BaseballBugs has a problematic history at the reference desk. This isn't the first time he's made sexist comments there.[1] Unfortunately, none of this context was brought up in the discussion about the block. The unblock was a knee-jerk reaction from a superficial evaluation. Arguably, the block was a knee-jerk reaction as well. Bad behavior all around, in my opinion.
Ryan Kaldari
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Science/2010_...
On 10/12/11 7:10 PM, Sarah Stierch wrote:
I never said that I agreed or disagreed with the block. I was merely expressing that some of the comments made in regards to the comment the blocked user made were interesting. A nice selection of people didn't see anything sexist about the comment, or the potential to find anything sexist within it. I also think it's not a healthy environment when people think a witty person is just being, well, witty and clever as always, and that it's acceptable and perhaps doesn't require any reprimanding, perhaps on any level.
And I do agree with Fred, the admin was perhaps just reacting to what they saw - after some of the stories, talk page comments, and behavior of some users - of any gender - I can see how the occasional admin jumps the gun. It's very easy to do when you have good faith while trying to defend the users of an environment you care so deeply about.
I have also been described as a snarky, witty, clever (among other names....) person and even to this day I open my big mouth and regret what I say, on occasion. I also expect to be reprimanded when I'm out of line and while that comment might not have been extreme (as Fluffernutter pointed out), other comments have been that other users have been made on Wikipedia and related projects, and people most often walk off without being "taught" a lesson.
I think it's fascinating. But, perhaps I'm in the minority (oh wait, I am ;-)...ok..just being witty!)...
-Sarah
On Wed, Oct 12, 2011 at 9:22 PM, <icewedge@gmail.com mailto:icewedge@gmail.com> wrote:
Is there any way to criticize a any action justified with "sexism" without adding to the persecution complex here? Honest question. Blocking a user for comments made a week prior falls a mile out of standard process. Blocking a user who tries to explain himself without begging for mercy falls a mile out of process. It was a ridiculous power trip by the blocking admin and was over turned as such. The only concerning thing in the thread was how a bogus block was sized upon and defended as an opportunity to crusade against the "boyzone [sic]". _______________________________________________ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org <mailto:Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap-- GLAMWIKI Partnership Ambassador for Wikimedia http://www.glamwiki.org Wikipedian-in-Residence, Archives of American Art http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:SarahStierch and Sarah Stierch Consulting /Historical, cultural & artistic research & advising./
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