Wikipedia:Update/1/Enforcement policy changes, 2011

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
4th quarter 2011





3rd quarter 2011


  • Wikipedia:Banning policy
    • In
      WP:BAN#Site ban
      , added: [forbidden from making any edit ...] "under any and all circumstances, with no exceptions."
    • Substantial changes to
      WP:BAN#Exceptions to limited bans



  • Wikipedia:Protection policy
    • In
      Wikipedia:Request for edit
      instead." Added: [Semi-protection should not be used] "to privilege registered users over unregistered users in content disputes."


  • Wikipedia:Sock puppetry
    • In
      WP:SOCK#Legitimate uses
      , added: [An editor might use an alternative account] "to segregate functions such as work with specific kinds of media files, so as to maintain a user talk page dedicated to the purpose."



  • Wikipedia:Vandalism
    • New subsection:
      WP:VAN#Image vandalism
    • In
      WP:VAN#Warnings
      , changed: "Adding or continuing to add external links to non-notable or irrelevant sites (e.g. to advertise one's website) to pages after having been warned is vandalism, or sites that have some relationship to the subject matter, but advertise or promote in the user's interest, or text that promotes one's personal interests." to: "Adding or continuing to add spam external links is vandalism if the activity continues after a warning. A spam external link is one added to a page mainly for the purpose of promoting a website, product or a user's interests rather than to improve the page editorially."
2nd quarter 2011

  • Wikipedia:Administrators
    • In
      restored at any time by a bureaucrat
      , ] "provided the bureaucrat is satisfied that the account's security has not been compromised in the meantime."


  • Wikipedia:Banning policy
    • In
      Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Discretionary sanctions
      ."
    • In
      Arbitration case
      , a duration of one year has been the most serious level of ban that will be given. The Committee's logic is that if reban or extension becomes necessary because the problem has not ceased, then the community will probably be able to deal with it by consensus."



  • Wikipedia:Harassment
    • In
      edits
      , although usually for collegial or administrative purposes.] "This should always be done carefully, and with good cause, to avoid raising the suspicion that an editor's contributions are being followed to cause them distress, or out of revenge for a perceived slight."
    • In WP:Harassment#Perceived legal threats, made substantial changes.



  • Wikipedia:Sock puppetry
    • In
      WP:SOCK#Alternative account notification
      , added: [Links should ideally take the form of] "all three of the following:"


  • Wikipedia:Username policy
    • In
      WP:U#Appropriate usernames
      , added: [nor should it be easily misunderstood to refer to a "bot"] "or a "script", both of which allude to automated editing processes."
    • In
      WP:U#Dealing with inappropriate usernames
      , added: "Keep in mind that context is important. A word that may seem offensive in one context may have another, more benign meaning in another context. In most cases there is no rote formula for how to determine if a username is a violation or not, use common sense and remember that blocking a new user is not actually something we want to do, it is something we do when it is needed to protect Wikipedia from harm."
    • In
      WP:U#Using multiple accounts, added: "... "Wikipedia:Userboxes/Wikipedia/Related accounts" contains a selection of user boxes
      provided to identity clearly legitimate alternative accounts."


  • Wikipedia:Vandalism
    • In the introduction, added: "Mislabelling good-faith edits as vandalism can be considered harmful."
    • In
      section blanking
      ."
1st quarter 2011

  • Wikipedia:Administrators
    • In
      WP:ADMIN#History
      , added: [... important, merely "being an administrator" should not be.] "Whether this description remains accurate—eight years after it was first stated—is a matter of continuing debate. Nonetheless, it is still a useful adage."
    • In
      WP:ADMINSOCK
      ."
    • In the new subsection
      WP:ADMIN#Care and judgement
      , added: [... administrative abilities.] "Occasional lapses are accepted but serious or repeated lapses may not always be."
    • In
      WP:ADMINS#Involved admins
      , changed: [... an administrator who has interacted with an editor or] "article" [purely in an administrative role ... is not involved] to: "topic area"
    • In
      WP:ADMINS#Disputes or complaints
      , added: "... or dialog fails," [then the following steps are available.]
    • In
      WP:ADMINS#Arbitration Committee review
      , added: [However, if the matter is serious enough, the Arbitration Committee may intervene without a request for comment on administrator conduct] "or other steps."



  • Wikipedia:Harassment
    • In the introduction, added: "Harassment can also include actions calculated to be noticed by the target and clearly suggestive of targeting them, where no direct communication takes place."
    • In WP:Harassment#Harassment and disruption, added: [Harassment, threats,] "intimidation," [repeated annoying and unwanted contact] "or attention," [and repeated personal attacks may reduce an editor's enjoyment of Wikipedia and thus cause disruption to the project.]
    • In
      conflict of interest
      in appropriate forums."
    • In
      Administrators
      are volunteer editors like any other user. They are not obligated any more than any other user, to take any specific action beyond expected good conduct and responsiveness ..."





  • Wikipedia:Vandalism
    • In the introduction, added: "While editors are encouraged to warn and educate vandals, warnings are by no means necessary for an administrator to block."
    • In WP:Vandalism#Types of vandalism, added: "Impersonating other users by signing an edit with a different username or IP address also constitutes sneaky vandalism, but take care not to confuse this with appropriately correcting an unsigned edit made by another user."