[WikiEN-l] A minor point

[Jimmy Wales]

steve v wrote:
> Reason 1: "Provocative list" - This seems like the one
> valid reason for a block, but this interprets the
> issue as one of a direct personal attack against
> individuals, which is unclear, as others have
> mentioned. Even if it were, such attacks are outside
> of Wikipedia, and therefore cant be dealt with through
> our formal process. Does Slim feel she is in a
> position to impose informal process?

I don't see any reason why personal attacks of this sort can't be dealt
with through our formal process in Wikipedia, no matter where they take
place.

> Reason 4: "Block was inline with IAR (ignore all
> rules)" - IAR trumps real policy?

It can.  Making racist attacks on Wikipedians on a hate site may not be
against any existing rule on Wikipedia.  But this is why we have a fair
amount of policy ambiguity, to allow people with community respect to
take sensible actions (and be prepared to defend those actions, of course).

--Jimbo