On 6/15/07, Steve Summit scs@eskimo.com wrote:
Can someone explain why it's against policy to edit *under an identifiable, logged-in username* via an anonomizer or open proxy?
Mainly because you could abuse sockpuppets without anyone being able to tell, I think.
Ah. Got it. (That sucks, but it makes sense.)
(this posted also to the talk page of the RfA, but fits here too) I have to say I don't have any problem with a legitimate editor using proxies non-abusively; actually, I think it's a reasonable thing to do for an editor concerned about his/her own privacy. People get logged out and accidentally reveal information; it happens. I use TOR myself on other sites; I'd use it more often if I didn't get frustrated with how slow it is.
Yeah, so "no open proxies" became policy, because they're a favorite of vandals and trolls also, and it makes those users difficult to track. But... I can't get worked up about this. I don't think CW was doing anything wrong, in substance. We don't collect identifying information about anyone anyway, letting people edit from public libraries, cybercafes, and schools, and I'm assuming that if CW did do something where checkuser investigation might be warranted that we'd block the crap out of the account, having no reason to assume we should do otherwise. And I think some collateral damage to legit users who use anonymising services is acceptable, one of the tradeoffs you have to make. (I note that it's not as though someone couldn't run a nest of sockpuppets through different IP addresses without using open proxies should they wish.)
Perhaps on balance the proxies are too much of a negative for the positive uses, but I think ultimately it would be nice to have a better system for users who legitimately want to protect their identities against accidental revelation. As far as I can tell—and I don't know CW—it seems like it's being used by a legit user with a consistent identity who otherwise would have been considered enough of an asset to the project to be made an admin, and while it may violate the letter of a policy, doesn't violate the spirit of it.
I realize this is a minority opinion and I've been outnumbered on it before, but there it is. If I were not completely open about who I am on this site, and did want to maintain anonymity, I would probably want to be using TOR myself.
-Kat