koyaanisqatsi@nupedia.com wrote:

I agree with this, & would like to hear more about how long the blocks last, how to unblock IPs, etc.--the links are close together on the History pages, and I'd hate to ban someone unintentionally. I couldn't agree more that blocking an IP should only be done to prevent vandalism, & never in anger. I also like the suggestion that we not be able to block anyone logged in--or would vandals simply start logging in?

I hope it doesn't sound too corny, but I think that the wiki spirit of love will prevent this. Anyhow, I think we should try not to respond to problems before they actually come up.

A long time ago, I had an idea similar to the wiki idea. But I didn't do anything about it, because I thought of all the problems, all the ways that it wouldn't work, and imagined a very complex system for preventing abuse. But it was too much work to program, and had I programmed it, no one would have participated because it would be too hard to get started.

Now I realize -- build it in a spirit of trust, and only do something about problems when they come up, always resisting the temptation to solve problems that don't exist, or to over-do the solution.

If vandals start logging in, we'll have to do something about it. But until that happens, maybe our trusting nature will make it less fun to vandalize us.

--Jimbo