Ed Poor wrote
I had thought that any of the 415 admins, having the "ability" to block
signed-in users, were "authorized" to use that ability to enforce the rules - such as: [[Wikipedia:No personal attacks]]
There is a policy about removing personal attacks. That there is policy about 'removing' those doing the attacking is news to me. I wouldn't dream of using admin powers in this way.
Ed Poor shoots from hip, once more. Exactly what kind of place would Wiki-en be if say, 100 of our sysops took this line, on a daily basis?
I don't want to find out. Others please support me, in saying that Ed is out of line here. Policy can't just be made on the hoof, any more. The scare quotes round "authorized" tell me just about all I need to know. Civility is a big plus on WP, but enforcement of this kind goes way beyond what I would accept. Out of hand bans for vandalism, yes.
Charles