Julie Hofmann Kemp wrote:
Also, I have never tried to block an IP because
I'm not sure I
understand the ramifications --- how long would that last? How is it
reversed? The only cases where I could actually see myself using it
would be to stop a vandal in progress, or to slow down an overeager
newbie who hasn't bothered to read any of the guidelines and is out
there creating tons of duplicate, 'incorrectly named' pages -- it would
be good to slow them down long enough to be pointed in the right
direction for log-in instructions, sandbox practice, naming
conventions, etc. -- but without discouraging contributions. Any
answers, suggestions? -- Jules
I'd be interested in hearing more about this, too. Without reading
the code, I don't know how this is implemented currently.
I think Julie has exactly the right approach to IP banning -- it's
only for real vandals in progress, where "vandal" is defined very
uncontroversially. And also for people who, while not necessarily
vandals, are in the process of doing something _big_ ("tons" of
invalid pages) just because they're unaware.`
I think our wikipdia "code of honor" should be: never in anger, never
in a fight over content. Those have to be settled "on a fair playing
field", through reason, not software powers.
Someday, there will probably be someone who we have to permanently
ban. I dread that day, because I don't even know how we will
accomplish it.
--Jimbo