WikiIslam:Blocking Policy
Criteria for Blocking
Administrators are required to be fair while blocking users. Heavy-handed or unfair usage of the blocking function effects the community negatively and will be promptly reversed and reviewed so blocking must be done with great care. If a block can be disputed, other admins must be consulted before a user is blocked.
The main criteria for blocking a user is this: Can a user make positive contributions to the site in the future? If the answer is maybe or yes, then they should not be blocked without consultation. All attempts should be made to communicate with the user before they are blocked. All efforts should be made to be fair, forgiving and give users plenty of chances to improve their work or correct their understanding of issues directly related to article content.
Block Durations
The usage of an indefinite block can only be done for spam or vandalism. All other uses of an indefinite block have to be consulted with other admins especially if a block can be disputed.
| Simple Vandalism/Spam | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| User activity | Block duration | Notes | |||
| Spam or spambot | 3 months for IP addresses, indefinite for user names | IP addresses can also be range-blocked if needed | |||
| Vandalism: large amounts of text removal, replacing content. | As above | This kind of vandalism is obvious. A user who has made a mistake or an error cannot be treated as a vandal if the edit can be discussed with them. | |||
| Other activity | |||||
| 3 reverts in 24 hours or/and gross incivility | 1st offense: 24 hours, 2nd offense: 1 week, 3rd offense: 1 month, 4th offense: 3 months, 5th offense and each consecutive attempt: 6 months. Do not block indefinite without consulting other admins. | ||||
Usernames
Overtly offensive/malicious usernames can be blocked indefinitely or renamed. If they have already made a constructive edit, they should be asked for a new username so they can be renamed.
Responding to Blocked Users
Reverts for vandalism or ignoring guidelines should be done with no comment or a comment similar to "reverting/reverting vandalism". No other type of comment should be used in the revert.
It is not useful to respond to vandalism-only/content violation accounts on their talk pages. IP addresses change frequently so they are unlikely to read any messages. It is not useful to respond to a registered username which has been infinitely blocked because they cannot respond. If any comments are left, they should only be about the edit that was reverted. No personal attacks of any kind should be used.
Examples of Incorrect Blocks
No blocks of any kind (temporary or indefinite) can be made without consulting other admins for the following situations:
- Opinions: An editor expressed a disagreeable opinion: Editors have diverse opinions and they should not be blocked for expressing an opinion unless it is something universally illegal or extreme. Even then the editor should be warned for his initial offense and should be allowed to continue making positive contributions to the site. The first priority is having someone contribute positively to the site's main article space while complying with guidelines. Everything else, including their personal opinions on different issues is secondary.
- Mistakes: An editor made a mistake/typo or an accidental edit (that is not intentional vandalism). They might return to make positive contributions.
- Incorrect edits: An editor made an edit which is not obvious vandalism but is incorrect in some way due to their current perception or understanding of an issue. They should be engaged on the talk page first.
- Slight/occasional incivility/aggression: Slight incivility can be subjective and occasional incivility can be forgiven. Maintain a neutral dialogue and consult with other admins if aggression continues.
Incorrect blocks will be reversed as needed.
Summary
No one should be blocked except for the following situations:
- Obvious and intentional vandalism, text removal, replacement and/or corruption.
- Inappropriate usernames with no edits can be renamed or blocked.
- Spam
- Continuing to edit after they have been told not to edit (for example, if it is clear that a user cannot understand our policies, has been asked to stop yet continues to edit).
For all other situations, consult other admins before blocking a user.