Jack Lutz wrote:
How is one to call for a sysop have their privileges removed for blocking? RfC, the first step, states that "at least two people need to show that they tried to resolve a dispute with this user and have failed." I'm not sure my complaint applies. It is that sysop Ta bu shi da yu blocked user NSM88 in violation of the blocking policy. This may be called "resolved" (I'm not sure) because NSM88 has been subsequently unblocked(?). But regardless, I consider TBSDY's actions to be an abuse of the blocking policy and would like to move for his administrator privileges to be removed.
Dispute resolution against sysops is currently very, very slim. It should be easier to lose administrator privileges--and these are privileges--than to gain them. I cannot find any information on the consequences of out-of-policy blocks, and Blocking_policy's coverage of ethics consists only of "users should not block those with whom they are currently engaged in conflict." Does that cover personal attacks or threats? Is a sysop permitted to declare text of a user with whom they are in conflict a threat and summarily block them?
With many of the blocks that get endlessly disputed on the mailing list hasty action by a sysop is more often the problem than the guilt of the blocked person. The sysop involved doesn't bother to get the support of the community before he takes action. It often ends up that we are indeed better off without that blocked person. The blocked user complains in a seemingly rational letter on the mailling list, and rallies support for his cause. Subsequent investigation reveals that the sysop may have had some reason for his action, but that some vital links were missing. If he had paid attention to process the block might have held without all the aggrevation.
An effective sysop needs to understand how people do things. He needs to have patience in dealing with people. He does not need to become a part of the problem that he is trying to solve. He must have attained some degree of maturity. Perhaps a prospective sysop should be able to point to articles where he has participated in helping to diplomatically resolve a conflict.
Ec