have been discussed first. But it does not excuse the fact he's running it without required approval. -- how do you turn this on 21:50, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Anetode also beat me to the unblock. Does it not matter to anyone that Misza13's bot is able to stop pagemove vandalism after only 1 or 2 pages are moved? Please don't reinstate this block unless and until the issue is fully discussed somewhere, including an opportunity for Misza13 to comment. NawlinWiki (talk) 21:51, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I will ask again - why is this discussion taking place in two places - both here and at WP:AN? Cirt (talk) 21:52, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Please add your personal opinions, admin or not, filled with drama, below this line. Be sure to stay on whatever side of the general debate of adminbots that you've previously been on, else someone will bring up a diff to dispute your new opinion: Keeper ǀ 76 21:48, 22 September 2008 (UTC) ----

Cirt, the AN one's been closed. Obviously, the thread starter didn't notice this one here. -- how do you turn this on 21:54, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Thank you very much to How do you turn this on (talk · contribs) - it will be much easier to follow one thread. Cirt (talk) 21:58, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Erm, I strongly strongly disagree with this block, less than a week ago Prodego was warned by an Arbiter not to follow through with a proposed adminbot block to cause an RFAR at . That Prodego would block now, after Arbcom has found no issue worth exploring, seems in incredibly bad faith, if not outright disruption. Prodego has indicated previously he has issues with the Admin bots practice, most notably by filing an RFAR on the topic, how does he even begin to approach uninvolved status of a blocking admin? MBisanz 21:57, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Just as a comment, from someone who ran an adminbot in the past: I can understand why Misza did not file a BRFA. The reason is because going through a BRFA would result in it not being approved, because opposition will be raised even if there is a 0.0000001% chance of false positives. Xclamation point 22:00, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Wow, talk about random sysop actions. This block was ridiculous, if the bot was unauthorized, block the bot not the user running it. I can't believe this is how we pay Misza13 for all the work done by MiszaBot. - Caribbean~H.Q. 22:01, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

X!, there's always false positives with any bot. Why are some people allowed to run bots without approval, just because they think they'd fail a BRFA? If the community don't want such a bot, they shouldn't have to have it. Misza (and you, and others) running bots anyway is in violation of the bot policy, and not the community's wishes. -- how do you turn this on 22:03, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Whether or not Misza was wrong for running an admin bot is a separate question, since it was not an emergency (he has been doing things that look admin bot like for probably a year), Prodego should have filed an RFC on Misza's conduct, and if that did not change things, filed an RFAR on specific actions Misza took. I do not see the need to leap into a block for this clearly non-emergency situation. MBisanz 22:03, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Caribbean, he was running the bot on his own account. Normal editors get blocked for doing plain old edits in a "bot like" manner. Why is Misza an exception here? -- how do you turn this on 22:05, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Check out Curps (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) some time. Guy (Help!) 22:09, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

"Normal editors" usually get a query in their talk page, if a block is issued in such a case its most likely because the user didn't respond and continued the edit pattern. If Misza was running a "full" bot instead of a script, it would have been logical to at least allow a chance for explaining it. - Caribbean~H.Q. 22:10, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes Misza runs a full adminbot. He has done so for ages. The code is public. It's even been mentioned in the Signpost. This is not a secret. Dragons flight (talk) 22:13, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Then that's just lovely, the block was issued even when its old news? I think someone wanted to create random drama. - Caribbean~H.Q. 22:19, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

(de-indent) This shows a severe lack of judgement and temper by Prodego. Utterly unsupportable. SirFozzie (talk) 22:33, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

After reading this discussion, I think the bot was a bad one and agree that removing it is a good move. I would say, however, that people follow Misza's suggestion below, and chime in on the talk page of the bot policy, so that we never have problems like this again. -- how do you turn this on 22:36, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I have also let Prodego know on his talk page of the fact it was overturned. -- how do you turn this on 22:39, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I'm sorry to be a kill joy here, but Prodego did have policy on side. WP:BOT reads "Administrators may block bot accounts that operate without approval, operate in a manner not specified in their approval request, or operate counter to the terms of their approval (for example, by editing too quickly). A block may also be issued if a bot process operates without being logged in to an account, or is logged in to an account other than its own." Now, Misza was running a fully automated bot on his admin account that has had no approval. Maybe policy needs to be changed to reflect current practices (i.e. the current discussion on approving admin bots) but it's not fair to completely shoot down Prod for it. I think it was a bad block really, but policy certainly suggests it's within his discretion to block a bot without approval. Instead of concentrating on shooting Prodego down for the block, let's move our efforts onto clarifying the bot policy to say that admins who run bots on their accounts must take fully account for any wrong actions and face any consequences that come about from them. Ryan Postlethwaite 23:29, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

As a general point, I believe Misplaced Pages would be the poorer for the loss of either Misza or Prodego over this matter. WJBscribe (talk) 23:35, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Prodego has stated his intention to depart. Dragons flight (talk) 23:37, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• Policy is what we actually do, and sometimes it gets written down, and sometimes what is written is reasonably current with what is done. There are several admins who run bots that have gone undisturbed for a long time. Prodego filed and RFAR which was declined with advice to start a discussion on updating the policy. If the arbitrators thought there were serious violations of admin authority here I'm sure they would have accepted the case. As things are, Prodego's action was clearly calculated to be disruptive. Thatcher 23:50, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Looking at what happened here, I was surprised to see that Prodego would make such a mistake. Nonetheless, I still think that he has been doing an amazing job. One mistake, as bad as it is, can't end everything and I'm entirely sure that Prodego still has a place here. As for Miszra13 (whose comment was added below), I hope that he/she wasn't negatively affected by this incident. Bots (don't get me wrong, I could never run them) are difficult to maintain, and hopefully Miszra13 can confirm anything in regards to his/her bot. ~ Troy (talk) 00:06, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Leave blocked Why should admins get special dispensations that we ordinary peons do not? What makes them special? Jtrainor (talk) 00:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, first of all, usually admins would have to be very experienced, as most requests for adminship are often rejected due to a lack in any of the key requirements. Second, we non-admins (like myself) can still make many meaningful contributions (the basis for any adminship in the first place). You don't need to be an admin to do what's needed. You can still report any major concerns/issues on here, at ANK, AN3, AIV, RFP, SSP, RFCU or at requests for editor assistance. Also, I'm just going to note that I am against blocking Miszra13 again because, under the previous circumstances even, that block wasn't warranted. ~ Troy (talk) 00:26, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I believe it was, based on http://en.wikipedia.org/User_talk:Misza13/Archives/2008/09#Gra_wp_reverts I ask everyone read that before passing judgment. I added the relevant section below Prodego 01:32, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I will not request any approval simply because a) I don't play process for the sake of it or to the process wonks' (such as yourself) satisfaction b) the bot already is approved, authorized or whatever you call it and operaties within policy. If that policy is IAR (which is the default if nothing else can be applied), it doesn't matter - the admin bot section of WP:BOT does not have community consensus and remains tagged as proposed until few hours ago was only proposed (still, it's disputed and doesn't apply retroactively anyway, so this is moot).

Furthermore, I am surprised these questions come from you, who has a longer tenure as an administrator - the bot has been operating for nearly two years now and everyone and their grandma is aware of its existence. Finally, if you still perceive that the blocking policy "tells" you something you cannot resist despite no evidence of damage being done, I must suggest (per Luna above) switching to knitting every now and then.

I hope this clears things up so we can move on to building a 💕. Regards, Миша13 10:18, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

I point you to the above, Misza was warned, and admitted to knowingly violating policy for a reason that doesn't seem to be quite acceptable. Prodego 01:36, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Misza's bot has been publicly operated for several years, and is common knowledge. It has been discussed on ANI before. Given this, Misza's assertion that his bot has community approval is perfectly accurate. — Carl (CBM · talk) 01:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, that was just about the dumb idea of the year. We were talking through the issue in a more reasonable manner at WT:BOT, and I got the idea that Misza13 would run his adminbot through the process as long as we tried it out on some new bots first.

When I was concerned that Misza was hiding something about his bot, he even took the time to point me to the source code and explain to me how it worked. I left convinced that he wasn't hiding anything, he just didn't want to be the sacrificial goat that went through the process first. Seemed reasonable to me -- on the off chance that the new process is a big clusterfuck, we might as well not make a big clusterfuck around a bot that's been running for a while.

Guess what: it's a clusterfuck now. I hope this ill-advised action by Prodego hasn't set back our progress toward a sensible adminbot policy too far. rspeer / ɹəədsɹ 04:50, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

What can I say?

Thanks for the support to those who voiced it, much appreciated. This raises hopes should I (and other operators) decide to go through a formal approval with my (our) bot(s) (unless its made obsolete by the abuse filter sooner). But before that happens, I encourage everyone to hop in to WT:BOT#adminbots proposal and lend a helping hand with an ongoing discussion - we could really use more input to iron out the policy before we start rolling bots through it. Cheers, Миша13 22:08, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Is that where the bot is being discussed? Are all your bots (admin or otherwise) either approved or up for approval? If so then somebody should call curtains on any drama, mark this resolved, and be done with it.Wikidemon (talk) 23:31, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

The conflict here arises from the gap between actual practice, and where are policies lag behind practice. This is one of the reasons we have an "ignore all rules" policy, which I still think is one of the most brilliant ideas in the history of our project, since it always gives us an "out" in situations like this one. Our actual daily procedures on Misplaced Pages always runs slightly ahead of our policies: for example as we develop more robust vandal-fighting tools, and as we encounter difficult situations not foreseen when we wrote the bulk of our policies years ago. As we age, policies become harder and harder to amend, due to inertia, due to "we've always done it that way", and due to the rise of the bureaucracy which always follows as the pioneering spirit fades (Franz Kafka: "all revolutions eventually evaporate, leaving behind the slime of a new bureacracy.") Prodego believed his block supported by policy, and it actually was supported by the letter of it: but at the same time it was a harmful block, because blocking Misza's bot opened the door to various odious types of vandalism. Clearly we have a need to amend a policy.

In my opinion the correct solution is not to block Misza, but to update policy to allow Misza's bot to run. I suggest a grandfather clause to allow existing bots, such as this spectacularly successful one, to continue as before. Thank you, Antandrus (talk) 01:59, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't think Misza's attitude towards unauthorized bots was healthy - it was that IAR attitude that lead administrators to enable and apologize so long for Betacommand (who would often run disruptive bots without approval, shielded by administrators who approved of his efforts). However, AN/I isn't the best place to discuss that, nor is blocking and unblocking administrators the best way to make the argument.Wikidemon (talk) 03:28, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Key difference between me and Beta is the word "disruptive". Миша13 18:51, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Resignation

Prodego (talk · contribs) has resigned and left a note on his userpage. seicer | talk | contribs 01:57, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't view that as an actual resignation, and I said so there. ++Lar: t/c 02:04, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, and I don't think he wants to actual resign for a terribly long period of time. He said he would be back. I just hope that we can clear this thing up and not have to worry about it any longer. ~ Troy (talk) 02:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

"Don't worry PM, I will come back" No further explanation necessary. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 02:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Seeing as how they will most likely be acting upon this at RFAR, he better be coming back with an explanation. A great administrator otherwise, who made one serious mistake, and then "resigned" promptly thereafter. Not good in my books. seicer | talk | contribs 03:04, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Happily: Part of my ethic is to treat everyone equally. I was forced to make a choice here, between what policy said and what I feel is the right thing to do, and a few users saying I shouldn't block Misza on his talk page. The policy says "Accounts performing automated tasks without prior approval may be summarily blocked by any administrator". I did not summarily block, I left a note and requested an RfAr. With the response to the first being a refusal to request approval, and the response to the second being that arbcom does not take advisory cases, I did the only responsible thing. Followed the policy equally, as I had done before, and blocked the unapproved bot. Additional offwiki circumstances related to an IRC channel required me to either implicitly condone Misza's admin bot, or to block it. I did what I feel was right, block. If Misplaced Pages doesn't agree to treat everyone equally, I don't know that I know how to be an administartor, and if that is the case I might need a break to sort things out or until things here get sorted out. I hope I have been a good administrator, I have spent nearly 3 years trying to do exactly that, and it is really all you can ask me to do. Prodego 04:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Although I disagreed with your block and run behavior, because it leads to this drama, I also don't think you abdicating is a responsible attitude. If you really intend to react this way to every admin action you make which gets questioned, then give up the buttons. But if you can learn and move on, then keep the buttons. Misza13 should have sought approval, and the 'horrible results of your block' were instead on misza13's shoulders, because if the bot had approval, then there wouldn't be such misplaced reliance on the 'bot to protect from vandals. Now the bot can get approval, go back to working ,and all will be well, AND approved. Stick around ,jsut don't block, dump, and run again. That's the bad judgment in my view. ThuranX (talk) 04:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Given that Prodego said he would retain admin rights until ArbCom decided they could take them from him, AFTER the 'I resign' message, he obviously does not mean to surrender his access immediately. Indeed, I suspect he is now hoping for an ArbCom case on the chance that it would address the policy-contradiction underlying this action... retaining his admin rights gives the 'angry mob' reason to try to take them away. Which creates the ArbCom case he had previously been denied. I like it. In short, Prodego is placing his Queen in jeopardy for a chance to capture the enemy King. Nice move.
That said. There has been some progress on bot policy lately. It is possible that this already was moving towards resolution. Prodego's action has demonstrably had the, almost certainly intended, result of pushing that movement further along. Drama? Yes. Disruption? A little. POINTy. Yeah, that fits. But... ultimately good for the project.
Good block. Even though it was wrong. --CBD 10:43, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

There's already been an ArbCom case in this area. See Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Marudubshinki. Back in 2006, Marudubshinki was desysopped for running an unapproved adminbot. So right now, any admin running an unapproved adminbot is at risk for desysopping. The problem seems to be that we've had some "below the radar" adminbots running succesfully for a while, but without policy to support them. We need to fix policy in that area. I've made a suggestion at Misplaced Pages:Requests for comment/Adminbots that adminbots need to be operated like other bots, with their own 'bot account, user page, etc. That would improve the transparency of adminbots, which is needed. --John Nagle (talk) 17:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

You're not interpreting the ruling correctly, or not stressing the relevant parts. I've been below the radar for about a year, but for the next year, it was pretty much a "public secret". Still, not until someone with an apparent lack of uderstanding of WP:IAR came to know of it, things were fine. Both Marudubshinki and later Betacommand were desysopped because not only their bots were making blatant mistakes but the operators themselves remained deaf to the many concerns raised on their talk page. None of these apply to me - my bots are accurate and I am responsive to reasonable disputants. So these are not exactly valid precedents for this case, sorry. Also, the RfC you added to is dead for over a month. Current development takes place directly on WP:BOT and WT:BOT where I am waiting for input, yet to little avail. Миша13 18:49, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

There's some forum-shopping going on here. Over at WT:BOT, there are suggestions that the subject is/was being discussed at the RfC and that the RfC is the discussion that matters. At the RfC, there's a motion to close on the grounds of no activity, even though three editors have made comments in the last week. So where does this get decided? --John Nagle (talk) 14:50, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Mass De-linking of years by Lightbot

I am bringing this up here because I believe that Lightbot is engaged in a series of edits that are disrupting Misplaced Pages. Specifically, it is de-linking all year references, which is not in conformity to the Manual of Style. I and several other users have complained to User Talk:Lightmouse, but the operator is convinced that this is proper. The Manual of Style does not prohibit the linking of years alone, and a discussion is ongoing as to when, if ever, this should be done. Whether so intended or not, the bot's program of mass de-linking constitutes a preemptive strike that will render the discussion moot. The bot was approved to make such edits over the substantive objections of a number of editors.

