[WikiEN-l] BADSITES ArbCom case about to close

[charles.r.matthews at ntlworld.com]

The following is a re-ordered version of what was passing (five votes) when I moved to close "Attack sites" last might. The redaction, apart from order, is to remove some principles that are pretty much common ground. I have preferred later passing versions of decimalized points.

Charles

11) The selection of appropriate external links for an article is a matter of 
sound editorial judgment.

4.2) Linking to external sites which contain information harmful to another 
person so as to harass them is unacceptable.

15.1) Wikipedia should not link to websites set up for the purpose of or 
substantially devoted to harassing its volunteers. Harassment in this context 
refers to cyber-stalking, offline stalking, outing people without their 
consent, humiliating them sexually, or threatening them with physical 
violence.

22.1) Wikipedia users and administrators are expected to have made a realistic 
appraisal of the risks involved in volunteering for Wikipedia, to take 
appropriate precautions, and to deal with external pressures in a mature way. 
For example, it is predictable that Wikipedia and its users will from time to 
time be subjected to harsh, and occasionally unfair, criticism. This comes with 
the territory, and it is unseemly, even ridiculous, to react harshly to 
predictable phenomena.

7.2) Users have the right to expect harassment of themselves to be combated. 
Users who are not directly involved are encouraged to achieve this through the 
removal of personal attacks, removal of links to external harassment, and, in 
extreme cases, removal of references to attack sites; these activities are not 
subject to revert limits.

37) From time to time, Wikipedia users and administrators err, engaging in 
inappropriate activities which may come to our notice through external 
criticism.

38) Persons aggrieved by Wikipedia and its users, those banned, subjects who 
don't like the content of their article, subjects, or notable people, who 
attempt to edit and feel harassed, etc., sometimes attempt to fight back, and 
in addition to legitimate criticism, engage in name calling, create critical 
websites, attempt to determine the real identity of editors, create links to 
edit a user's page, etc.

39) Once struggle is commenced with Wikipedia, or one of its users, on an 
external site, Wikipedia users may attempt to respond with removal of links, or 
criticism of its initiator. This can rapidly degenerate into a struggle between 
aggrieved users and supporters of free expression or of the external site.


23) Satirical treatment of Wikipedia, its users, errors and policies is to be 
expected.

32) If an editor believes that the content of a prohibited link reveals a 
serious violation of Wikipedia policy, they may forward the link to the 
Committee for investigation.

----

1) AntiSocialMedia.net, a creation of the banned user WordBomb is part of an 
extended campaign of harassment directed at several users.

4) In a number of cases, editors attempting in good faith to protect themselves 
and other Wikipedians from harassment have aggressively removed links and 
references to external sites, as well as discussions associated with them.

6) In a number of instances inappropriate attempts have been made to extend the 
principles of Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/MONGO to sites merely critical 
of Wikipedia and its users' behavior. Those principles and those applied in 
this case apply only to malicious websites.

8) Except for obvious cases, such as ED, it is difficult to sort out sites 
engaged in criticism of Wikipedia and its editors and administrators from sites 
engaged in harassment. Likewise, when information is provided about the alleged 
wrong-doings of Wikipedia users, it can be difficult to differentiate 
legitimate complaints from bogus ones calculated to cast a user in a false 
light.

----
3.2) The community is encouraged to develop a policy compliant with Wikipedia's 
key policies regarding the circumstances, if any, under which "attack sites" 
may be linked.

4) All editors are encouraged to show due consideration for the feelings of 
other Wikipedians, and to refrain from idly or frivolously making references to 
malicious sites.

5.1) This decision applies only to links to AntiSocialMedia.net and similar 
sites which engage in malicious behavior toward Wikipedia users. Attempts to 
extend this remedy to sites critical of Wikipedia and its users' behavior are 
discouraged.

7) If you are dissatisfied with the article on you or your project, or 
regarding how you are treated on Wikipedia, please communicate on our talk 
pages, use our dispute resolution procedures, or contact the Wikimedia 
Foundation itself.


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