The autoblocker was designed for a purpose, and it
still largely
serves that purpose. I don't think there's a need to completely shut
it off. However, they really shouldn't be affecting logged-in users,
and I think that as UC says, having them only affect account creation
and anon editing would be a wise move.
If you do this, then all a vandal has to do is create a whole load of
accounts prior to his spree; block one and he will just switch to another.
I'd like to make an alterative suggestion: a sysop-operated whitelist.
Any username on the whitelist would be immune from IP blocks (though NOT
from direct blocks on the username itself).
There would be no need to pro-actively add users to it; all that would
be required is to wait until a problem arises for someone, then fix it
for them when they email to complain...
The beauty of this system would be that no logged-in user would ever
have to suffer an IP block due to someone else's misbehaviour more than
once.
--
Allan Crossman - a.crossman(a)blueyonder.co.uk
The Moon is Waning Gibbous (59% of Full)