I have also mentioned this on WT:BAG, but I am concerned about the speed with which harm is being done to Misplaced Pages. The MOS states that dates should only be linked with "good reason." A bot cannot decide whether good reason exists so should not make the edits. Robert A.West (Talk) 22:27, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

This is related to WP:MOSNUM, which now states that "The linking of dates purely for the purpose of autoformatting is now deprecated." - Caribbean~H.Q. 23:04, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

The issue seems to be lone year links. ie. "1066 and all that" (lone year linking), as opposed to "7 July 2005" (date formatting linking). Someone made the point elsewhere that if all years are delinked, then the year pages end up as orphans. What then? Carcharoth (talk) 23:30, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Delete 'em, I guess? Then the categories too, then the subcategories for birth and death years (definitely "overlinking" amiright?) then Category:Living people as it will become nigh impossible to maintain. — CharlotteWebb 14:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Was the bot approved to do this? Corvus cornix_talk 23:40, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

The bot approval page at Misplaced Pages:Bots/Requests for approval/Lightbot 3 is at best misleading, since it doesn't specifically say that the bot will remove all linked years. Please block the bot. Corvus cornix_talk 23:41, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

The impression I get from Misplaced Pages:Bots/Requests for approval/Lightbot 3 (the very recent bot request) is that it was approved to do quite a lot. I'm strugling to work out what it can't do. Carcharoth (talk) 23:48, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

• (cur) (last) 04:20, September 11, 2008 Lightbot (Talk | contribs) (1,337 bytes) (Units/dates/division by zero/other) (rollback | undo)

Hmm... — CharlotteWebb 14:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I've been perusing User talk:Lightmouse. There are some serious concerns there, IMO, mainly the conflating of "date autoformatting" and the single links to years. These are two separate issues and should be dealt with separately. If the bot operator can't or won't separate the two types of "date audits", then the bot may need to be stopped. I also agree that the bot operations have moved outside of the remit of the initial bot request. It also looks like a rather buggy bot - with problems being detected by live runs and then fixed before starting again. To a limited extent that is needed, but some of the bugs seem like they should have been picked up on test runs first. Carcharoth (talk) 23:48, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I'll admit that I find the guideline here a bit confusing. It seems to me that the guidelines have changed so that we no longer automatically link dates, but I can't find any indication that we never link dates. Following that, I have a hard time understanding why a bot to remove all date links (even if they're just years by themselves) would ever be approved. -Chunky Rice (talk) 23:54, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

"Edits may add, remove or modify links to dates" "I would like to make it explicit that I will make other edits. * These will usually be minor improvements that are often done by other editors or are part of general MOS guidance" ~ User:Ameliorate! 00:05, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

And? What has that got to do with the questions in this thread? Carcharoth (talk) 00:08, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I wasn't asking if it had been approved. I'm asking why it was approved. And I must say that approval seems inordinately broad. I mean, it sounds like it can make any edits it wants. -Chunky Rice (talk) 00:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

(edit conflict) It's in response to the people calling for the bot to blocked as operating outside of its approval, when there are two very clear quotes about what it is approved to do, especially the second quote which, from my interpretation, means if something is stated in the MOS, the bot can do it; it's stated in the MOS that year links are deprecated, therefore Lightbot can unlink them. Why it was approved I can't answer, but the relevant forum for that question is not ANI. ~ User:Ameliorate! 00:19, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

First of all, I don't think that the MOS says that. It says that linking as a result of autoformatting is deprecated (why are we using this jargony term anyway?). It certainly does not say that all linking of years is impermissable. Second, I don't care if it's approved or not - that approval is ridiculous. If it starts up again delinking years before this discussion is complete, I'll block it in a hearbeat. -Chunky Rice (talk) 00:24, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I think I found the most recent "are any year links OK" thread: Misplaced Pages talk:Manual of Style (dates and numbers)#Dates are not linked unless.... Carcharoth (talk) 00:08, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Apparently "deprecate" is being used as a term of art: we used to approve it and now do not. I doubt this will be widely understood; other uses of "deprecate" have force closer to "anathematize". But this rule, whatever it means, and whatever its support, does not support what Lightbot has been doing: isolated years were never autoformatted. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 02:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Nowhere in the MOS does it say, "Go out and remove currently-linked dates". Corvus cornix_talk 01:06, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't care about solitary year lengths, but I am concerned that the bot has been makeing a substantial number of errors, such as changing ] ] to January 1 2008 (with no comma after the 1). There is no test suite of tricky dates to test the bot on after it is modified. I am dissatisfied with the quality control for this bot. --Gerry Ashton (talk) 00:11, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I agree the bot is buggy, yes. But we will all naturally gravitate to the bug that concerns or interests us most. I guess we can all agree that there are a lot of problems that need further discussion, testing and fixing? My "years" concerns are now here. Carcharoth (talk) 00:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This edit is clearly in error, as the BCE in the first date was removed. I can understand that it could be read to include BCE in both dates, but the bot should not make that assumption. Corvus cornix_talk 00:16, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Good luck getting his attention. The guy running lightbot is to dates what Betacommand is to photos: "I'm right and you're wrong and dat's dat." Baseball Bugs 00:22, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This comparison is an insult to Betacommand. — CharlotteWebb 14:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

From a technical standpoint, it looks fine to me. The edit left the visible text of the article unchanged, so someone who doesn't mouseover the links won't notice any difference. On the other hand, it strikes me as a situation where we want year links (the guy lived during these years, what else was going on at that time?). --Carnildo (talk) 00:24, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

By removing the BCE, it has the look of being wrong. Huh? He was born after he died? Corvus cornix_talk 01:05, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

My point is that it looked like that both before and after the dates were delinked. --Carnildo (talk) 03:52, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Lightbot, when I have seen it operate, did not remove links like September 23, 2008. This is a good thing; even if there is consensus that autoformatting should go, a bot is not yet the way to do it. But it does delink 2008 by itself. This is not something a bot should be doing; some year links, like the years of creation at Earl of Devon, are both intentional and valuable. Bots cannot exercise judgment; bots could usefully assist an editor in forming edits which would remove unnecessary links.

If Lightbot is restarted, it can be stopped at User talk:Lightbot. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 02:19, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't see any problem with it removing years. The bot does what it does and then editors sort out the end result in line with MOS, which only precludes unnecessary linking, not all linking (but would preclude most of those presently linked). If the links are genuinely useful on a particular article (eg William the Conqueror, or World War II, or one such as you cited) then editors are free to revert the bot. Orderinchaos 10:14, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

On most ancient history pages almost all dates are single years. Often the exact date is simply not known. Not blocking this bot will mean almost all ancient history will be without any links to years. Using a bot to do such controversial edits is crazy.Dejvid (talk) 11:15, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't actually see, for the large part, the merit in linking years to begin with. If something happened in 1742 BC/BCE, what benefit would readers get from being able to click on 1742? Orderinchaos 13:07, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Tony1's comments: Well indeed, Orderinchaos. What I find extraordinary about this page is that our style guides recommend against the linking of chronological items unless they significantly increase the reader's understanding of the topic. A quick survey of WP articles, especially the top-end ones (FAs and GAs) will reveal that such items in almost all cases unlinked. The culture has changed, guys, and it's been quite acceptable—and widely regarded as desirable—to delink 1980, 20th century, 1990s and the like for some time. Is this a time-warp back to when I joined WP in mid-2005? Then, there was fervent debate on the matter. Perhaps all this page is is a place for contributors who are nostalgic about that debate to belatedly let off steam. It's a pity that Lightbot and its inventor, Lightmouse, are being used as the whipping boys.

Dates in antiquity: on Lightmouse's talk page, I've posted an analysis of how unlikely it is such years are useful to the reader of an article that links to them, using 613 as the example, since someone else had raised that very year-page in defence of year-linking. Please go have a look at the analysis.

On the bot itself—we're dealing with a highly skilled and professional bot-manager in Lightmouse, who has long and strong experience. He is hardly a backyard kid out of control—he engages with those who provide critical feedback, and continually modifies the bot to improve it, much of this in response to such feedback. He is polite at all times. WP is lucky to have Lightmouse in this capacity.

More broadly, I hope that everyone here has viewed the relevant parts of the video of a recent Wikimania address by researcher Dr Bill Wedemeyer, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, who conducted an extensive study of the quality of (mainly) scientific articles on WP. What this disinterested external researcher says about WP's MoS and its role bears thinking about: that we should work towards greater automation of the MoS compliance tasks that lend themselves to such automation. Dr Wedemeyer is, I believe, envisaging a time when WP's editors can be spared ever more subtle and complex aspects of stylistic cohesion by the operation of very smart bots; at the moment, our bots are at a very initial stage, and it is in all our interests to support their development in such a simple matter as that which this page appears to be obsessed; squabbling about "mass" operations on WP to bring articles into compliance with MoS is like spurning the automation in factories and homes that makes our lives better. Lighbot is, I believe, part of a trend that will free up our editors to concentrate on the creative dimensions of their contributions. Tony (talk) 15:22, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I am perfectly willing to believe that Lightbot has been programmed correctly, although the BCE removal gives me pause. I am also quite certain that Lightbot is, in practice, edit-warring for a practice (no linking of years at all) which, however much Tony likes it, has no consensus, and is not supported by the wording of MOS. Human editors should not do this, but humans sometimes show restraint, or can be countered by another human; bots must not. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 15:30, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't think that anybody is saying that dates should always be linked. But I still haven't seen any guideline or any discussion that would lead me to believe that no years should ever be linked. -Chunky Rice (talk) 16:26, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

There's no indication that this bot is making a single-run or that it is tracking instances where it removes links in error, so one would expect that it will keep making the same errors over and over again when it comes back around to the same pages. At any rate, bots should be programmed so that their edits don't require human review; the fact that humans can trail after it and clean up its mistakes isn't a good reason to allow a bot to run in an error-producing fashion. Christopher Parham (talk) 23:54, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Questions that I still have regarding this bot:
  1. Is there any consensus in the MOS or anywhere else that all years should be unlinked? I don't think so, but if someone could point me towards a guideline or discussion, that would be great.
  2. What exactly is this bot approved to do? Right now, all I can tell is that it is approved to make "other edits" with no specificity regarding the "general MOS guideline" with no specificity. It sounds like it's approved to make any edit at all regarding any MOS guideline. Is that correct? -Chunky Rice (talk) 16:34, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

All of this is the reason I never both linking dates - because some robot will come along and de-link them, and editors will re-link them, and robots will de-link them, and so on - because you all can't figure out whether, or why, to link dates - or not. Baseball Bugs 22:16, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Several similarly-named accounts created in a short period of time

Four very similarly named accounts have just been created in rapid succession:

1. 23:57, 22 September 2008 User:Mono Means One and Rail is Rail (Talk | contribs | block) New user account ‎
2. 23:57, 22 September 2008 User:Mono is One and Rail is Rail (Talk | contribs | block) New user account ‎
3. 23:56, 22 September 2008 User:Mono=One and Rail=Rail (Talk | contribs | block) New user account ‎
4. 23:54, 22 September 2008 User:Mono means One and Rail Means Rail (Talk | contribs | block) New user account ‎

This probably needs watching. -- The Anome (talk) 23:03, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I dunno here... I have a slight suspicion that we have a sock puppet here... I could be wrong. ---J.S (T/C/WRE) 23:37, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

At the risk of being overly blunt, "Duh". Indef block all of them as obvious sockpuppets. If the user claims the others were doppelgangers, unblock, but reblock as soon as the non-primary account edits or the primary account makes a disruptive edit. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 00:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Do we make preemptive blocks? Taemyr (talk) 00:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

No, we generally don't. Sometimes users don't realize their account was created due to page-caching issues, and so inadvertently make multiple accounts when they notice the first name isn't working. AGF there, Erik. Hersfold 00:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Never mind, they appear to have been blocked. Hersfold 00:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

So why, precisely, have these been blocked? -- Consumed Crustacean (talk) 01:22, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Because there exists no legitimate reason to have an army of accounts, all obviously tied to each other. — Coren  04:02, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

So, of course there was a nice message left on all the talk pages, and one of these accounts was left un-blocked, then? Right? - brenneman 08:53, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't know; I didn't do the blocking. — Coren  12:17, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

All four accounts were blocked indefinitely, and no message was left for any of them. DuncanHill (talk) 12:20, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• I blocked the four accounts as obvious sockpuppets. If one of them asks to be unblocked, I'll unblock one of them. NawlinWiki (talk) 14:12, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

How will they know how to request unblock? DuncanHill (talk) 01:47, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Its hard to see why a sock puppeteer would create four accounts with such similar names with any intention of, say, using them to falsely demonstrate consensus. It would be interesting to hear an explanation for such a set of IDs being created. Edison (talk) 18:54, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This was an unfortunate assumption of bad faith. There was no legitimate reason to block these accounts. rspeer / ɹəədsɹ 01:42, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I wouldn't be surprised if someone hasn't emailed the names and passwords to GRAWP to use as he sees fit. That is after all what he solicits. NJGW (talk) 01:54, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Mtngoat63

Mtngoat63 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log), A new WP:SPA with a 2-3 week history and no apparent purpose on the encyclopedia other than to make a single point (apparently a WP:COATRACK that Barack Obama is a disciple of the " Alinsky Method" -- but the content does not matter here).

Editor has been editing disruptively and uncivilly on The Obama Nation, Saul Alinsky, Frank Marshall Davis

Has been given talk page warnings on content and policy by three editors: User:DGG, User:GoodDamon, and me.

Nevertheless:

• Edit warring in the The Obama Nation article (on article probation)
• When notified of article probation protested in various forums that I was out to get him/her.
• Started long rant on Talk:The Obama Nation to complain about "bias" and accuse other editors of being "sockpuppets", hidden "real reasons" (note - was warned numerous times there about article probation, WP:CIVIL, WP:AGF, WP:NPA, etc.
• Edit warred to insert poorly sourced disputed content in the Saul Alinsky article (without participating in talk page - merely asserted I was a "vandal", "bad faith", "retribution", "edit war"

Could someone please take a look at this? I have - wisely or not - gone up to 3RR on this and definitely don't want to revert this editor any further. However, I do not think they are ready to discuss their changes, be civil, etc., and they seem to be uninterested in learning or following our behavior or content guidelines. Thanks, Wikidemon (talk) 01:50, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Comment - I have repeatedly asked and even "begged" Mtngoat63 to read WP:RS and similar policies and guidelines. So far, I have seen no evidence that this editor has read them. I concur with Wikidemon on this. --GoodDamon 01:56, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Update - after a further revert and warning by GoodDamon the editor is now at 4RR. 4th reversion here (1st 3 from above:). Should I take it to the 3RR board or just handle it here? Thanks, Wikidemon (talk) 01:58, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I would keep it here but file a more specific thread also at the 3RR board. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 02:00, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I support a 24 hour block on Mtngoat. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 02:01, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Mtngoat63 made it up to 6RR (2 more despite a notice of this report and 3RR warning, before being blocked for 31 hours. I do not have much hope that Mtngoat63 will improve after the block but you never know. I see that GoodDamon got too caught up in vandal fighting, exceeded 3RR, and is now blocked as well. I would urge people to take a second look at that, but otherwise I think we're done so I'll mark this as resolved. Thanks, Wikidemon (talk) 03:00, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

That's resolved now. I got overzealous, when I really should have just waited for an admin to deal with the issue after this report. I contended that Mtngoat63's actions had become tantamount to vandalism, but at this point I no longer believe that was my determination to make, and have agreed not to edit war on that point. --GoodDamon 15:00, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Need temporary protection on Wales

We have an outbreak of IP addresses (mainly recent creations) hitting Wales with changes to an agreed consensus, stopping just short of 3RR. It looks like some of them are sock puppets of Wikipiere who just had another ID bocked. Would someone put a temporary protection in place please before it gets out of hand? The established editors have referenced the cited evidence and past discussion and put a note at the start of the talk page, but to no avail. There are related hits on other sites association with naming and other disputes around Britain and Ireland probably from the same or similar sources. --Snowded TALK 04:36, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I am sorry that I cannot help you but maybe you'd get a faster response at WP:RFPP? Regards SoWhy 07:10, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Semi'd for a week and watchlisted - hopefully the IPs will lose interest, if not protection can be renewed. EyeSerene 12:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for that, and WP:RFPP noted for next time (regrettably there will be a next time) --Snowded TALK 12:41, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

User:Mboverload

User:Mboverload keeps adding an AfD to an article that was just created a little while ago, that AHD a construction notice on it. Please tell him to knock it off. Thanks. RhoLyokoWarrior (talk) 05:59, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Discuss it on the AfD page. You've got five days to improve the article to convince others that it should not be deleted. Your removal of the AfD tag is vandalism, please don't do that again. And what administrative action do you wish done? Corvus cornix_talk 06:01, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Contrary to discussions and consensus, the complainant continues to create articles related to a TV series that other members continue to get rid of. The complainant has made similar complaints about at least one other editor, although in a much more uncivil manner. A quick note of the WP:WQA, and the complainant's talk page will be ... enlightening. BMW(drive) 12:05, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Death threat

Probably nonsense, but: . I've reverted. Corvus cornix_talk 06:21, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Such language. Oh, for the good old civil days, when they would only have said "mother"-something. Baseball Bugs 05:09, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

The IP has been given a temporary holiday from editing. Bencherlite 06:27, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This is one of those threats which is so non-specific and clearly vandalism that even I am happy with blocking and reverting. Bstone (talk) 14:26, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

User:Jemsmi

Despite two warnings in May, this user has returned to contribute more of the same vandalism. I suggest a ban. BlackJack | 06:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, you should warn them again to level 4 and if he/she continues afterwards, report him/her to WP:AIV. Regards SoWhy 07:05, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have removed the advertisements on the userpages. Bishonen | talk 22:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC).

