[WikiEN-l] Indefinite ban problem

[charles.r.matthews at ntlworld.com]

"Thomas Dalton" wrote

> > Well, yes, a clearer perspective is provided by the actual ArbCom decision on the Blu Aardvark ban appeal:
> >
> > Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Blu Aardvark .
> >
> > This appeal was brought just a few days after the wikidrama described. The page gives a clearer idea of what was involved.
> 
> Hmmm... principle 3 does seem to be in direct conflict with the
> standard definition of a community ban... The standard definition
> requires a consensus to ban only, if doesn't require a consensus to
> unban once banned, only that the consensus to ban no longer exist (and
> if there is an admin willing to unblock, then there clearly isn't a
> consensus).

Yes, that's the interesting point about this. Obviously this is meant to damp down wheel wars (a term I don't like, but still). A wheel war had effectively just happened. 

Note that the statement by Blu Aardvark starts with the comment that the initial ban was justified. That was never really in dispute in this case. So there is nothing much here that would apply to a case where an indefinite ban was applied, and then another admin comes along, with the reasoning "that indefinite ban was disproportionate". The attempt to unban was an effort of 'rehabilitation' on the site. The reason that this is relevant to WP's overall position is that it is of help to the mission to have declared 'enemies'.

Note also that, in the light of consensus being the criterion, any individual who says "there can be no consensus that does not include me" is actually contradicting the idea of consensus. That is an assertion of a veto. Here we get a little bit closer to the truth. I think it is much closer to the facts, to say that certain admins believe they have a veto on particular unbanning decisions. Still, given that the ArbCom can lift community bans, that still doesn't reflect the facts.

Charles

-----------------------------------------
Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email
Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam