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| {{Short description|Essay on Misplaced Pages's blocking policy}} | |||
| {{essay|WP:ROPE|WP:HANG|WP:LASTCHANCE}} | |||
| ⚫ | As the old saying goes "'''Give 'em enough rope, and they'll hang themselves.'''" Sometimes this is the best approach when dealing with ]. If they are pleading to be unblocked and swearing up and down that they understand and won't |
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| {{Redirect|WP:ROPE|the help page|WP:ROPES}} | |||
| Using the rope analogy directly can be regarded as ] and a lack of ], as the English phrase itself implies that some people will harm themselves given sufficient opportunity.<ref>{{cite book|last=Stuart-Hamilton|first=Ian|title=An Asperger Dictionary of Everyday Expressions|year=2007|publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers|page=101|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PsPBQAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA101#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=July 26, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| {{essay|interprets=the ] policy|WP:ROPE}} | |||
| {{nutshell|Sometimes it's best to give people one last chance. But only one.}} | |||
| ⚫ | As the old saying goes, "'''Give 'em enough rope, and they'll likely hang themselves.'''" Sometimes this is the best approach when dealing with ]. If they are pleading to be unblocked and swearing up and down that they understand and won't repeat whatever it was that got them blocked, rather than arguing the finer points of the original block or demanding further explanation, it's usually better<ref name="RopeNote" group="note">In circumstances that are not serious (vandalism, disruptive editing, edit warring) versus ''serious violations'' (such as egregious, blatant, or libelous BLP violations, ], or ])</ref> to just unblock them and make it clear that this is their last chance. If they mean what they say, then unblocking will be the right thing to do, and if they don't, they'll be blocked again soon enough. | ||
| ] | |||
| Sometimes there is a discussion about whether an editor should be blocked or warned. When in doubt, a warning is probably sufficient. If a block is needed, the editor will soon prove it. | |||
| == Example scenarios == | == Example scenarios == | ||
| ====Example #1: ''The music fan''==== | ====Example #1: ''The music fan''==== | ||
| * |
* ] starts adding ] and original research to multiple articles on their favorite musicians, receiving numerous warnings in the process. | ||
| * Admin |
* Admin ] blocks them when they continue after a final warning. | ||
| * Ididntdoit asks almost instantly to be unblocked |
* Ididntdoit asks almost instantly to be unblocked. In their request they state that they now understand what they did wrong, and promise not to do it again, adding that they are really, really sorry and didn't know this was against the rules. | ||
| ====Example #2:''"]"''==== | ====Example #2: ''"]"''==== | ||
| * |
* ] has a history of making infrequent edits. Not particularly helpful, but not really doing any harm. | ||
| * Late one Saturday night Bigbro begins adding the same rhyming couplet containing a very nasty racial slur to numerous, seemingly unrelated articles. | * Late one Saturday night Bigbro begins adding the same rhyming couplet containing a very nasty racial slur to numerous, seemingly unrelated articles. | ||
| * Two days into his three-month long block for vandalizing, he uses the classic argument that ], and now little brother is in big trouble. | * Two days into his three-month long block for vandalizing, he uses the classic argument that ], and now little brother is in big trouble. | ||
| Line 20: | Line 25: | ||
| # '''Decline''' because they believe the editors to be lying. | # '''Decline''' because they believe the editors to be lying. | ||
| # '''Prolonged discussion''' until the user and the reviewing admin have gone over nearly every edit the user has made and analyzed them point-by-point. | # '''Prolonged discussion''' until the user and the reviewing admin have gone over nearly every edit the user has made and analyzed them point-by-point. | ||
| # '''Unblock''' and give them the chance to prove that they do understand and can refrain from repeating this same behavior, or conversely a chance to prove they do not understand or |
# '''Unblock''' and give them the chance to prove that they do understand and can refrain from repeating this same behavior, or conversely a chance to prove they do not understand or care and were just hoping for a sympathetic admin to unblock them. In the latter case they will have "hanged themselves" and will be rapidly re-blocked, this time probably indefinitely. | ||
| This is not to say that this is always the better solution. Sometimes those prolonged unblock discussions produce real results in educating the blocked user about why they were blocked and helping them to edit productively in the future. But as a simple ] of a user's sincerity and willingness to edit cooperatively it can be very effective. Sometimes even after a prolonged discussion it's hard to tell if the user understands the problem and/or is willing to stop editing disruptively, and the only way to find out for sure is to give them the opportunity. Another option in the case of vandal accounts is to decline the unblock request but add {{tl|2nd chance}} which basically asks them to prove it ''before'' being unblocked. | This is not to say that this is always the better solution. Sometimes those prolonged unblock discussions produce real results in educating the blocked user about why they were blocked and helping them to edit productively in the future. But as a simple ] of a user's sincerity and willingness to edit cooperatively, it can be very effective. Sometimes even after a prolonged discussion it's hard to tell if the user understands the problem and/or is willing to stop editing disruptively, and the only way to find out for sure is to give them the opportunity. Another option in the case of vandal accounts is to decline the unblock request but add {{tl|2nd chance}} which basically asks them to prove it ''before'' being unblocked. | ||
| ==When not to use== | ==When not to use== | ||
| * If a user has already been blocked numerous times for the same behavior, they've already gotten all the rope they need; the hangman is just asleep at the lever | * If a user has already been blocked numerous times for the same behavior, they've already gotten all the rope they need; the hangman is just asleep at the lever. | ||