User:RCS

A day or so ago, there was a request for assistance at wp:blp/n regarding an article on Lauren Booth. I went over, did my best to improve the neutrality of the article and encourage some of the folks to strive a bit more for wp:npov. It's a work in progress (which I'm stepping back from, with the hope that others may step in). One particular editor, however, User:RCS, keeps reinserting an alleged quote by the subject of that article that I think is intended to make it appear as though she believes the situation in Gaza is a more significant humanitarian crisis than was the Holocaust. When I reverted and tried to point out to him on the talk page that attempting to paint her negatively by picking and choosing her quotes, he reverted with an edit summary in which he referred to me as "Ernst." He later confirmed on my talk page that he was indeed referring to Ernst Zündel, a truly vile, hateful person who is prominent as a Holocaust denier. I can take a lot of things, but this is a personal attack of the most demeaning kind; this, perhaps more than almost any other, is why we have policies against personal attacks and this is an instance, I believe in which that policy should be rigorously enforced. An apology or an "I'm sorry, I hope that didn't offend you" here doesn't even go remotely close to addressing how reckless, hurtful, and debasing his personal attack was.   user:j    (aka justen)   08:07, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have removed additional personal attacks by User:RCS here and here.   user:j    (aka justen)   08:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This really tops it all off. I guess I shouldn't be surprised: , , , .   user:j    (aka justen)   08:22, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

What administrator action are you suggesting is required? It looks like a content dispute; have you tried dispute resolution? EyeSerene 08:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Any content dispute does not diminish the demeaning intent of his personal attacks. He has a history of personal attacks. He personally attacked me in at least four separate edits. The policy in question here, wp:npa is clear: "In extreme cases, even isolated personal attacks may lead to a block for disruption." I believe attempting to debase an editor by equating them to a truly evil and vile person is such an extreme personal attack. Using such attacks in an attempt to chill those who disagree with him absolutely is "conduct severely disrupts the project."   user:j    (aka justen)   08:43, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Listing editors with whom you are in a content dispute on AIV is certainly bad form, at best, and is something that I believe RCS has a history of doing. I'm still not sure there's anything needing admin attention here unless someone thinks this actually needs a block (this won't be me, as I don't do civility blocks except possibly for the most obvious, extreme circumstances). Heimstern Läufer (talk) 09:00, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Edit warring on this article's led to one recent block, already; I'd rather try to calm the situation down than let it continue to spiral downward. It should be perfectly possible to have a reasonable debate without getting overly personal about it. I am amenable to hearing RCS's side of the story, but have to agree at first glance that the AIV report seems spurious, and the "Ernst" comment uncalled for at best. – Luna Santin (talk) 09:05, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

My thoughts too. RCS does seem to have some civility issues, and the comparison with Zundel is a particularly odious one, but it seems to be in response to the continued removal of sourced material he added to the article (not that frustration excuses gross incivility). I haven't blocked because I, too, think RCS should be given a hearing, but some kind of civility parole may be in order. A few editors are skirting close to 3RR on the article by the looks of things. EyeSerene 09:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

When we tolerate, justify, or diminish the severity of a personal attack in which one editor uses such attacks to absolutely chill another editor, we send a message that one can advance their viewpoint with just a few short words. And what's the harm? He has been warned now four or five times times for personal attacks. Yet, in this case, they will prove extremely effective. I will never edit Lauren Booth again. I will turn and run from any article I see his name associated with. His attack was hurtful. It was debasing. Look at his (removed) comment to my talk page and to that article page. He knew this. It was his intent. As of this second, not a soul has so much as warned him for his personal attack against me, let alone block him as I believe wp:npa says he should be.   user:j    (aka justen)   09:14, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

You're right, sorry about that. I've left a note on his talk page. EyeSerene 09:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• I'm seriously considering a block here. I feel the personal attack was severe - accusing any editor of being a holocaust denier is simply not acceptable and the nonsense report to AIV was pure disruption and an attack. My only pause is whether RCS was warned or whether they already knew better. I'm going to hold fire and wait for further comments on these two points. Spartaz 09:40, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

(ec) Did we get timid all of a sudden? Comparing someone to a neo-Nazi, Holocaust denier is NEVER okay. No amount of "hearing his side of it" is going to make it okay. Content dispute or no content dispute, that's a plainly unacceptable personal attack. I might not block immediately, but I certainly would issue a sternly worded and final warning. We need to be prepared to say very firmly that this kind of behavior is inappropriate, and frankly I'm quite surprised at the hesitancy of some of the voices above. Dragons flight (talk) 09:46, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Was that support block or support warning. Spartaz 10:04, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I might have been more clear on a few counts, above: it's pretty late, here, and being tired I will hesitate to take bold action where others might have more complete information, or better have their wits about them; I generally prefer to use calm language when possible, in a tandem attempt to make it clear that I am calm and to encourage other users to remain so (strong language begets stronger language, once people get their backs up). I did issue a warning in a null edit to Lauren Booth, and assumed more detail would be filled out here. Regarding blocking, I'd think I'd rather wait and see if disruption continues -- and support coming down hard if it does -- but will trust to the judgement of others in that regard as well... if you believe this is a repeat problem, or likely to repeat, more immediate action might be called for. – Luna Santin (talk) 10:33, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

RCS says: http://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=User_talk:RCS&curid=4568470&diff=240410705&oldid=240410260. Thank you very much! --RCS (talk) 10:47, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I had noticed that you and other editors have been discussing the content removal. It's clearly a difficult article, but no matter how aggrieved you feel by his reversions, insulting J was the wrong way to go. Looking through the page history and related pages, you are clearly not the only editor at fault, and I think that's why there's no consensus to block at this time. However, please note the 'last chance' nature of the note I left on your talk page and the comments other administrators have left above. Personal attacks on other editors are never excusable, and will not be tolerated. EyeSerene 11:34, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Threats for reverting BLP violation at Jeffrey Masson

I am being threatened by administrator Will Beback for discussing a conflict of interest issue with User:Esterson, and also for reverting BLP violation. Esterson made an edit (see here to the article on Jeffrey Masson that was a clear case of BLP violation, given the way it tried to discredit Masson. Together with the fact that User:Esterson is part of a group of scholars who have been trying to discredit Masson for many years (something he certainly does not deny), I considered it perfectly reasonable to raise the possibility of conflict of interest with Esterson, and did so. Beback is threatening me for doing this (see the discussion here. I raise this issue here partly because I'd rather not be threatened for doing the right thing, but mainly because of the possibility of further BLP violation by Esterson, who is being misadvised by Beback. Could uninvolved admins please tell Esterson to be more careful with BLPs, and tell Beback to stop making unreasonable threats? Skoojal (talk) 08:56, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Skoojal (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) has not been participating in a collegial manner. In this particular matter, he has a apparent issue with another person, Allen Esterson/Esterson (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log), a scholar who studies Freud and Maric. Skoojal is making accusations about Esterson's editing violating COI and BLP, and is attacking Esterson in the process. I asked him to explain and justify his assertions but he came here to complain instead.

Skoojal and Esterson had previous disputes on another forum before meeting on Misplaced Pages. Skoojal recently wrote the bio about Esterson, a marginally notable academic. He has said that Esterson and he may be enemies.It appears to me that Skoojal has something of an obsession with Esterson. He should not bring a previous, personal dispute here, per Not a battleground.

Regarding the supposed Masson BLP issue, that is a content matter that should be handled on the article talk page or an appropriate noticeboard. Skoojal has not substantiated his assertion that Esterson and unnamed scholars are biased, which he has said is based only on his own impression of them.

This latest behavior is similar to his actions earlier this summer, filing a complaint here: against Jokestress. That complaint turned against him and he was given a "final warning" about editing warring. There was also a complaint against him at Misplaced Pages:Biographies of living persons/Noticeboard/Archive47#Frederick Crews. Editors complained about his obsessiveness at Misplaced Pages:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 May 19#Category:Queer studies. He is also complaining about unexplained BLP issues at Misplaced Pages:Biographies of living persons/Noticeboard#Christina Hoff Sommers. There are a number of complaints about edit warring on his talk page as well. This isn't an RfC, but I hope that Skoojal will see that his aggressive behavior is not conducive to collaborative editing. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 09:51, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I did not "attack" Esterson, unless one considers that suggesting that someone may have a conflict of interest is, in and of itself, an attack. The suggestion was reasonable under the circumstances. Esterson's edits to Jeffrey Masson were obvious BLP violations, as anyone who takes the trouble to review them will see. I provided Beback with the relevant link. Most of Will Beback's comments above are irrelevant, and I will not respond to them. Skoojal (talk) 09:59, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This discussion is mainly at User talk:Esterson#BLP Violation at Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 11:27, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Since Will linked to both the userpage and BLP for Esterton above, I'd just like to point out that Skoojal created the Allen Esterson biography page on User:Esterson, and that User:Esterson has objected to the existence of this page here, and argued that is not WP:N (nor meets or WP:PROF) here. I'm nominating it for deletion through the usual process. Pete.Hurd (talk) 17:03, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I certainly agree with that evaluation of the article on him. As for the more general issue, I can only advise Skoojal and Esterton to keep away from each other here. Not that Esterton has done anything wrong in their interactions, but further prolonging it will not help matters. As for the BLP, 3 uninvolved editors have by now taken a look, and none of them think that the material added violates our policy. DGG (talk) 19:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

The three uninvolved editors in question are all mistaken, to put it bluntly. It is up to all concerned to show that they know enough about the issue to be able to comment. Will Beback has effectively admitted not having read the two main relevant sources. Skoojal (talk) 22:03, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Comment, I concur with Will, DGG and Pete. In fact I'd point them to the talk history of other BLPs, for examples of the same behavior: Christina Hoff Sommers, Judith Butler. And the biography of the deceased Michel Foucault. It seems Skoojal has a tendency to edit biographies of people that he feels strongly about (see ) - this is problematic on its own, but couple that with his tendencies to get into edit-wars with other editors and protracted and often borderline civil talk-page exchanges and you've got a problem. But in these case there's yet another layer - Skoojal used the Frederick Crews article to "get back" at the subject (see ). There are also concerns about a COI with the Allen Esterson page due to an off-wiki disagreement between the two. Admins should also review the deleted history of the User:Skoojal page for further evidence.
  Personally I think this pattern of behaviour in regard to biographies in general is tendentious and I think we need to consider taking steps to prevent it happening again. I'm also afraid that the pattern of behaviour in regard to BLPs is unacceptable - it places the project at risk and we must prevent that. We also have a duty to the subjects of these articles to prevent recurrence of this behaviour (see WP:HARM).
  I'm loathe to begin down this road because I have seen Skoojal make a lot of positive and useful contributions to biographies, but I would suggest that the attitude displayed by him - using BLP articles as a way to settle scores with living people - puts the project at risk.
  I should also disclose that I directed User:Esterson to WP:BLPN and our 'advice for subjects of BLP articles' when I saw his objection to the existence of the article--Cailil 22:47, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Also, in fairness to Skoojal, it should be noted that in a number of these conflicts Skoojal was interacting with users who were acting less than appropriately themselves--Cailil 22:59, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Cailil, rather than attacking me, it would be more helpful if you could comment on what Esterson did to the Masson article (and disclose whether you have read the books relevant to making a judgment about its rightness or wrongness). Using BLPs to attack people is exactly what I'm trying to prevent this time round. Someone's past wrong behaviour, in regard to different articles, has no bearing on the rightness or wrongness of this particular issue. Skoojal (talk) 23:03, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Skoojal, I forgot to mention it, but the heading of this section is not reasonable, as no threats have been made to you by anyone. You have been told by a number of people now that what you are doing is unreasonable, and it seems only proper to warn you that you are likely to be blocked if you continue along this course, but that is not what we mean by "threats'. DGG (talk) 23:42, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I reverted what I considered BLP violation. It may take me some time to explain why the edits were BLP violation, but that doesn't mean that they weren't or that I behaved wrongly. I'd request that you wait until I offer a full explanation before jumping to the conclusion that I was wrong. Skoojal (talk) 23:51, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I continue to see the word "threats" in this context as an attempt to intimidate editors on Misplaced Pages, and very close to a violation of NPA. DGG (talk) 01:40, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• OK. From the deleted history of Skoojal's user page, I am a wikipedian with an agenda, and I'm happy to tell anyone what that agenda is. Much of it relates to Frederick Crews. Starting in early February 2008, I began making a series of modifications to the article on Crews. To begin with, these modifications were minor and uncontroversial, but as I proceeded they became steadily more provocative. This was partly an attempt to find out what it is and is not possible to get away with on wikipedia: just how critical could I be of Crews before someone decided that I had gone too far?; so we have self-admitted WP:POINT (a breaching experiment) and evidence of using Misplaced Pages as a battleground for an off-wiki dispute. Sounds to me like this user should not be editing those articles at all. And another doozy: My purpose in mentioning Crews's criticism of Butler there was not to make Butler look bad - on the contrary, it was to make Crews look bad Anyone here think that deliberately making ana rticle subject lok bad is an acceptable use of Misplaced Pages? I have to say that the deleted userpage gives me a very itchy block finger. Guy (Help!) 08:53, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I've just looked at the deleted user page. Skoojal seems clearly to have admitted WP:POINT and I find it difficult to get my head around his accusations of threats by Will Beback, I'd think he would know by now the difference bwtween a threat and a warning. I agree, he shouldn't be editing those articles. Doug Weller (talk) 09:20, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

The more I look at this, the more uncomfortable I am with this editor. I am blocking now and invite comments on User talk:Skoojal. Guy (Help!) 09:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

User:Kmweber on WP:AN & Kmweber blocked

Still ongoing discussion at Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents/Kmweber ban discussion; bot prematurely archived prior thread. --slakr 10:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Personal attacks are now getting support

I have been attacked twice now first rather surreptitiously here (a little "if you're not a musician" jab) and then this one (questioning my mental health and advising others to ignore me). I posted the attacks at Wikiquette alerts and got this response] supporting the personal attacks! Now what the heck do I do? Am I seriously at fault here? Is there a threshold for allowing personal attacks that I did not know about? Is it a consensus thing? padillaH _{(help me)} 11:56, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

It looks to me as though you've gotten some helpful feedback on your editing. This can sting now and then, without being a personal attack. Gwen Gale (talk) 12:05, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I'm sorry but how is "...will cause many to question your mental health." reflect my editing? How does any of this reflect my editing since I have not edited anything? I've engaged in discussion on a talk page, that's all. What stings is not being told I'm annoying (if that's the best you've got I'm sound as a pound). What I object to is other users making blatant personal attacks and then getting support for them. I thought we had a policy of WP:NPA but maybe I'm wrong. padillaH _{(help me)} 12:23, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

It's a little uncivil, but probably borne of frustration at answering the same question over and over. The lists in question are obviously different, yet you keep insisting they're the same. They're not. Ultimately, yes, it's a consensus thing. Baseball Bugs 12:07, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

So it's acceptable for this user to question my mental health and proffer personal attacks? And no one has a problem with that? WOW, that's bullshit! What part of WP:NPA am I misreading? What part lists the times when it's OK to attack a person? padillaH _{(help me)} 12:23, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

If other users agree with the advice given they're generally willing to overlook that it's been delivered in a snippy manner. --erachima talk 12:26, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I'm not talking about some editor saying "Look we're not doing it so shut up". This was a blatant personal attack. Wow, now I understand why people leave WP. This is unbelievable. padillaH _{(help me)} 12:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Incivility is only an issue for community action when it has become a habit on the part of an editor or we have something really noxious like racial slurs being tossed about. Even if we were to "deal with" the other editors that would just mean telling them to be nicer next time. So I'm sorry somebody minorly insulted you, but please grow thicker skin. --erachima talk 12:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I understand, that's why I went to Wikiquette alerts at first. I know this is the wrong forum for this simple dispute but when I was told that this is acceptable I found I couldn't believe it. So I brought the question of what kinds of personal attacks are allowable here. padillaH _{(help me)} 12:57, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Comment left at the locus of dispute. Padilla is skirting the borders of WP:IDIDNTHEARTHAT both in the original dispute and with respect to this request. Guy (Help!) 12:35, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• • Bloody hopeless. Nobody questioned your mental health (though now they might start doing so), they just said you were acting in such a manner which would cause others to question it. Not unreasonably, though personally I would not regard throwing a temper tantrum as a symptom of mental illness, just of immaturity. Moreschi (talk) 12:38, 23 September 2008 (UTC)
    • I'm sorry Moreschi but I believe the words "...cause many to question your mental health." mean someone is questioning your mental health. It's a direct quote from the response of Softlavender. padillaH _{(help me)} 12:57, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Here's a snippet from my reply in WP:WQA which I just marked as closed due to forum shopping: "I see nothing overly uncivil in the two diff's provided. The length of the explanation about the types of changes, and why they are not considered acceptable show an extreme amount of patience, and a sincere attempt to assist what is perhaps a newer editor to the project/page in understanding what has already been worked on as a consensus over time. I am not sure what the "are you a musician" comment was really trying to say, but I do not find it uncivil. I also believe that the "ignore" request (which was very specific as to WHAT to ignore) was borne out of the frustration of the continuance of something that had, again, reached full consensus and that the editor believed that you were failing to comprehend." BMW(drive) 12:36, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

You were fighting against an existing consensus past the point where it makes sense. You were proposing something that people know doesn't work because of technical restrictions (a huge sortable table) and most people just don't understand what motivates you. (Why is duplication in the handling of Mozart's works such a big problem? A lot more people are interested in them than in many scientific terms that have their own articles.) In response you got good advice. As happens all too often, the advice had negative overtones, making it easy for you to reject it. Angry editors giving their adversaries good advice while being unable to hide their feelings completely – I don't think that's what WP:NPA is about, even if it may fit superficially.

I also think you are reading the "Are you by chance a musician..." bit too negatively. Please keep in mind that other editors cannot know for sure whether you are a musician or not as long as you don't tell them. That someone got the impression that you might not be one should tell you something about the success of your communication. --Hans Adler (talk) 12:41, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I appreciate the help, but the one statement you failed to address was the actual attack "...cause many to question your mental health." The musician bit was the introduction of an ad hominem, if I can't handle an ad hominem I should have bowed out long ago. The other part people are overlooking is why is questioning Mozarts stuff so unacceptable? The arguments I put forth were steps in a process to try and find if there was a different way to do this. Why is that so unacceptable that personal attacks are now justified? padillaH _{(help me)} 13:02, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

What administrative action do you think should be taken? Baseball Bugs 13:07, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Call me kooky but a warning about personal attacks might be in order. Some sort of support for the policy WP:NPA over at the Wikiquette alerts page to help those that poll that page realise that there is no threshold for personal attacks. I don't know, I'm not an admin, that's why I came here. I don't know what's acceptable any more and I don't know where to go. padillaH _{(help me)} 13:16, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I'll let the admins speak to that. One thing I can tell you, though, is that on many occasions I've argued at length for a position that I was certain was right, and consensus was against me. Eventually you have to realize that you're not going to win, and just leave it alone. If you keep harping on the same point over and over, you kind of ask for what happens. If someone questioned my sanity for beating the same drum after the issue was settled, I'd say they might have a point (which they have; and they did). So you're not blameless in this situation. And these are very mild "personal" attacks. You don't know what you're missing. Just leave this one be, and find something else to edit. I assure you, there is no end of stuff to edit. Baseball Bugs 13:25, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I appreciate that Bugs. This was never supposed to be about the personal attacks. This complaint was about the treatment over at Wikiquette_alerts. This complaint should have had nothing to do with the personal attacks. I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable accepting language like that. I guess the best way to phrase it is this may not have been a personal attack but it was an attack that was personal (mental health is a touchy subject to me). padillaH _{(help me)} 13:33, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't think that the guy made personal attacks angainst you. I think your just taking them negatively, instead of try listening to his advice. Calm down and get to work on something useful rather than being on here bickering about, what might have been at the most, misinterpreting by you. Happy Editing!

HairyPerry (talk) 13:18, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

:::Padillah, please consider this a final warning. As Guy mentioned above, you are playing a game of WP:IDIDNTHEARTHAT; first at the article talk page, then at the Wikiquette page, and now (after specifically being warned about it) here. You've received more than enough feedback that those were not personal attacks. You ask above what to do; the answer is: Drop this, in all three places. If you cannot edit in this environment (i.e. where people bend over backwards to deal with long, repetitive and disruptive posts, and eventually express mild annoyance), then yes, you are correct, you would be better off somewhere else. --barneca (talk) 13:26, 23 September 2008 (UTC) Part of asking Padilllah to let this drop was an assumption that people wouldn't keep poking him with a stick. I'm certainly not going to block when people keep doing so. --barneca (talk) 14:19, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

If that's what you feel you need to do, have fun. At this point I don't really care any more. Threaten away. padillaH _{(help me)} 13:33, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Barneca, I think you misunderstood me. What I don't care about are your warnings. I still very much care that I have been attacked. I've got to figure out how to own my own article so I can get people banned by being belligerent and not listening. padillaH _{(help me)} 13:57, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for that, Barneca. I wish the rest of my arguments were as clearly seen as that. I've gotten some help moving forward from Bwilkins so let's see if this can be resolved. I'm not being intentionally obtuse, but the differences in my arguments are very subtle. Thanks for the slack. Padillah (talk) 14:26, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Padilla, do you think everything is a threat/personal attack. Listen to the advice that someone is trying to gve you for once and drop this matter and make helpful contributions to the encyclopedia (if you still want to be here that is). The best thing for you to do in my opinion is take a break from editing and cool yourself down before telling people there making threats/personal attacks. Please listen to my advice. Happy Editing.

HairyPerry (talk) 13:43, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

What on this or any other earth makes you think I want to be here? Why would a person continue to expose themselves to an environment that has shown so little disregard for their feelings? If a person claims to have been attacked doesn't that make it worth someone's while to tell the other party to tone down? Or even address the other party at all?!? But, no. Despite making my feelings perfectly clear I am being told that my feelings are wrong and there's nothing to even talk to the other party about. That being insulted on a personal level is discouraged but it's something I have to deal with because we are not going to mention to the other editor that there are many different people that edit here and he might want to take my feelings into account one of these times. Why would I want to leave such a nurturing environment as this? padillaH _{(help me)} 13:57, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't understand. No one is here against their will. Everyone who edits wikipedia does so because they "want to" in some way. And your feelings aren't "wrong", but you have to take more appropriate steps to deal with the various slings and arrows that can occur here. One is to try to work things out with other editors before logging issues. Baseball Bugs 14:41, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

More importantly: there was no previous attempt to resolve the issue directly with the "uncivil editor". Rather than work out a problem it went straight to filing WQA, and then when the comments weren't the ones that were looked for, this AN/I was opened. BMW(drive) 13:55, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

An excellent point. The editor is effectively "forum shopping" to try to get someone else to resolve an issue that he himself should first try to resolve with the other editors. Ironically, there's a degree of obsessiveness here, which is why he was "attacked" in the first place. And believe me, I know from obsessiveness. I was gently warned about it just yesterday. To call this level of obsessiveness "mental" could be a bit much, but one thing I know from experience here is that obsessiveness very seldom leads to good results. Baseball Bugs 14:02, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

No the editor is misunderstood on a level never before seen on this or any other earth. I thought I had explained this entry is not about the original complaint, it's about how the original complaint was handled (or, blown off to more to the point). The editor is not being obsessive about a single point, others that talk to the editor are shifting his arguments so that they only respond in respect to a single point rather than what the editor was asking about. padillaH _{(help me)} 14:09, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

NOTE I have suggested to both parties on their Talk pages here and here that they should discuss together and clarify, and RESOLVE this situation themselves, as is rule number 1 for dispute resolution on Misplaced Pages. I have volunteered to "informally mediate" if needed. We shall now see if they wish this resolved or not. BMW(drive) 14:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, I wasn't going to comment but the phrase "misunderstood on a level never before seen on this or any other earth" caught my attention rather. The problem (as I see it) is that the original remark - the root of all this - is outweighed by the fuss that has since been made about it, and the longer this dispute continues, the greater that imbalance becomes. Based on that, I am afraid that this issue is never going to be resolved to everyone's satisfaction, unless everyone is willing to accept a decreasing of drama level and a less formal and confrontational approach. I hope BMW's attempt succeeds. SHEFFIELDSTEEL 14:47, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

That's either an incredible overreaction, or he's engaged in a little sarcasm himself. Baseball Bugs 15:38, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Point taken, guys. ;) Padillah (talk) 16:52, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

It's incredibly obvious that the mental health statement violated WP:NPA and WP:CIVIL. I am sorry you had to be on the receiving end of such a statement, Padillah. I am not an admin (which they claim is not a big deal) so there isn't much I can do other than sympathize with you. I am sorry, also, that there are some in this thread whom are belittling and discounting you. I wish that would end. Bstone (talk) 19:58, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• I'm sure it will, once this editor has decided to accept disagreement. Look back over the thread on the article's talk page. If you want to pretend that this editor played no part in escalating and personalising the dispute you are welcome to try, but you won't get much sympathy here. Guy (Help!) 23:03, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

What! This is on a noticeboard now?

Padillah, the way I see this, is that you came to a page -- on the Köchel catalogue -- and not understanding what it was, what it was for, and its history, decided that it was merely a "list of compositions by Mozart" and therefore redundant with another list of compositions. I (and other editors) tried to explain that they were two different things, but to no avail. Indeed you told me to look up the word "redundant" in a dictionary. Now I'm not one of the tin-badge civility police, so I don't really care, but did you even read what we wrote? The Köchel catalogue is the single most famous scholarly, chronological compilation of a composer's compositions in the entire history of music. There is none other that is even close. None. Not the Schmeider Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, not the Deutsch catalogue of Schubert's music, -- none. What tipped me off that you might be out of your depth, and may need to be gently told so, was this astonishing edit. Not notable? Your next edit indicated that you meant the notability tag for a section. WHAT? If you do not understand what something is, for the love of God don't edit articles on that topic. Numerous editors on that page have tried to reason with you, and I'm not surprised that you've worn out their patience. You've certainly worn out mine. Antandrus (talk) 01:17, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

You would see that, wouldn't you. This, and JzGs comment above it, are reflective of the issues this discussion has had from the beginning. As Bwilkins states below, this is not about the talk page argument, but for some reason there is a set of editors that can't move the conversation forward. JzG asks Bstone to read over the article talk page. You bring diffs from the talk page and article. And have the nerve to ask me if I read what you wrote. Have you read what this section is about? The subject says it all: "Personal attacks are now getting support". This is about the response to my posting on Wikiquette alerts (posted prematurely, I'll admit, but there it is). Thus far, apologies aside, exactly one person has sympathized with the fact that I feel I have been attacked. And only one other person has addressed the issue that was brought here, by correcting my procedure if not acknowledging the attack that precipitated it. If you feel the need to continue to stay in the past discussion then, by all means, go ahead. Argue about stuff I'm not talking about all you want. Padillah (talk) 12:18, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Shhh, this isn't a content dispute at the moment, and I quite happily see that both talk pages here here and here are including some seemingly honest/heartfelt apologies. Padillah raised this AN/I because they didn't get the answer they wanted in WQA. I closed the original WQA after this AN/I was opened (sorry, I don't sign into Misplaced Pages 24/7 to monitor WQA and respond earlier). At this point, I would like to see Padillah reply to the apology by Softlavender, and see Padillah acknowledge RIGHT HERE that the incident is closed and no longer needs Admin Intervention so we can close it. I don't think additional (possibly inflammatory) discussion would be needed. BMW(drive) 11:23, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Bwilkins, thanks for your efforts to move this conversation forward (if not for actually acknowledging my feelings in any regard). Since this entry isn't about the conversation between myself and Softlavender (as you noted when you said it's not a content dispute) I don't know how much of what you want to see I can give. Addressing the actual reason for this post, may I suggest - it might be a good idea to let those that patrol the WQA pages know that there are feelings and pasts behind feeling attacked and a little sympathy in understanding why a person feels they are being attacked would go a long way. As it is the most sympathy I got (before Bstone voiced their understanding) was "grow thicker skin". Not the nicest way to put it. And the editor on the WQA page, a page dedicated to dealing with people that feel they have been emotionally wronged, said I deserved it. That's not an acceptable way of dealing with people. I really hope you don't expect me to endorse those kinds of responses. Padillah (talk) 12:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Muhammad in Hinduism again

We have had a repeated problem on numerous articles with a virulent sockpuppeteer who is continuing to get way with misrepresentation of facts and is now acting almost entirely openly as an edit warrior repeatedly reinserting the same content - which has been repeatedly rejected - in articles. He is continuing to get away with it because of his unrelenting sockpuppetry and persistence. I am sick of reverting and sick of raising the same issue over and over and over. Essentially this editor wishes to assert that Muhammad was "predicted" in the Hindu scriptures and has assembled a texct which superficially looks to be well cited, but is in fact a compendium of ultra-fringe sources which completely ignore mainsteream scholarship. See See Misplaced Pages:Requests for checkuser/Case/DWhiskaZ Misplaced Pages:Suspected sock puppets/RajivLal (2nd).

This editor, now under the names of User:.alchin007 and User:RedMonkey39 is no longer even bothering to conceal his sockpuppetry, as his edits summary clearly indicates. Making Sockpuppet and checkuser requests is time consuming and pointlerss when this indivisdual can apparently recreate himself so persistently. I think that this particular edit (he makes the same assertions over and over) should be recognised and treated as vandalism. Paul B (talk) 12:27, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

User:.alchin007 and User:RedMonkey39 indefblocked. Perhaps you might have a case for requesting full page-protection (see WP:RFPP)? EyeSerene 14:52, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Help in sorting out a mess

Forgiveness please if this is the wrong noticeboard. I'm looking for some help from an admin to sort out a weird circle of articles and behaviour. The circle includes the following articles David A. Prior, Winters Hollywood Holdings Corporation, David Winters (choreographer)‎, Ted Prior (actor), and possibly more. There is also the "new" User:wikibbb who has removed the speedy deletion tags on Winters Hollywood Holdings Corporation and made some weird edits to it in the bargain. I'm trying to figure out what is actually happening but, would appreciate some admin involvement/guidance. Thanks. Jasynnash2 (talk) 12:50, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Looks like a walled garden. One of those pages has been speedied, and two others nominated for deletion. Should be cleared up before the month is out. Stifle (talk) 14:44, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Yeah I'm the one that took 2 of them to AfD but, there seems to be more (the picture one I can't remember the name of at the moment). I'm just wanting to make sure I'm going about things the right way and not destroying actual encyclopedic material (not to mention having no proper idea on how to suss out the multiple accounts involved (cause I'm guessing some of them are just well intentioned contributors, while others aren't).Jasynnash2 (talk) 16:38, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Note that David Winters (choreographer) is no longer tagged for speedy deletion. Corvus cornix_talk 18:07, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

See also Action International Pictures. Corvus cornix_talk 18:09, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Problem with Ave Caesar & CadenS on Jesse Dirkhising

I'm having a problem with two editors on Jesse Dirkhising, an article I've fully vetted, re-written and am trying to get to GA status. The article has been largely free of disputes and stable since the rewrite several months ago.

Another editor and I were discussing converting over the citation style to make editing the HTML easier for them when Ave Caesar (talk · contribs) added the {{citation style}} tag, which was odd because the discussion was already in process and the tag is about the uniformity and appearance which was already done. Our discussion was about switching over from one system to another. I explained in my edit summary "rmv tag as unneeded, they are all consistent at present and there is presently a discussion on converting them". They re-inserted the tag so I tried to explained the tag wasn't addressing any relevant issue to Ave Caesar and they deleted the thread citing my concern should only be placed on the article talk page. They didn't join in the discussion but instead re-added the tag. I, tried again to explain how the tag was unhelpful - they deleted this thread as well. As far as I know tagging the article and reverting my edits has been their only involvement on that article. Looking at some of their recent edits I was a little shocked to see edit warring over the WP:LGBT project tag on Lindsay Lohan with Dev920 who has, as part of their signature "who misses Jeffpw". Stunningly Ave Caesar follows up with Misplaced Pages:Miscellany for deletion/User talk:Jeffpw/Isaäc's Memorial Page.

My introduction to CadenS (talk · contribs) was a bit more blunt as they were a newbie, as far as I can tell, and on the Jesse Dirkhising article they plain out just accused me of a few things and lobbed a few personal attacks my way then left the article about six months ago. We had been dialogging on their talkpage as I tried to help find them some grounding and on-wiki resources so thought that whatever hard feelings were there had dissipated. Then again within the last month or so on E.O. Green School shooting I could feel the level rise a bit and CadenS takes a bit of a dig at me and follows it a day later by accusing me and two others of "hateful attacks". No requests for explanation are answered but they seemed to be dialogging with others on their talk page so I left well enough alone. Now CadenS is back to Jesse Dirkhising and their first edits there were to change instances of gay to homosexual, which is generally considered pejorative outside a research context - for instance, it's not the "Homosexual Pride Parade" except to some conservative religious folks - it's Gay Pride. They also changed some content thus misrepresenting what the sources stated. I reverted back and point out the concerns and they respond by calling me a POV pusher. At this point Ave Caesar reverts "restoring encyclopedic language" which i revert and going back to the sources to see if there is a better way to reflect what they state I return to the article to insert a quote in hopes of resolving misrepresenting a source to find CadenS has again reverted.

