On Sun, Dec 18, 2005 at 03:37:04AM -0500, JAY JG wrote:
I wasn't commenting about the length of the specific block, but rather on the concept of blocking an editor for unrepentant personal attacks. That said, editors who are sufficiently disruptive, or who engage in endless personal attacks, can be banned by community consensus, without need to resort to the Arbitration Committee.
OK, I don't see consensus here -- even a few admins seem to think this block was way out of line. So "community consensus" doesn't pass here.
Let's keep in mind that there's no basis in Wikipedia policy for using blocks as a punishment; and neither administrators nor arbitrators have the authority to punish. The purpose of blocking is to prevent harm to the project, not to bring down retribution upon a person.
So ... what sort of harm is threatened in this case that requires an immediate _four month_ block, without arbitration, and with evident lack of consensus?