| * If the user was justifiably blocked but is not giving any indication that they even feel they did anything wrong | * If the user was justifiably blocked but is not giving any indication that they even feel they did anything wrong. | ||
| * ] or ] to themselves or others that have not been retracted | * ] or ] to themselves or others that have not been retracted. | ||
| * In any case where the admin who made the block has strong objections to unblocking | * In any case where the admin who made the block has strong objections to unblocking. | ||
| * ] users – users blocked by community discussion or ] | * ] users – users blocked or site-banned by community discussion or ]. | ||
| ** For community bans, the ] may still apply. | |||
| ⚫ | * ] | ||
| ** However, this essay may apply to ], after a standard offer period. | |||
| ⚫ | * ]. | ||
| ==Citing this essay== | |||
| The intention of this essay is to assist administrators when reviewing unblock requests, and discussions between admins about unblock requests is where it has often been cited. It could be viewed as uncivil to cite it in a direct discussion with the blocked user. | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{Reflist|group=note}} | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| * ] (a differently worded variant of this essay) | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 10:43, 19 November 2024
Essay on Misplaced Pages's blocking policy "WP:ROPE" redirects here. For the help page, see WP:ROPES. Essay on editing Misplaced Pages | This is an essay on the blocking policy. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Misplaced Pages contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Misplaced Pages's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. | Shortcut |
 | This page in a nutshell: Sometimes it's best to give people one last chance. But only one. |
As the old saying goes, "Give 'em enough rope, and they'll likely hang themselves." Sometimes this is the best approach when dealing with blocked users. If they are pleading to be unblocked and swearing up and down that they understand and won't repeat whatever it was that got them blocked, rather than arguing the finer points of the original block or demanding further explanation, it's usually better to just unblock them and make it clear that this is their last chance. If they mean what they say, then unblocking will be the right thing to do, and if they don't, they'll be blocked again soon enough.
Sometimes there is a discussion about whether an editor should be blocked or warned. When in doubt, a warning is probably sufficient. If a block is needed, the editor will soon prove it.
Example scenarios
Example #1: The music fan
- User:Ididntdoit starts adding excessive external links and original research to multiple articles on their favorite musicians, receiving numerous warnings in the process.
- Admin User:SpamHunter007 blocks them when they continue after a final warning.
- Ididntdoit asks almost instantly to be unblocked. In their request they state that they now understand what they did wrong, and promise not to do it again, adding that they are really, really sorry and didn't know this was against the rules.
Example #2: "The little brother defense"
- User:Bigbro has a history of making infrequent edits. Not particularly helpful, but not really doing any harm.
- Late one Saturday night Bigbro begins adding the same rhyming couplet containing a very nasty racial slur to numerous, seemingly unrelated articles.
- Two days into his three-month long block for vandalizing, he uses the classic argument that his little brother did it while he was away, and now little brother is in big trouble.
Most likely reactions
The admin reviewing these requests has several choices before them:
- Decline because they believe the editors to be lying.
- Prolonged discussion until the user and the reviewing admin have gone over nearly every edit the user has made and analyzed them point-by-point.
- Unblock and give them the chance to prove that they do understand and can refrain from repeating this same behavior, or conversely a chance to prove they do not understand or care and were just hoping for a sympathetic admin to unblock them. In the latter case they will have "hanged themselves" and will be rapidly re-blocked, this time probably indefinitely.
This is not to say that this is always the better solution. Sometimes those prolonged unblock discussions produce real results in educating the blocked user about why they were blocked and helping them to edit productively in the future. But as a simple litmus test of a user's sincerity and willingness to edit cooperatively, it can be very effective. Sometimes even after a prolonged discussion it's hard to tell if the user understands the problem and/or is willing to stop editing disruptively, and the only way to find out for sure is to give them the opportunity. Another option in the case of vandal accounts is to decline the unblock request but add {{2nd chance}} which basically asks them to prove it before being unblocked.
When not to use
- If a user has already been blocked numerous times for the same behavior, they've already gotten all the rope they need; the hangman is just asleep at the lever.
- If the user was justifiably blocked but is not giving any indication that they even feel they did anything wrong.
- Legal threats or threats of harm to themselves or others that have not been retracted.
- In any case where the admin who made the block has strong objections to unblocking.
- Site-banned users – users blocked or site-banned by community discussion or ArbCom.
- For community bans, the standard offer may still apply.
- However, this essay may apply to users banned for repeated block evasion, after a standard offer period.
- Compromised accounts.
Citing this essay
The intention of this essay is to assist administrators when reviewing unblock requests, and discussions between admins about unblock requests is where it has often been cited. It could be viewed as uncivil to cite it in a direct discussion with the blocked user.
Notes
- In circumstances that are not serious (vandalism, disruptive editing, edit warring) versus serious violations (such as egregious, blatant, or libelous BLP violations, sockpuppetry, or long-term abuse)
See also
- Misplaced Pages:One last chance (a differently worded variant of this essay)
- Misplaced Pages:Misplaced Pages is not therapy
- Misplaced Pages:Call a spade a spade
- Misplaced Pages:Competence is required
- Misplaced Pages:Duck test
- Misplaced Pages:Unblocks are cheap
- Misplaced Pages:Unblock perspectives