[WikiEN-l] Wikipaedia is an attack site, too. (was Re: There are no...)

[Durova]

On 24/09/2007, Earle Martin <wikipedia at downlode.org> wrote:
> Someone wrote:
>> No, I consider Wikipaedia an attack site, and do not wish to
>> further Wikipaedia's attacks against individuals.
>
> Sorry, but why is this person still being allowed to post here? It's
> enough of a firehose already without this kind of nonsense.
>
> --
> Earle Martin
>             http://downlode.org/
> http://purl.org/net/earlemartin/

So let me get this straight.  Wikipaedia has the right to emotionally
hurt, emotionally harass, emotionally abuse, paint in a false light,
defame, or violate the privacy of any individual it does not like, for
whatever reason.  These individuals, however, do not have the right
to lift a finger in their defence, nor does anyone else have a right to
speak on their behalves, nor do the Chinese have a right to say
anything at all.

******
This has got to be one of the oddest complaints I've seen.  All we're
talking about is a template that states one fact: that a user has been
sitebanned.  That doesn't mean anyone is out to cause them grief or paint
them as evil; it usually just means they didn't adapt to site standards.

Individuals in this position most certainly do have options.  They can post
an unblock request, e-mail ArbCom, contact the Foundation, or (for what it's
worth) contact an Eguor Admin like me with their evidence and request an
investigation.  Occasionally I've unblocked editors on that basis.

I have a standing offer to community banned editors that I'll support their
return after six months if they don't violate WP:SOCK, don't bash Wikipedia
offsite, and if they pledge not to repeat the behavior that got them
banned.  If they were banned by ArbCom instead of by the community I'll put
in a good word for them in a review request.

I also have a standing offer of two site awards to editors who make a
legitimate return from a siteban or who've been sanctioned by ArbCom.  I'll
hand the Resilient Barnstar to any of them who start a new article that gets
highlighted at Template:Did you know?  I've also created the Valiant Return
Triple Crown for those who satisfy a certain set of content contributions.
I've handed out a couple of those barnstars and am waiting to award the
first Valiant Return crown.

The window of opportunity usually remains open a crack and it isn't that
hard to return.  I'm glad when someone does turn around successfully and I'm
doing my best to figure out how that happens and what I can do to encourage
it.  Most banned editors behave in ways that keep themselves banned.

-Durova