I'm unsure if they are working together on purpose but they are effectively causing the article to fail the GA process for being unstable, amongst other concerns, and I see no future in trying to complete the clean-up with two users edit-warring and inserting problematic and POV language. I would appreciate others looking at this and I'm uncomfortable reverting either of them and don't see engaging them any further as a good path for me. Just writing all this up has taken away the rest of my time for editing today. I have to get some sleep but I think the above lays out what I see as the issue. -- Banjeboi 14:11, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Agree that these users should be discussing on the talk page instead of reverting. Have you contacted kotra (talk · contribs), who is CadenS's mentor? Although that is an option, I expect editors to be responsible for their actions, and not require a mentor talk them out of disproportionately defensive posts. CadenS is clearly passionate about gay-themed articles and has been asked to avoid them in the past, to my memory. Though his comments about E.O. Green school shooting correctly indicated the poor writing and layout of the article, the stressful way it was brought about was unnecessary. --Moni3 (talk) 15:08, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Moni, Benji never once initiated any type of discussion on this matter. He went and filed this report instead. Let me remind you that Mr. Benji was reverting left, right and center. How convenient to see how you leave that part out. Furthermore, Kotra did not talk me out of anything. You insinuating such a thing is insulting to both Kotra and I. And another thing, since when is rape, murder or shooting's suddenly classified as "homosexual-themed" type of articles? That's a narrow way of thinking on your part and I'm shocked that you would post such a thing here. Caden S (talk) 10:50, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I find Benj's choice of words ("they", "their", "them"), to describe me personally, as very offensive. I have a name. My name is Caden. That's C-A-D-E-N. I'm also a male. That's M-A-L-E. Therefore my gender is "he", and not "they" or "them" or "their". Got it? Now, in regards to the word "homosexual", this is the correct word to be used. It's used in the same way as the word "heterosexual" is often used. Homosexual is only considered pejorative by those who support the political correct movement. I did change some of Benji's POV content because he was misrepresenting what those sources stated. He deliberately did that to mislead the readers just like he's been doing with the E. O. article by adding the POV "see also" sections that serve his biased POV. The real issue here is the issue of POV language used by Benji and him misleading the readers by insinuating this in the main article. I also find it highly insulting that he is accusing me of working together with Ave Caesar on purpose. I've never spoken to User:Ave Caesar, and he or she has never had any contact with me. Furthermore, Benji claims I took a dig at him? Please. I was defending myself. I was replying to an attack made by him (on the E.O. page) towards me when he had the nerve to say: "Let's not paint all gay people as predators or liars or anything else". I found his statement offensive, bizarre, and completely uncalled for. Caden S (talk) 17:40, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Caden: Chill, no one can tell your gender on teh Internet. A simple "Oh, btw I'm male" would have done. Your "get it?" etc is very hostile. I am sure no rudeness was intended. People on Misplaced Pages refer to other editors as "he" "she" and "they" almost at random it seems, and it is generally best to ignore or tactfully inform the editor using the incorrect term. As regarding "homosexual" vs. "gay" that is a content dispute and belongs on the talk page of the article - but the parade is certainly the "gay pride" parade and not the "homosexual pride" parade, so at least one of your edits is simply wrong. KillerChihuahua 17:53, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Hello, it's me. I haven't been contacted, but as you say, all editors are responsible for their own actions (though I would appreciate it if these issues were discussed with me occasionally). I want to clear up a few things, though. Caden has already apologized for some of the issues raised above, and has voluntarily maintained long breaks from LGBT-related articles in the past. As for this recent incident (changing "gay" to "homosexual" on Jesse Dirkhising), that seems like a minor content dispute that you should discuss with each other first before bringing up here. So concerning Caden, I'm not sure what this incident report is for, since it's a minor dispute and has not yet received much discussion. Concerning Ave Caesar, I don't really have an opinion about their edits, except I very much doubt they are conspiring in any way with Caden. -kotra (talk) 18:18, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Killer, I'm sorry but you are so wrong. Benji knows full well that I'm a male and he knows my name very well. He and I have had conflicts in the past concerning the Dirkhising and E. O. pages. Furthermore, I know nothing about such parades and have no interest in them. And for the record, I made no edits on any parade so I have no clue what you're talking about. Also, I agree with Kotra. He should of have been contacted regardless of my actions. He is my adopter. Caden S (talk) 18:36, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Ah, did he? Still not seeing why you should bother to care. KillerChihuahua 19:03, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

A bit of a side-note concerning this: "I expect editors to be responsible for their actions, and not require a mentor talk them out of disproportionately defensive posts.". I actually disapproved of that comment, and I did not "talk him out of it". -kotra (talk) 18:33, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Hmm, this is a content dispute and not really a matter for ANI. This should be on the discussion on the article talk page. The issue is over the inclusion of encyclopedic language. The user wishes to replace "homosexual" with the slang term "gay." --Ave Caesar (talk) 20:50, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

• Comment. Sorry I see this as an editing dispute. Ave Caesar's only participation there has been disruptive, IMHO, coupled with their other, apparently anti-LGBT concerns are also alarming. With CadenS, his changing gay to homosexual, reinforced too by Ave Caesar, along with misrepresenting sources is basic vandalism that should be reverted under normal circumstances. Gay is not considered slang and that both these editors fail to see its pejorative connotations is also disquieting. That CadenS couples this with bad faith accusations and hostility aren't encouraging. Misplaced Pages isn't a battleground or a place for POV pushing. If any of the gay people involved self-identified as homosexual it's usually good to put that in the article as such. Instead mainstream society and media outlets use gay. I find having to explain this is this decade a bit odd - homosexual is used predominately in conservative religious venues to vilify LGBT people - its use on Misplaced Pages is dubious - especially on biographies. I came here because I'm trying to get the article to GA, I see these two as disrupting that process. I want to nip editing warring in the bud here. Considering each of their recent actions and looking at editing histories of these two my concerns are justified. The article had been stable for six months - with gay intact - why now the interest? Why now the changes?

To CadenS specifically, you assert "Please. I was defending myself." here is the comment I made in full

If you felt I was attacking you I apologize, that was not my intent at all, I was trying to figure out what actionable items on that article needed to be addressed as there was a POV tag you had re-inserted and the consensus was that POV concerns had largely been addressed. -- Banjeboi 23:41, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

You are correct that it is an editing dispute. Therefore, it should first be discussed at Talk:Jesse Dirkhising. It is not proper to escalate it to WP:ANI until lower levels of dispute resolution have failed, as you must know. Regardless, I believe you are seeing an example of bias where there may not be one. "Homosexual" as a derisive term is very subtle and recent and depends largely on regional dialect and context. It is not unlikely that it has been used in Misplaced Pages bios without any actual bias intended, particularly since Misplaced Pages strives to be somewhat academic in tone. So I don't think there are any actionable items for an admin here. To get more eyes, WP:RFC would be the proper place. And I sympathize that this dispute has come at an inconvenient time for your GA review, but these things happen. -kotra (talk) 01:08, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Hmm, upon rereading, I now realize you mean "editing dispute" to mean "a dispute over how a user is editing", as opposed to "a dispute over particular edits". If that is what you meant, I disagree. I don't see any problem with how users are editing, except that there isn't enough discussion (which is the fault of all three parties). -kotra (talk) 02:00, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

My experience with CadenS on this article in particular and then again on E.O. Green School shooting was generally being on the receiving end of bad faith accusations and hostility. Ave Caesar deleted talk page threads about the concern on their talkpage and never discussed any concerns except in edit summary comments. Either are welcome to engage in civil discussion on the talk page but edit-warring is unproductive and, really, do we need an RfC to confirm that homosexual is pejorative and gay should be the default? Or that we shouldn't misrepresent sources? Both have indicated they feel their edits are fine - they really aren't. I'm looking for the edit warring to stop and I've been on the talkpage consistently. -- Banjeboi 03:00, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I had thought the hostility at E.O. Green School shooting was over, so it surprised me that you would bring it up again here. But as for this recent dispute, I still haven't seen any discussion about it on Talk:Jesse Dirkhising, from them or you, so I guess I'm still at a loss as to why you brought this up here, without hardly discussing the issues first. And, you acknowledge that "homosexual" is not always pejorative, so perhaps it is not being used in that tone here? These things should be clarified first before one assumes bad faith; this is why I suggested RfC before ANI, if talk page discussion fails (which has still barely been explored). I think we're going in circles, though. (by the way, since blanking is usually ok on your own talk page, that particular part of Ave Caeser's behavior seems fine) -kotra (talk) 07:05, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

My experiences with Benji have been unpleasant. I feel he's anti-heterosexual, anti-Christian and anti-conservative due to his biased POV. I don't know what his problem is with conservatives, or Christians or even us heterosexuals. But his edits are more than clear he has some serious issues concerning the three. He often assumes bad faith and he's assuming bad faith once again by attacking my good faith edits as "vandalism". My edits are fine and have all been done in good faith. Benji's edits are questionable, in my opinion. "Gay" is a slang liberal word. "Straight" is a slang liberal word. Homosexual and heterosexual are the correct words to be used in a encyclopedia. I am not using the word "homosexual" in a pejorative way (like Benji accuses me of), and I highly doubt that Ave Caesar is using it in a negative way either. But as always, Benji assumes bad faith over any edits made by any editor who does not share his homosexual POV, regardless of the topics. I wonder why? Could it be because of his problems with heterosexuals, Christians and conservatives? He claims: "homosexual is used predominately in conservative religious venues to vilify LGBT people". Please. That's PC nonsense and is not true. You cannot group all people together as one just so you can push your POV on here. Doesn't Benji understand that not all christians are conservative? I assure you that not all conservatives are religious. Furthermore, the slang word "gay" is a liberal mainstream word that liberal society and liberal media outlets use for political correctness. Regardless of all this, Benji's issues are focused on a individual editor's way of editing. That's bad faith on his part. It should be focused on the true issue, which is a content dispute. I don't see any problems with how I edit, nor do I see any issues with how Ave Caesar edits. I do have some serious concerns with an editor who vilifies other editors as, "they" or "their" or "them". That's extremely rude. On a final note, Benji failed to initiate discussion on the talk page. Had he done so, I would of gladly taken part. Instead he filed this report. This alone was bad faith on his part. Caden S (talk) 09:00, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

As soon as you throw "liberal this" and "liberal that" and "political correctness" about, then you are showing your prejudices very clearly, thank you. Never mind what you think should be the correct wording and usage, what does the community think? This is after all a collaborative project. Black Kite 09:41, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Your statement above shows me where your prejudices are. But yes, what does the community think should be the correct words to use? Caden S (talk) 10:50, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

"Gay" is hardly a "slang liberal word". Conservatives use it as well. So does the mainstream media. I'm more interested in the terms used by reliable sources to describe the subject than in a community referendum, though. MastCell  16:16, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Bangle-butt

I just nuked Bangle-butt (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) per WP:BLP, having been attracted to Chris Bangle (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) by a request to link a petition to sack the designer at Mediawiki talk:Spam-blacklist#petitiononline.com. The article documents (using the word loosely) a derogatory term used by detractors to describe a specific design feature associated largely, though not exclusively, to this one designer. It's a love/hate thing, and the biography and that nuked article are dominated by the hate group. Feel free to undelete the article and give it a more appropriate title, and strip out the derogatory overtones, if you can find sourcing. Guy (Help!) 14:33, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I dunno, the article has been around since 2005, and a 30 second search reveals more than enough sources that would warrant an article under that specific term. I think the article should be undeleted or started anew from scratch. --Conti|✉ 15:11, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I fail to see how "No one bothered to nuke it before now" somehow makes a subject encyclopedic. Age does not always denote worth - check out any dirty old man or meddlesome old lady for proof of that. KillerChihuahua 17:47, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, I thought that linking to dozens of reliable sources using that term was the better part of my argument, too. :) --Conti|✉ 00:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

If it should be anything (doubtful), it should be a redirect to Chris Bangle with some sourced information (if that's possible) at that article. Black Kite 17:54, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Good idea; I've redirected, although I have not added any content to the article. KillerChihuahua 18:04, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I've seen the article numerous times in popular car magazines 100+ instances,3 instances,164 instances (mainly forums, some reviews. Here's a quote from a Motor Trend Interview with Bangle: Love or loathe his work, Bangle's impact on auto design has been profound. No other designer, not even legendary GM design chief Harley Earl, has so rapidly become a part of the industry lexicon. To "bangle" a design is now an auto-industry verb for ruining it. Auto writers use "Bangle butt" to describe a tail with an extra layer of metal on the trunk (think new Mercedes S-Class). Bangle, some rivals will remind you, is only one letter away from "bungle." Whether or not the term deserves it's own article is debatable, but at the very least should be addressed in Bangle's bio. OhNoitsJamie 18:14, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have no opinion on what else to do with it, but redirecting it to the BLP is NOT a good way to leave it. Someone googling that term would think that the term is referring to him and not realize that it is referring to the car. It should either redirect to an article subsection, be an actual article, or redirect to an article on automotive slang (if there is such a thing). But leaving it as a redirect to the BLP really isn't acceptable IMO. --B (talk) 23:09, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

blocking a user to stop harassment

McJeff's never ending harassment continues. mcjeff wrote this totally off topic personal attack on an article discussion page, not even a user talk page. can someone block him for his gross incivility? i provide recent diffs of his abuse]; he just provides more attacks. (he was responding to this from a blatant SPA.) is this abuser and harasser going to be allowed to bully people around without blatant personal attacks totally unabated?Theserialcomma (talk) 14:37, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Warned about personal attacks. Stifle (talk) 14:39, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

John Carney (American football)

- for now. I semied the article and left a bunch of warnings. Note that the subject of the article appears to be editing it to protect the BLP vios. This is allowed and needs handling with care should this resume. I'm willing to up the protection if this doesn't work. Ping me or make an appn to RFPP Spartaz 20:01, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I would appreciate some eyes on this article, as it has been the subject of a edit war recently with BLP violations on one side, and legal threats on the other side. All accounts involved seem to be essentially throwaway accounts. I'd just watch it myself, but I'm not sure how available I'll be to edit in the next week. Someguy1221 (talk) 19:35, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Lysergic acid diethylamide

This article, which is pretty stable (former FA), is being vandalized regularly by diverse IP editors. Could an extended semi-protect be considered? Looie496 (talk) 19:49, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Sifl and Olly Show

Constant spamming from different IP addresses. This issue was brought up last week, resulting in a user block and temp. protection of page. However, when the page protection expired, the spam came back right away. Perhaps a longer protection is needed? -Brougham96 (talk) 20:24, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Please list atWP:RFPP. Spartaz 21:05, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

User:Mista-X

Mista-X (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) has made some very slanderous and vicious accusations against me in a discussion about the racial aspects of violent crime in Toronto, specifically related to the Boxing Day Shooting incident of 2006. Mista-X initially made the very insensitive assertion that the article's only claim to notability is the fact that the victim of the shooting between two rival Black gangs was a White person - a 16-year old female named Jane Creba . Completely ignoring the fact that it was one of the most brazen daylight shooting incidents in Toronto, based on its location alone - a popular shopping center in the city core frequented by holiday-oriented shoppers including families and young people. He then responded reaffirming his view with bogus and racialist theories . Then when I responded about the reason for higher violent crime rates among Toronto's Black community lied within the community, and not the evil racist government he proceeded to accuse me of bigotry, fascism, racism, complicity with white supremacist organizations, being a white nationalist, being a militant white supremacist ("If someone started blasting at you would you simply duck and cover if you were carrying? Or would you pump back some of that H & K or Walther (my favs too) in the name of your white race?") being a member of the now-defunct NSDAP (Nazi) party and called Black law enforcement officers "uncle toms" and "tokens" . This I believe goes beyond uncivil, the libelous accusations leveled against me, through completely unfounded, would place me in violation of Canadian Hate Speech laws and subject me to criminal prosecution. A very serious accusation that violates a series of WP policies. I've been the target of incivility several times on Misplaced Pages, but this I could not leave unchallenged. This combined with his controversial editing past including many blocks proves that the user is not a serious contributor but is a POV-pushing Marxist extremist. Koalorka (talk) 21:13, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This is part of an ongoing pattern of behaviour from User:Mista-X, in which he thinks it's perfectly acceptable to use Misplaced Pages to denigrate people that he does not like (see, for example, ,,. He has been warned and blocked for this behaviour many times before, and has actively disregarded these warnings (,). I think we should be considering a community ban at this point, since no other measure is likely to work (we could start an RFC, but I think we've already seen how he reacts to criticism). Sarcasticidealist (talk) 21:28, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

My mistake, I'd assumed that the above-posted diffs were recent. Oppose a ban at this time. Sarcasticidealist (talk) 01:43, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I would Support the community ban. People who come and start spouting racial epithets against living people and users are people who need not be on here, especially if they've got scars from LARTs issued by other users. -Jéské 21:34, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Ditto Sarcastic. My comments about racist remarks still stands, however. -Jéské 07:21, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Yep, definitely looks likes banning time. Disruptive, pattern of abuse towards other editors, unable to distance himself enough from his opinions to write in a neutral fashion, and demonstrated unwillingness to change. No reason to continue letting him damage the project. --erachima talk 21:37, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Actually, none of his edits since his recent block in the beginning of July seem problematic (he has only made 5 edits in that time). Maybe we should wait? Obviously if this behavior does start up again a ban would be in order. JoshuaZ (talk) 22:50, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

← (edit conflict) A few things: one, I am actually uncomfortable with some of Koalorka's commentary on Talk:Boxing Day shooting, particularly this. I will not comment on Koalorka's edit patterns, though they may be worth a quick look. Second, am I taking crazy pills, or are the cited diffs between 5 and 9 months old? I find it odd to be "defending" Mista-X (talk · contribs), because in my interaction with him I've found him to be extremely tendentious, uncollaborative, and obstructionist (see this history).Yes, Mista-X may in fact be a reasonable candidate for a siteban; this diff ends unacceptably, though it is from April, people. This particular thread doesn't smell quite right. MastCell  22:58, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Oppose community ban unless a diff can be pulled up that's from no earlier than the beginning of August. This is attempt by Koalorka to ban an editor over an old grievance. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 23:04, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Oppose a ban at this time. Why now? SHEFFIELDSTEEL 23:35, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have to add, yes, I only stumbled back upon this particular page today, and was absolutely shocked. I removed it from my watch list after several days with no response, so I figured the person I was addressing lost interest or abandoned the subject. I do not have any previous interactions with Mista-X and have no agenda. Koalorka (talk) 23:36, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Really? Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 23:40, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Truthfully, yes. Koalorka (talk) 23:43, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

So that's a different Koalorka in the diff, a different Koalorka who had "accusations made in a discussion" against him, a different Koalorka who complained here about a "previous interaction" with the Mista-X? Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 00:05, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't quite follow... Koalorka (talk) 00:12, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

If you had no previous interactions, you wouldn't have been in the talk page argument, would you have? Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 00:32, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I had no prior interaction with the member apart from this one talk page a few months ago. Koalorka (talk) 00:34, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Oppose ban: if the editor has not made any disruptive edits in over a month/two, a ban would be difficult to justify on preventative grounds (which are the only valid grounds). -kotra (talk) 00:46, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Reversion of WP:GAR by User:jfdwolff

User:jfdwolff keeps reverting an edit I made, closing a WP:GAR, instead of using proper procedure to unlist. He responded negatively to a caution I made on his talk page regarding the matter.Bettering the Wiki (talk) 21:31, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Could you clarify which review this is about, what the dispute is, and why this requires administrative attention? --erachima talk 21:43, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

See history of Talk:Huntington's disease and Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive473#Reverting GAN fails. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 22:02, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

See also a thread from yesterday about Goodone121 and Huntington's disease. This user is trolling. I've had enough, and would like him blocked. JFW | T@lk 22:06, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents#Goodone121 and Huntingon's disease. What exactly is going on here? How can one "use proper procedure" to delist an article that is not a GA? Fvasconcellos (t·c) 22:07, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

I have given Goodone121 a final warning! John Vandenberg 22:26, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

If you look at the "Natural Sciences" part of WP:GA, it's there. BTW, thanks for telling me. I can revert the edit.Bettering the Wiki (talk) 23:20, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

No, it isn't. I have removed it. The article did not pass GAN, and as the nominator, you should not list it even if it had passed. You clearly do not understand the point here: an article cannot be "delisted" if it was never a GA in the first place.

I feel I am sufficiently uninvolved to act further on this, and I just have: consider yourself blocked for disruption. If anyone disagrees, please feel free to let me know. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 00:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Good call. Guy (Help!) 05:52, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Disruptive editing at Monarchy of Canada

I'm not sure if this should go at WP:AN3 or not as 3RR actually hasn't been breached; hopefully someone can inform me if it should be there or here. A user is not adhering to the BRD process at Monarchy of Canada by restoring disputed edits over earlier established consensus. This comes after days of lengthy discussion, and a MedCab case, as well as an ongoing discussion at WT:MOS, all of which can be traced through the edit histories of either PrinceOfCanada (talk · contribs) or myself. If I'm understanding WP:BRD and WP:CON correctly, PrinceOfCanada is disrupting the process. After a period of poor behaviour, he was behaving more collegially, but I fear this has regressed again. Could someone please give this their attention? --G2bambino (talk) 23:27, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

This is rather odd. According to the article history, it was User:PrinceOfCanada who informed User:G2bambino of the existence of WP:BRD, and who accused G2bambino of edit-warring against consensus - not the other way around. No other editor has so far taken part in this edit-war; it's just the two of them. Will look into this more... SHEFFIELDSTEEL 23:40, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Talk:Monarchy of Canada#Images (x3) makes it more clear. --G2bambino (talk) 23:44, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Let's see... G2bambino made an edit to the page to preserve it at a given state 'while conflict is ongoing'. I did not contest that version of the page, therefore consensus. Conflict is still ongoing, as a discussion for wider input at WT:MOS, therefore the page should remain as we tacitly agreed. Cute, G2, by the way: your selective links in your sandbox--that you had removed as a sign of good faith; one can only assume bad faith by the return. One should also point out that your behaviour is, I'll be charitable, less than stellar. G2 was informed in no uncertain terms that I did not agree with his proposed reversion. Prince of Canada 23:51, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Clarification: There was no agreement, tacit or otherwise. Last established consensus was before September 8. --G2bambino (talk) 00:12, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

There wasn't? You made an edit to which nobody objected. That is the essence of consensus. Whether you liked that edit or not is immaterial; you made it and it became the new consensus.

According to BRD, one should 1) make a change (your reversion to sept 8 version), and then 2) wait until somebody reverts your change or makes a substantial edit DO NOT revert this change!, then 3) If a disagreement arises, gracefully back down a bit, and explain and discuss your reasoning with the reverter and consider their different views too (don't go for discussion with too many people at once). Once you reach agreement, start the cycle again by making the agreed change. So, if you're going to claim BRD policy as your basis for making the reversion, umm.. you kind of have to abide by BRD.

I hope that helps clarify matters for you. Prince of Canada 00:44, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

1) The now tens-of-thousands of words long discussion across various talk pages completely dispels your claim that there was silence on the matter of the images at any time after September 8. 2) You missed from WP:SILENCE: ...the longer it stands unchallenged, the stronger the implication of consensus is; the position of the images before September 8 stood for months, in comparison to a couple of days for another layout. 1 + 2 = No new consensus, from which the rest of your claims fall away. You are violating numerous guidelines by repeatedly restoring your contentious edits. --G2bambino (talk) 01:07, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Let's try this again, shall we?

Did you make an edit? Yes.

Did anyone object to that edit? No.

Is that therefore consensus? Yes.

Prince of Canada 01:23, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Incorrect. --G2bambino (talk) 01:27, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

WP:BECAUSEISAYSO isn't really an explanation. Can you please try again? My understanding is that consensus works thusly: 1) edit is made; 2) no objections; 3) consensus. Alternatively: 1) edit is made; 2) objection; 3) discussion; 4) new consensus. So.. you made an edit, there were no objections, therefore consensus. Or does it work some other way? And are you ever going to address that what you did was explicitly forbidden by WP:BRD? Prince of Canada 01:44, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Are you two arguing over the placement of images? Don't you two have something better to do? —kurykh 01:13, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

It appears to be that simple, and that lame, on the surface. However, there are actually multiple other issues wrapped up inside the dispute. I don't see it going anywhere happy unless there's oversight from a more empowered individual/body; a collegial attempt at MedCab has already failed, and PrinceOfCanada's behaviour is quickly degenerating again, causing irritation and disruption. --G2bambino (talk) 01:27, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Really, you should try being a bit more honest. The MedCab failed because you--that is, the person who requested mediation--refused to accept a neutral and even-handed proposal. And seriously? You have absolutely no leg to stand on when it comes to criticizing anyone else's behaviour. I'd suggest Talk:Monarchy of Australia, Talk:Autumn Phillips, and Talk:Republicanism in Australia for some examples of that missing leg of yours. Prince of Canada 01:44, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Then what are these "multiple issues", and do these "multiple issues" warrant the continuation of said lameness? —kurykh 01:30, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

What seems to be fuelling this dispute is a combination of gaps and conflicts in WP:MOS and WP:ACCESS with an editor who believes his exclusive opinions should fill those gaps and dispel those conflicts, without regard for contrary argument and faithful reading of existent policies. Whatever the resolution of this matter, it will set precedent for future guidance in similar situations, affecting layout and appearance of all articles. --G2bambino (talk) 02:46, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Blocked

• I have blocked both PrinceOfCanada (talk · contribs) and G2bambino (talk · contribs) for one week. Please note that I was not aware of this thread when I issued the block, and will be reading over it now. If there is consensus to undo the block, please do so. Tiptoety 02:50, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Spot on. These two have been warned before not to engage in such foolishness. Guy (Help!) 05:50, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• FYI - In his second unblock request, PrinceOfCanada (talk · contribs) asks: What are the chances of being unblocked if I agree to mediation with G2?. Do others think mediation could yield positive results in this situation? Cirt (talk) 06:48, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• If any mediators want to take it on, sure, why not? Guy (Help!) 08:22, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Endorse block. BOTH were clearly and explicitly gaming the 3RR , which is not an entitlement to 3 reverts. I strongly believe the block on both participants should stand unless there is a promise NOT to revert on that article at all. Indeed could a consensus here impose a longterm 0RR on that article for both participants. This is about image sizes apparently, how lame can you get?--Scott MacDonald (talk) 11:18, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I'd recommend a 1RR for both. Afterall, who's gonna make a revert, if they know the other fellow will get the last revert? GoodDay (talk) 12:43, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Copyright and NPOV issue with Dala11a

Dala11a (talk · contribs) has been warned several times in the past about copy/paste copyright violations (see their talk page for those and many other warnings). Today they copied an English sentence from a Swedish website, which I removed, and then Dalla11a replaced it stating "it is legal to qoute this thext if the source is indicated, read the swedish text in the web page "Citera oss gärna, men ange källan". "

Two issues:

1. This was not inserted as a quote, and as written in the article is an opinion presented as fact. This user has been told before that both of these practices are not acceptable.
2. The page has a Copyright symbol at the bottom, but the Swedish translates (at Google) as "Quote us happy, but indicate the source".

Could someone please explain the "copy/paste vs. quote" and NPOV issues to Dala11a, as I and many other editors' explanations over the past 6 months (on their talk page and various article talk pages) have so far fallen on deaf ears.

Could someone also let me know what to do when there are both a copyright notice and a "Quote us happy, but indicate the source" notice in Swedish? Thanks, NJGW (talk) 23:47, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

If there is a copyright on the text, requiring attribution, then we can quote it but we cannot use it in the text itself, as all text in articles has to be agreed to be released under the GFDL and in this case it clearly was not. Regards SoWhy 07:30, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Clay Aiken

Perez Hilton has posted an image on his blog that allegedly is a future People Magazine interview in which singer Clay Aiken comes out as gay. Every IP on the planet is currently trying to add said "fact" to the article. I've semiprotected it for the moment (until People is published, and either does or doesn't feature said story) but it could probably do with extra pairs of eyes on it and possibly full protection (I'm reluctant to do so), as it's liable to break into a full-scale revertwar. – iridescent 23:54, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Full protection may be necessary, but hopefully for just a day or less. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 00:10, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Full-protected for 2 days. Cirt (talk) 00:15, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

While there's no official word, given the coverage this is getting, if that's not the People cover this will take more than a day. NJGW (talk) 00:16, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

- it appears this has now reached coverage in reliable sources, I won't mind if another admin steps down the protection to semi at some point. Cirt (talk) 00:22, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes, this appears to be resolving itself quickly. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 00:25, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Shazam! Surprise, surprise! This is likely true, and not likely a surprise either. People is being coy, but their banner says, "Come back Wednesday for the full scoop on Clay Aiken at 7 a.m. EDT." Although maybe it's just going to be an article about ice cream. Baseball Bugs 00:29, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Material which in my opinion continues to violate WP:BLP was added after the article was full-protected, see here. I do not believe this material warrants inclusion at this stage. I understand that many Misplaced Pages editors view People magazine as a wonderful reliable source for all kinds of important personal information about celebrities, but to me it remains an unreliable gossip tabloid. Furthermore the magazine is not out yet. Thirdly, sources seem to be advance images of the cover of this magazine. What the article actually says remains unknown, let alone the question of whether what it says is true and worthy of inclusion in an encyclopedia. In summary: the notion that advance images of the cover of a tabloid gossip magazine constitute a reliable source for the statement that this person has "finally come out of the closet" is substantially beneath the standards Misplaced Pages is striving for. In many respects. Material should be removed while article is protected. BCST2001 (talk) 00:36, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

If the story turns out to be false, I assure you that wikipedia will be way down the list of targets for a defamation suit. CNN and USAToday wouldn't run the story if they didn't think it was true. My only objection would be to the wording of it, because it's not People reporting this (yet), it's CNN reporting that People will be reporting it. Baseball Bugs 00:41, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Your personal opinion doesn't make People an unreliable source in the eyes of Misplaced Pages. It's a gossip tabloid that's a pathetic waste of money, but a reliable one nonetheless. Sadly. Suigetsu 00:47, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Offhand, I can't think of any major scandal of People getting a major story dead wrong, but I'm not a student of that mag; maybe someone can enlighten me. Meanwhile, it's obvious they've leaked the story to news outlets as part of the hype process. There's no BLP issue here. Baseball Bugs 00:59, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I found the CNN source just as Cirt was protecting the article. I only saw the protection template after I had added the ref. I left a message for the editor who requested the protection, but I have yet to hear back. I don't want anybody thinking I was contributing to the edit war... aside from trying to quell it, that is. caknuck _° is geared up for football season 01:00, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

FWIW, it's now on Reuters andthe Sun-Times (although, apparently, both are based on the Perez Hilton post). Fvasconcellos (t·c) 01:02, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

We could taiw for the airticle to come out before we start throwing out accusaitons of Homosexuality. i mean, i understand that vlaid sources are talking about it, but it seems unfiar to the writers of the Intenret snf the readeras as well to link to a source that they wont be able to read themselves at the time, the equivalent in my eyes to linking to a website thats been taken down and refusing to update it to one that is still availiable. Just wait till the article is out before we start flinging around these terms towards Clay Aiken, especially on the sayso of a person like perez hitleron who is not necesarily WP:RS. Smith Jones (talk) 01:05, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(outdent) Three things lead me to believe that the CNN source is solid: 1) People and CNN are both part of the Time Warner empire, so editors probably would have nixed running an unconfirmed story involving a sister company. 2) It's an Associated Press article. 3) No mention is made of PH or other gossip blogs. caknuck _° is geared up for football season 01:15, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I am shocked to find myself in agreement with Smith Jones, but I see no reason to report anything until such a time as the People issue actually comes out. Corvus cornix_talk 01:18, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

It's all based on Perez's site. Even Reuters . AP seems to be as well even though they don't say so directly "The magazine has an interview with Aiken and confirmed that he was on the cover but refused to release the article to The Associated Press until Wednesday." Until tomorrow the wording should probably be "Several media outlets began reporting that... blah blah... when Perez Hilton... blah blah blah." NJGW (talk) 01:24, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Regardless of how many reliable sources report that a tabloid magazine may be going to report something in an upcoming issue, that does not count as a reliable source for the statement that Celebrity X is "finally coming out of the closet." The current perverse situation is that full protection is being used to retain contentious material which in all likelihood violates WP:BLP. As things stand at the present, there is no justification for including this material. The enthusiasm with which Misplaced Pages editors embrace sensationalism and tabloidishness does Misplaced Pages no service. Again: the material should at present be excised. Retaining this information through use of protection is itself a violation, with the potential to do harm. BCST2001 (talk) 01:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes, the wording of the article is wrong and should be changed to be factual. Excising is not necessary, just rewording it. Baseball Bugs 01:40, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

"This protection is not an endorsement of the current version. " from the top of the page, every single protection template. Come on, man. Suigetsu 02:12, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

People.com confirms it here: Baseball Bugs 02:15, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

You have to click through to find it, but people.com does state: "The former Idol star, who has long kept mum about his sexuality, revealed that he was gay on the cover of PEOPLE, where he appeared with his newborn baby boy." caknuck _° is geared up for football season 02:55, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Edits made during protection reverted without prejudice. Get the protecting admin or an uninvolved admin to unprotect, or get consensus on the talk page and use {{edit protected}}. Let's at least pretend that admins follow the rules we make for others, yes? Thatcher 02:54, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• My edits were pretty much simultaneous to the protection. Per the request of Will Beback, I commented out the addition I had made, if for no other reason than to eliminate any perception of impropriety. It does seem, however, needless considering that People has verified the cover story. caknuck _° is geared up for football season 02:58, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I accept that it was an accident. Thatcher 03:02, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

The magazine is supposed to release the story in less than 12 hours. With any luck it will be clear and authoritative and we can put this to rest once and for all. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 03:14, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I think their own website would be considered sufficiently clear and authoritative. Meanwhile, the cover of next week's People will feature the Pope, with the headline, "Yes, I'm Catholic." Baseball Bugs 03:24, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Touche, monsieur Bugs. --Steven J. Anderson (talk) 03:50, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes, but what about the bear and the woods? Ed Fitzgerald 08:11, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Unfortunately for the bear, he is being forcibly constipated by an abuse filter --NE2 09:04, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Wiki being used to store lecture/class notes

See User:ANT3620, reporting here so more experienced eyes can consider the issues (note: I've ignored rules and not notified the user of this thread as it would seem very bitey) George The Dragon (talk) 00:45, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Left a note on his user talk page with a link to Google Sites; redirected his userpage to the talk page so he is made aware. seicer | talk | contribs 00:52, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Topic ban of User:Curious bystander

I have just topic banned Curious bystander (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log) from all Barack Obama related articles and talk pages until 5 November, 2008. The following is the justification I just put on his talk page:

I have carefully reviewed your contributions, and believe the best course is to topic ban you from Barack Obama, Talk:Barack Obama, and related articles (broadly construed) until November 5, 2008. You are not to edit those articles, or participate on their talk pages. I believe I have the authority to do this based on Talk:Barack Obama/article probation.

I have taken this action for the following reasons:

• You are a single purpose account
• I have recently blocked you for edit warring on Barack Obama, and warned you that a topic ban was the next step if disruption continued
• You have been tendentious editing; that is, refusing to listen to other editors and repeatedly saying the same things over and over, exhausting the editing community's patience (particularly with regard to Rezko)
• You have repeatedly violated WP:SOAP
• You nominated, in bad faith, the article for WP:FAR
• You have made attacks and insults to other editors, and when they have been struck out, you have unstruck them; admittedly, most of them were borderline, but this has now happened multiple times
• You are doing all these things on an article under probabation, where editors are explicitly expected to be on their best behavior, and were you have been specifically warned that this was the case.

If only one or two of these things were true, I would not be implementing this topic ban; it is the combination of all of them together that makes your behavior cross the line to disruptive.

If, when the topic ban expires, you wish to re-engage productively, you will be welcome to do so. If you resume being disruptive, the topic ban will be extended indefinitely. Violation of the topic ban will lead to your account being blocked.

Because this is the first time I have topic banned anyone under article probation, I'm announcing this here to actively solicit a review and reality check on this action. Curious bystander has been notified of this thread, and in no way do I intend that the topic ban means he cannot participate here. I should be available for several hours, on and off, but if a consensus develops and I don't seem to be around, feel free to enact the consensus with no further input from me. --barneca (talk) 01:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Support topic ban, as Curious was explicitly given a warning about continued disruption. Grsz 01:53, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Support CB had it coming. His offenses are topic-bannable anyways, but considering that it happened under article probation... good decision, Barneca. Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 03:31, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Support - Seems like a good solution. Tiptoety 03:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• I had considered doing this myself, awhile back, and concluded that I was marginally too involved to take administrative action. That said, I think this is a reasonable action, and if anything long overdue. MastCell  04:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

As a red herring, I haven't looked into many cases since pushing for article probation, and I take that as a good thing. The way I'd crafted it was to ensure individual administrators had the tools to do what was necessary in an obvious problem area of the pedia, without requiring the community approval to do so (because there were too many problems occurring too frequently, for the entire community to look at each time). This remedy has been working well, and I'm aware that the logs are constantly being updated, so it was definitely worth passing. Having reviewed the action taken under this provision, my view is no different to those above. Support per Tiptoety. Ncmvocalist (talk) 05:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Repetitive disruptive edits

Can someone please have a look at the edits over at Aquarius (astrology)? There's an editor who keeps removing sourced material and inserting unsourced or badly sourced claims. I've been giving him warnings, to no avail. Thanks, Nathanael Bar-Aur L. (talk) 01:41, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Please, any opinions? Maybe I am wrong? --Nathanael Bar-Aur L. (talk) 15:42, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Looks like the user in question was blocked. Shereth 15:53, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Blast, Shereth ec'd me as I was gonna' say it. Blocked 12 hours for disruptive editing, given the length of time this has been going on. Cheers. lifebaka++ 15:54, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks guys, glad I'm on the right side :-) Nathanael Bar-Aur L. (talk) 16:04, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Block of User:Kelly

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.

I've blocked Kelly for incivility as seen on WP:AN. I'm putting up block notice now, and I'll be back shortly to put up the diffs, but I want to have a place for people to review my block ASAP.--Tznkai (talk) 03:28, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Kelly alleges on Kelly's talk page that Tznkai isn't a neutral admin in this situation. Please someone (an admin) look into it. Cla68 (talk) 03:32, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(ec) Kelly alleges that about any admin that calls her or her disruptive behavior. Tzankai is not the first one; and this is not Kelly's first. If at all the block should be extended in increments if her behavior persist. ≈ jossi ≈ (talk) 03:37, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Jossi, you'll need to back that up with some evidence. Otherwise, it's a personal attack and poisoning the well, especially since you jumped the queue with your post. Cla68 (talk) 03:43, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Ask Kelly. He/she will remember how many admins he/she as accused of being "ID cabalists" ≈ jossi ≈ (talk) 03:49, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

In short, approve at least the theory of a block, not 100% sure that setting deadlines really was a good idea (tends to inflame rather then settle a situation), and not sure that you should have been the one to do it.. but that's just my first glance. SirFozzie (talk) 03:34, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I approve the block, but not admin performing block (a more uninvolved admin should have blocked). Erik the Red 2 ~~~~ 03:36, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Does it really matter though? I mean as long as it is a good block... Tiptoety 03:37, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Perceptions mean a lot here, so to answer your question, "sort of". —kurykh 03:41, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Not just perceptions, but this ArbCom decision makes it very clear that administrators are to refer issued upon which they are involved to their fellow admins and not make the block themselves. Bstone (talk) 04:38, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Ugh: I support the block as well, but I will note that in the future, an uninvolved administrator should have performed the deed. I think you'll find many would have been willing to perform the block. This has been an issue that has been boiling over for quite some time. Hopefully this will try to resolve it. seicer | talk | contribs 03:38, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Kelly was active, and the comment was inappropriate, the deadline was a way of saying "Remove the comment now because thats the standard I remember us having about personal attacks. As for whether I should have done it, I'll address that in a moment.--Tznkai (talk) 03:39, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I am hoping that there is a reason for the block aside from referring to FM as a horrifically bad admin, right? If not, it's a horrifically bad block. --B (talk) 03:39, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(ec)Calling someone a "horribly bad admin" is hyperbole, and a personal opinion, but it is not a personal attack. Calling someone a "horribly bad PERSON" would be a personal attack. So I assume there's more to this than just that one comment, and will be interested in the diff's. Baseball Bugs 03:40, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Calling someone a "horribly bad admin" is hyperbole unless it is true. See my evidence section in the arbcom case. Of his 40 admin actions in the period in question, 13 of them were either a misuse or an abuse of the admin tools, including, but not limited to, blocking Dragon695 in retaliation for his comments ABOUT THIS CASE. "Horribly bad" seems like a good description to me. --B (talk) 03:46, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Frankly, I find the block to be out of line with current standards of behavior, as demonstrated by example by Jossi's post above. (And yes, absolutely, Jossi is one of those that Kelly believes Tznkai should have blocked in the original area of dispute.) If we regularly blocked for those sorts of comments, this page would be a ghost town. I think the real issue is that having come back from a multi-year break, Tznkai is out of tune with current community norms on civility. (See for an example of this not related to Kelly Proposed escalating civility rule on AE.) That is the reason the block should be overturned. Whether or not Tznkai is indeed non-neutral I hold no opinion on; I haven't been tracking his administrative activities in the mess in enough detail to have an opinion. GRBerry 03:42, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• This was a poorly placed block, by an admin who should have known better. "Do what I say in ten minutes or I'll block you" is not an appropriate posture for an administrator to assume. The comment in question was hardly even uncivil. To have been defrocked by Arbcom, FM must have been a spectacularly bad admin, and it’s not unreasonable for some people to be pleased by the outcome of the case. Perhaps his comment was tasteless or lacked tact, but it hardly rose to a blockable level. Kelly’s failure to kowtow to Tznkai’s asinine demands was the problem here. HiDrNick! 03:46, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

  Agree with HiDrNick above. Threatening someone isn't a proper step to take for an admin. Dayewalker (talk) 03:50, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Calling admins that address concerns raised by Kelly's behavior to be "ID cabalists", in a derogatory and pervasive manner are a personal attacks, and disruptive. Kelly should take the time of this block and reflect on the way he/she interacts with others. ≈ jossi ≈ (talk) 03:45, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

The ID cabalist comment (on Kelly's own talk page) wasn't what precipitated the block, at least according to the block log.--chaser - t 03:49, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

The comment you reference was made two seconds before ( ) the block was placed, but thanks for playing. HiDrNick! 03:55, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• endorse unblock Tznkai was not an uninvolved admin by my view, the comment was not more egregious than a lot of other comments I see, and the usual warning and block process that is in practice appears not to have been followed. MBisanz 03:46, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(WP:AN#Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/C68-FM-SV, clarifying link to AN issue, q.v. User talk:Kelly#Notice Kylu (talk) 03:47, 24 September 2008 (UTC) )

• endorse unblock Kelly's comment was out of line but so was Tznkai's threat and block. I think these two need to be separated but the block seems like it should be undone first, preferably by Tznkai. Ronnotel (talk) 03:48, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• endorse unblock What Ronnotel said. Way overreacting. There was a guy earlier today who called an editor a "mental case" and no action was taken. Comments on behavior are not personal attacks. Baseball Bugs 04:01, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• endorse unblock This unfortunately isn't a good block. The "ID" people may or may not be ganged up, or gang up in turn, but a comment strongly criticizing the admin actions of a desysopped admin aren't an attack. rootology (C)(T) 03:52, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
• I would say it was a horribly bad block, but I might get blocked for doing so. Giggy (talk) 03:55, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

By Tznkai, no less. HiDrNick! 03:58, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I have blocked you for one attofortnight for that display of gross incivility. It seems the block was too short to make it to the log, though. --Carnildo (talk) 04:37, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Endorse unblock. An opinion about how well or poorly somebody has performed as an administrator is not a "personal attack". (Though it probably should be avoided in the name of civility when it comes right after the admin has been desysopped, when it's more "kicking him when he's down" than any sort of necessary criticism of somebody in the process of being judged.) *Dan T.* (talk) 04:02, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Unblock. The block should be lifted without further delay; Kelly less than deftly communicated her concerns, but Tznkai should have handled the situation very differently (a topic on which I will comment below, shortly).   user:j    (aka justen)   04:03, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
• I agree with Ronnotel. Setting a time limit and the curt language used by Tznkai on Kelly's talk page seem to indicate a little more emotional distance was needed by the admin here. And Tznkai's approach was the one most likely to get Kelly to dig in his or her heals. I agree, Kelly's comment was not appropriate, and it was appropriate for Tznkai to find that offensive and to point it out (I think it was on the border of a personal attack, but certainly uncivil, and it was kicking someone when he's down -- really bad form.) I hope Kelly will -- please -- consider retracting it and help raise the level of civility around here. An unblock is in order, best done by Tznkai. It would be very impressive to see either editor back down. -- Noroton (talk) 04:03, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
• Endorse the unblock The comment by Kelly was overtly critical and shouldn't have been made at such a time, but blocking in this way is not the answer. Everyone should be given ample time and opportunity to withdraw a questionable comment. Hobartimus (talk) 04:35, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Endorse unblock and pursuant to this ArbCom decision the blocking admin should be sanctioned and admonished from using admin tools when not an uninvolved party. Bstone (talk) 04:44, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Involved?

Kelly and others have brought up concern that I'm too involved. So, as a matter of full disclosure, this is how involved I am: I intervened on the Political Positions of Sarah Palin edit war that was going on. Two of the belligerents were Jossi and Kelly. Kelly was reported for 3RR once, I declined based on lack of consensus, Kelly was reported again, I made a deal for Kelly to undergo a 24 hour topic ban instead of a 12 hour 3RR block. The third one I declined again, based on a belief that Kelly is a good faith editor, who did not fully understand WP:3RR. I made a notice on Kelly's talk page I will not decline another 3RR report on those grounds. Before the 24 hour topic block Kelly ignored repeated and cordial suggests that (s)he take a break. We were on friendly, neutral, and unaware terms, and I was fine with this. Since the topic ban, Kelly has declared she no longer accepts my administrator status vis a vis her. This is not me being to involved, but Kelly's refusal to play ball. In addition to the edit that I listed in the block log as an offense, Kelly has shown a pattern of dubious civility, specifically vis a vis Jossi, Killer Chihuahua and the so called "IdCabal." (diffs pending). As a matter of further disclosure, I believe use of term IDCabal is an attack, a destructive well poisoning uncivil attack that can only derail what cooperation exists in a dispute. As a matter of further disclosure, KC and I go way back, where we had a friendly relationship when we both edited the Abortion and ID pages, although you will see from her talk page archives, as well as AN's archives, we do not see eye to eye on a number of things.

I am well aware that we do not like "involved" administrators taking action. Thus, I preemptively listed this block for review in the block log. In other words, I rescind any rights, privileges or courtesies due to the acting administrator as to the overturning of the block, and I submit my own conduct to community review.--Tznkai (talk) 03:52, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Addendum: I just got a chance to read some of the various comments, and its been mentioned that Kelly and I have been "going at it." This is nominally true, but I would point out, that my involvement with Kelly has been as an administrator only, and Kelly and my conflict, is one over user conduct and administrator conduct, not content disputes or anything else. As an administrator I am expected to handle user conduct. If there is a community consensus that the block was bad, so be it, and similarly if people believe my judgment is tainted by my absence or by the history of this administrative conduct.

Addendum2: On the subject of "threats" I issued a stern, plain text warning, and gave Kelly time to undo it, or rather time to declare his or her intent to comply or not. By that definition, we threaten vandals all the time, we threaten troublesome editors, we threaten people who disrupt the Wiki. The ten minute window was enough since Kelly was active, and is ten more minutes than a personal attack should exist: remember, these things should never be.--Tznkai (talk) 04:04, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Being involved means you do NOT take action to begin with, but that you refer it here for others who are uninvolved to take action. MBisanz 03:57, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(Edit conflicts)I do not think I am involved, but I am aware that others may disagree, thus my actions. There is nothing I did that cannot be undone.--Tznkai (talk) 04:04, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Well, some people (including Kelly) might see Tznkai as being too biased to judge her actions, and I'm not sure about that. But I do think that, in regards to any 3rr violations, someone else could have taken a look at that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not so sure if there was any recent disruption. Also, that link in her block log was essentially pointing to one wisecrack (un-wise; so be it), so if that was it, then that wouldn't look very good on the part of the blocking admin, in any case. ~ Troy (talk) 04:02, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Two things:

• The block is unfortunate, because I think this could have been resolved more amicably. I was at the point of leaving Kelly a polite request (not order) to reconsider his comment, on grounds that while FeloniousMonk was justifiably desysopped, it is still unseemly to dance on someone's metaphorical grave. In my (brief) experience interacting with Kelly, he responds reasonably to requests and antagonistically to demands, which is not all that unusual.
• Tznkai is not an "involved" admin, and that particular line of reasoning should probably be dropped forthwith. The idea that Tznkai is in cahoots with the "ID Cabal" against Kelly is ridiculous. If Tznkai was looking for excuses to block Kelly, he could have done it when I reported Kelly to WP:AN3 for 7RR a couple of weeks ago. There was ample technical justification for a block at that time. Instead, Tznkai worked it out without resorting to a block, and in retrospect I think he handled it well. That's not the action of an admin who's looking for an excuse to block someone.

So to sum up, I don't think an ultimatum and block was the best way to handle this. An unblock on those grounds would be reasonable. The "involved admin" stuff is a red herring. MastCell  04:04, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

If Tznkai's only "involvement" is handling a 3RR report, calling him/her involved is utterly silly. I looked at Tznkai's history briefly to confirm or deny the claim that he/she is an involved admin and there is this from three years ago, but that's a wiki-lifetime ago for most of us. I don't think "involved" is really an issue here. If the only justification for the block was calling FM a bad admin, then it's a bad block, but I don't see involvement as being a factor here. --B (talk) 04:07, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I agree, as I said it above, that the "involved" concern is a red herring. I do think, however, that Tznkai would do well to change his behavior somewhat. In particular, we've learned through painful experience over the years that if user X reports allegedly improper behavior by user Y at page Z, it is necessary to investigate both user X in particular and the history of Z in general, because very often X has also been a problem and/or there are other problems at Z. Had Tznkai been doing this, it would have been the best evidence of neutrality... I recall some but not much of it on Tznkai's part with regards to the original underlying dispute. I've not seen any evidence that he actually looked at the screens of evidence related to the IDCabal mess, so I hold his opinion on that point in no respect - there is too much positive evidence of problematic behavior to brush the issue under the rug or consider the label an attack. The proper conclusion I'm less certain of, but it is a legitimate concern that in some cases is backed by excessive quantities of evidence. GRBerry 04:14, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Pretty much every time I've seen an involved admin block someone, he was overruled quickly and the block was lifted. The blocking admin here admits to being somewhat involved, so he should save face and issue an unblock before someone else does, and then present his case and let another admin reblock, if necessary. Baseball Bugs 04:06, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Poorly handled block, probably. But Kelly's behavior simply based on the claim that Tznkai was "involved" was poor. Claims for unblock need to be made from another angle. Grsz 04:11, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I agree with User:B. It's not a matter of "involvement"—admins here are only to abide by their responsibilities. It is a matter of handling all of the work, not being too involved. Also, Grsz11 is right in saying that the unblock reasons should be from a better perspective. ~ Troy (talk) 04:16, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(EC X 4) I don't see how Tznkai would be called an "involved" admin based on the information presented here. "Involved" is where there is a conflict of interest due to a non-administrative issue, typically a content dispute. Simply dealing with an editor's editing issues once does not preclude an administrator from doing it again. Difficult editors often sling accusations at those who oppose them, and perceive anything against their interest as evidence of partisanship. Not that Kelly is one, but that's the principle. If an administrator's impartiality were called into dispute every time they dealt with an editor it would open the door to boundless gaming of the system, and there wouldn't be any room for administrators to act against those who learn that trick. Kelly's block ought to be evaluated on its own merits in this case, not on Tznkai's motives, and Kelly's unblock should be based on whether Kelly is likely to cause any disruption during the 24 hour block period. Having said that, I think enough people have called Tznkai's impartiality into question, rightly or wrongly, that to keep the highest confidence in the system Tznkai should step back in the future from dealing with Kelly. That's all just my opinion for the most calm and reassuring resolution, not any basis in policy that I'm aware of. Wikidemon (talk) 04:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Unblocking

I've gotten a request on my talk page... two actually to immediately unblock, but I'm unwilling to do that if I have to fight edit conflicts just to put up this section. Hopefully its reasonable if I wait for discussion to die down to a post per ten minutes?--Tznkai (talk) 04:13, 24 September 2008 (UTC)Better wording; The conversation is still taking form, and it won't hurt to wait a bit for everyone to say something.--Tznkai (talk) 04:21, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Did you block her for that one statement, or is there something that I'm missing? If your block was just for that statement, I strongly oppose the block, to the point where I would be willing to undo the block. However, I don't want to make a bad situation worse if there is something else here, especially since I have to get some sleep soon. J.delanoy_adds 04:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Why is consensus on your time schedule here? It's a bad block per consensus. It can be overturned by anyone per this consensus and your statements above... not to be rude, but one user can't tell everyone what to do. rootology (C)(T) 04:20, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

See my better wording above. I don't feel comfortable taking another action while the conversation is going on. Whether someone else does, is as I said, up to them and the community.--Tznkai (talk) 04:22, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Reply to J.delanoy: Basically, the root cause of the block was Kelly's statement. There was an aggravating factor when Tznkai had gone to Kelly's page and given them a deadline to remove the statement or be blocked. That led to personal attacks on Tnzkai by Kelly. Not well done really by either, but it's over and done with. Now we have to discuss and get consensus. I'd ask that NOONE unilaterally unblock.. we've been down that road enough times that it just won't help. SirFozzie (talk) 04:25, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

An unblock now wouldn't be unilateral. There is overwhelming consensus to unblock. And Tznkai waved his usual rights etc. above. rootology (C)(T) 04:26, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I would agree that is was a bad block regardless of who left it. Looking through the history of this for the past 5 minutes, I see a single questionable statement. We don't block someone for being rude once, and we especially don't deliver ultimatums over it. I think this was a bad block from the beginning, and I think consensus here clearly shows that the block needs to be overturned. I will boldly be overturning it now, if someone doesn't beat me to it. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 04:25, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Another admin, declining the unblock request, said there was "wide consensus" supporting the block. Where? Baseball Bugs 04:26, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

This is what I meant. Lets make sure we know where we're going before we attempt to get there... *facepalm* SirFozzie (talk) 04:29, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

(unindent)Let's remember that Misplaced Pages's WP:BLOCKING POLICY is not to be confused with WP:BANNING POLICY. Blocks are only to discontinue disruption—NOT for punishing users. That's what bans are for, and this certainly didn't call for one. ~ Troy (talk) 04:32, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Not sure where to put my comment in this multi-level comment extravaganza (my fault, I know), my issue with Kelly's comment on AN was as much the "and thank God he's finally been desysopped" comment as anything else. "Thank god you're finally gone/dead/fired/reduced in pay/fill in negative event here" sounds like an attack to me.--Tznkai (talk) 04:45, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Would it help if I said "Sorry I asked"?

I really, really, really had no idea this would be the result. All I did was notice that one of the findings of fact (a very minor one) made in the arbcom case seems not to have been true. I wasn't sure if I was misreading the logs or looking at the wrong ones or what. So, I asked. Since I seem to have started all this, I might as well weigh in. Kelly's posts looked a lot more like an attempt to start some kind of trouble than to help find an answer to what I thought was a reasonable, if minor, question. On the other hand, I don't think it's particularly useful to give ultimatums. It looks like Tznkai was double-dog-daring Kelly not to retract her statement, which seems unlikely to produce a desirable result. By the way, if anyone actually knows the answer to my question at WP:AN I'd still be interested. --Steven J. Anderson (talk) 04:23, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Maybe I've led a sheltered life, but I don't recall ever seeing an admin issue a "do it in XX minutes or else" kind of statement. Until today. Baseball Bugs 04:29, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Unblocked

By Chaser. rootology (C)(T) 04:27, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

She's been unblocked. Can we mark this as resolved and put a close box on it before MORE feelings get unneccessarily hurt??? --Jayron32.talk.contribs 04:32, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Hold off. There was something of an irregularity in the unblocking. See User_talk:Od_Mishehu#AN.2FI_thread.--chaser - t 04:36, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

And this is what we get after. Ya, good unblock. Grsz 04:34, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

And now she's got more reason to be blocked after the unblock. Grsz 04:39, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Wow. Why were they unblocked? —Locke Cole • t • c 04:45, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I'd have proposed a topic ban from community discussions for a specified period of time, but apparently that behavior is being endorsed by certain admins (when they signalled their want for an unblock, above). I don't know if it's because those particular admins don't understand the problematic nature of those comments, or because they don't see that it's been a big problem on previous noticeboard discussions. Allowing it to continue without any change is just a drama invitation for the future. My 2 cents. Ncmvocalist (talk) 05:04, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Endorse reblock per continued incivility and attacks, such as , , and . Grsz 04:49, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

From what I gather, it's not considered a problem when established editors bait and or insult an admin who "does them wrong" directly after said incident; it's referred to as "blowing off steam." Aunt Entropy (talk) 04:52, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Ironically, isn't "blowing off steam" an example of entropy? :) Baseball Bugs 04:58, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Okay, running around in circles is not going to help anything or 'anyone'. Lets use some common sense here and give it a little while before we take any more administrative actions. I think everyone needs to step away from the keyboard for a bit and really have a think as to what to do now, but please no more heat of the moment actions. Tiptoety 04:55, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Ok Halt. Noone blocks or unblocks until I blow this whistle, ok?

Sorry to have to resort to the Python reference, but this is getting even more massively and utterly ridiculous. Let's not ride the block/unblock rollercoaster. Kelly has stated that they're taking a bit of time off, and when they come back, will avoid the area. If they keep to that, I think we're done here. Let's unplug the drama sign for the night, we've had enough of that tonight, right? SirFozzie (talk) 04:53, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I was about to say what you just said, only less eloquently. :) Everyone is pushing Kelly's buttons now. It's getting late, and maybe everyone's tired and irritated. Everyone should just cool it for awhile. Baseball Bugs 04:54, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Can we seriously put a close block around this whole thread?!? There is nothing more positive to gain by it at all, and this all goes away as soon as everyone stops. --Jayron32.talk.contribs 04:55, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Sure, that would be called closing the discussion. I am also happy to start a new one on a different subject, if that would take anyone's mind off things. Wikidemon (talk) 04:59, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Hold on thar, Baba Looey

We've got User:Jossi, an admin, going to Kelly's page and taunting, baiting. This is not appropriate behavior by an admin. They should confine their adversarial relationship to the Sarah Palin pages. Baseball Bugs 05:15, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Both sides need to stop the sniping. Let's let the embers die out, not blow on them and see if we can build a new fire out of the ashes out of the old one SirFozzie (talk) 05:18, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Thus, as the French might say, let's write Phoenix to this whole thing. Baseball Bugs 05:33, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

A general comment

OK, I have nothing more to say about this specific situation, but I do think there is an important general point here. I'm disappointed at how quickly people swallow and regurgitate the assertion that an admin is "involved". Look at the above thread again. How many diffs are provided to support the idea that Tznkai was an "involved admin"? I'm counting zero. I wouldn't make a fuss, but it's hardly the first time this has happened. It's a recurring theme that someone says "involved admin!" and the assertion is accepted at face value. Please, folks, do the legwork before accepting this kind of assertion. FWIW, I endorse the unblock, the closure of the discussion, and cups of tea all around. MastCell  16:01, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Amen. Moreschi (talk) 16:08, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

More noise on this from Ta bu shi da yu

Here. Eight hours later, he's shown up to bait Kelly on the talk page. Can someone please remind him of things like AGF and to not poke people with sticks? rootology (C)(T) 16:15, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Repeated copyright violations by LamyQ

LamyQ (talk) has uploaded several copyrighted images and these have been speedily deleted, but now he is re-uploading them. He has been warned after each violation on his talk page. Is a block in order? Thanks. --Uncia (talk) 05:08, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

For the sake of those who aren't spending a ridiculous number of hours on this (and thank you, btw, Uncia): LamyQ (talk · contribs · logs · block log) is almost definitely a sock of PoliticianTexas (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log). If he's blocked, he'll just show up again next week with a new account.

Dori (Talk • Contribs) 06:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Possible WP:CANVASSING at Obama/Ayers/Dohrn/Weatherman WP:RfC

Could I please get a quick read on whether there is WP:CANVASSING going on at the Ayers/Obama/Dohrn/Weathermen RfC here? I'll try to present this as neutrally as possible rather to perhaps get a fresh read from someone not involved.

History

• 1. At 19:20, 5 September 2008 (UTC) I created an WP:RfC on question of "whether Misplaced Pages should describe the Weathermen, and their various members, as 'terrorists'" and if so, "where to put the material - one article or many? In a section? In the lead? Footnotes? In BLPs?".
  2. Noroton and I promptly notified this page, the articles involved, and an overlapping group of 20 editors about the article probation. Of these all but two or three eventually commented on the RfC.
  3. As of 12 September 2008 I tallied four editors in favor of a "terrorism" discussion on Ayers, Dohrn, and-or the Obama campaign article, and ten who opposed inclusion. Around that time renewed edit warring by multiple editors lead to long-term full protection of the Dohrn and Ayers articles.
  4. Consensus seemed clear so I proposed closing the discussion as it related to Ayers, Dohrn, and Obama, to focus on the question of how to describe terrorism in the Weathermen article. I did not get agreement to partly close the discussion.
  5. From 18 to 22 September Noroton proposed additions mentioning "terrorism" to the category, lead, body, and heading (e.g. "Ayers termed a terrorist") of the Dohrn, Ayers, and Weathermen articles. Each proposals was followed by a "case for it" subsection arguing in favor, then an open "Discussion" subsection.
  6. A few hours later Noroton noticed 30 user pages of his new proposals. Of the 30, 13 editors had already sounded in on the consensus questions and 17 had not. Noroton's messages included the statement "If you already saw the RfC but haven't looked at it in some time, you may find reason in the new information and new proposals to rethink the matter."
  7. I objected to the possible canvassing, noting that 5 of the 17 new editors notified were known or arguable sockpuppets or SPAs, all of whom had made negative edits outside the RfC about the Weathermen and/or their alleged connection to Obama. Of the 12 clearly legitimate new editors 3 had made "anti" Weatherman edits, 3 "pro" edits, and I could not discern the other 6. Thus the new list was biased 8-6-3 in favor of Noroton's proposals where consensus was running 4-6-10 against. Noroton claimed he chose the list in neutral fashion.
  8. After I objected, Noroton placed notices on eight meta-pages: Terrorism, Chicago, Michigan United States, Wisconsin, and Biography projects, and the BLP, and RS noticeboards. The notices included statements like "...now has several recent proposals (at the bottom of the page) and much more sourced information (at the top of the page). If you have seen the discussion, please look again..." and "the group held a controversial "War council" in Flint, Michigan in late 1969, shortly before going underground and conducting a series of well-publicized bombings of public buildings (the U.S. government alleges Weatherman conspired to bomb a Detroit building in 1970)."
  9. Reluctant to file here or revert the notices I edited seven of the nine to be more neutral. When I told Noroton I would report this as canvassing if he continued he posted a notice at the Village Pump then dared me to file here.
  10. When I asked if he was done Noroton answered only by reverting my attempt to make the Village Pump notice neutral. So here I am.

Question

In light of the above I would like to ask if this is canvassing of the RfC or if I'm mistaken. Thanks, Wikidemon (talk) 07:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

As no-one has responded to this yet, I'll have a go ;) In my personal opinion, yes, it does look like canvassing. I'm not going to try and second-guess Noroton's intent, but to avoid giving the impression of stacking a contentious debate, if he felt that widening the audience would be useful it might have been better had he agreed a boilerplate notice with other participants in the RfC before posting it out to talk pages and noticeboards. Having said that, I'm not sure what administrator action you're suggesting (or even if that's what you're after). EyeSerene 13:13, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Impolite communication

A notification.
User:Texcarson wrote in summary "deleting idiot's vandalism" as a comment of my tagging as "suspicious sockpuppet".
He later gave some explanations and .
However, calling someone as "idiot" and his contribution as "vandalism" just like that is not the appropriate way of communication. He's long enough on Misplaced Pages, he's supposed to know the rule WP:CIVIL. Kubura (talk) 07:38, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

I do not see any need for admin intervention here. He explained his reasoning (even though he did not apologize) and has not done further personal attacks, has he? WP:NPA tells us to seek dispute resolution in such cases first, maybe reporting the user to the Wikiquette Alerts but posting here is quite unnecessary imho. There is nothing an admin can do that you or any other editor cannot do, i.e. tell the user that such attacks should be avoided. Regards SoWhy 07:56, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Agreed. After all, tagging an active user as a sockpuppet of a banned user is not exactly an uncontroversial act in itself. I see nothing here needing action absent further escalation of the issue by either side. Guy (Help!) 10:48, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Revision history of William Todd

Could an admin review and revert as appropriate the change from "cousin" to "grand niece" and the addition of the non-reliable source as shown here per this conversation. Could someone more knowing than I look a bit more closely at the situation around David Winters (choreographer) and the brothers Prior. Thanks. Jasynnash2 (talk) 10:24, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

BTW the same source is being used here to show the relationship as cousins. Jasynnash2 (talk) 11:19, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Personal Attack

Hello. I wondered if I could find a reasonable administrator to look into a personal attack matter from another apparent administrator:

Content in question:

If you object to the use of a word like "fuck", you will probably be surprised by vagina, sexual intercourse, list of sex positions and seven dirty words. Misplaced Pages is not censored, not even for the benefit of children or over-sensitive parents. Moreover, this is the wrong place to discuss this. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 12:34, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

What's more, this topic (above) was blocked from further edits .. might there be a history of harassment of users from this source in this manner? One hopes there are more professional entities in the administratorship of Misplaced Pages. 70.118.103.238 (talk) 10:57, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

• Moved from WP:AN3. Stifle (talk) 11:24, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
• Nothing wrong here, Misplaced Pages is not censored. No personal attacks, and they were correct to close the discussion at AN3 as that is only for reports of violations of the three-revert rule. Stifle (talk) 11:26, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
• The IP is likely Allen32130 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log). On the face of it, the comment is factually accurate, and that's about all we can say. The user onjects to Misplaced Pages:Don't-give-a-fuckism; WP:MFD is second on the left down the hall. Guy (Help!) 11:36, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Arjun MBT page

There is a particular case that is going on for such a long time because someone wants the vandalized version to stay. I want to put an end to it. I request the opinion of people on this.Chanakyathegreat (talk) 13:54, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Vandal user:Pionier has new IP 83.67.44.70

Please see: User talk:83.67.44.70. It seems to be Pionier again, as in: http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard/Incidents#Return_of_the_Vandal_User:Pionier

He is persistent and really obsessed with category damage, often disguised among simple edits. Please block again before he does more damage. Thanks. History2007 (talk) 15:59, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

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