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{{Policy|]<br />]}} {{Policy|]<br />]}}


Pages that are '''semi-protected''' cannot be edited by unregistered users or from accounts less than 4 days old. Pages that are '''semi-protected''' cannot be edited by unregistered users or accounts less than four days old.


A page can be temporarily semi-protected by an ] in response to serious vandalism, in which the page is getting a large number of vandalism edits from so many different anonymous or newly-created accounts that blocking them individually is not a solution. It can also be used to stop banned or blocked users who are using multiple IPs or accounts from editing an article. Semi-protection is a temporary measure used to stem vandalism on a page until the attack of vandalism is regarded as over. Some articles with a history of vandalism, such as ] or ], may be semi-protected on a continuous basis.<ref name="Jimbo">, Jimmy Wales, WikiEN-l, May 19, 2006</ref> A page can be temporarily semi-protected by an ] in response to vandalism from multiple anonymous or newly created accounts, where blocking them individually is not a solution. It can also be used to stop banned or blocked users who are using multiple IPs or accounts from editing an article. Semi-protection is usually a temporary measure, but some articles with a history of vandalism, such as ] or ], may be semi-protected on a continuous basis.<ref name="Jimbo">, Jimmy Wales, WikiEN-l, May 19, 2006</ref>
Semi-protected content-pages<ref>includes articles, but not ]s</ref> are indicated with {{]}} and listed at ] and ]. To request that semi-protection be lifted, leave a note on the protecting admin's talk page, on the attached discussion page, an ''existing'' thread on ], or ]. Semi-protected content-pages<ref>includes articles, but not ]s</ref> are indicated with {{]}} and listed at ] and ]. To request that semi-protection be lifted, leave a note on the protecting admin's talk page, on the attached discussion page, an ''existing'' thread on ], or ].

Revision as of 13:21, 23 October 2006

This page documents an English Misplaced Pages policy.It describes a widely accepted standard that editors should normally follow, though exceptions may apply. Changes made to it should reflect consensus.Shortcut
  • ]

Pages that are semi-protected cannot be edited by unregistered users or accounts less than four days old.

A page can be temporarily semi-protected by an administrator in response to vandalism from multiple anonymous or newly created accounts, where blocking them individually is not a solution. It can also be used to stop banned or blocked users who are using multiple IPs or accounts from editing an article. Semi-protection is usually a temporary measure, but some articles with a history of vandalism, such as George W. Bush or Jew, may be semi-protected on a continuous basis.

Semi-protected content-pages are indicated with {{sprotected}} and listed at Misplaced Pages:Protected page#Semi-protection and Category:Semi-protected. To request that semi-protection be lifted, leave a note on the protecting admin's talk page, on the attached discussion page, an existing thread on Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents, or Misplaced Pages:Requests for page protection.

When to use semi-protection

Semi-protection should be considered if it is the only option left available to solve the problem of vandalism of the page, if the amount of vandalism is difficult for editors to keep up with. Like full protection, it is usually a last resort, not a pre-emptive measure.

Jimbo Wales has suggested that semi-protection may be used in the cases of "minor bios of slightly well known but controversial individuals" which are not widely watchlisted, if they are "subject to POV pushing, trolling vandalism." In such cases, semi-protection "would at least eliminate the drive-by nonsense that we see so often."

A founding principle of Misplaced Pages is allowing everybody to contribute to improving articles, and therefore it is generally inappropriate to (semi-)protect articles for a lengthy amount of time.

When not to use semi-protection

Semi-protection should not be used:

  • as a pre-emptive measure against the threat or probability of vandalism before any such vandalism has occurred;
  • as a response to regular content disputes, since it may restrict some editors and not others (see the protection policy for how to deal with this);
  • in the case of a few static IP vandals hitting a page (blocking the vandals is a much better option than semi-protection);
  • on the day's Featured Article, which should almost never be protected in the interests of encouraging newcomers to be bold;
  • to prohibit anonymous editing in general.

Talk pages are not protected as a rule, except in special circumstances. User talk pages subject to persistent vandalism or trolling may be semi-protected or protected on request. Though pages - other than the day's featured article - linked to from the main can be semi-protected, the bar for protection should be set much higher than on other pages, so that this only occurs in emergencies or under deliberate targetted attacks.

How

Semi-protection can be requested at Misplaced Pages:Requests for page protection, the article's talk page or, in cases where a very fast response is needed, the administrators' noticeboard.

Administrators:

  1. In the protection interface, choose "Block new and unregistered users" for editing
  2. The tag {{sprotected}} should be added to the top of the page, which automatically adds the article to Category:Semi-protected.
  3. List the page at Misplaced Pages:List of protected pages#Semi-protection. Remember to remove the listing when you unprotect.
  4. When protecting a user or user talk page, {{usertalk-sprotect}} may be used instead.

Unprotecting pages

Requests for a page to be unprotected can be found here: Misplaced Pages:Requests_for_page_protection#Current_requests_for_unprotection

Tools

  • While the recent history of an article should be checked before semi-protecting, this tool is useful for tracking vandalism on a particular page over a longer period. It's not perfect, however, and can be misleading. For instance, it will show a high vandalism rate if a low-traffic page gets just one instance of vandalism per day.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Proposal: limited extension of semi-protection policy", Jimmy Wales, WikiEN-l, May 19, 2006
  2. includes articles, but not templates
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