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Revision as of 17:10, 7 December 2007 by Splash (talk | contribs) (current bolded piece allows flocking-wheel-wars, and ignorance is no excuse. rephrase.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) WP:WW redirects here; you may also be looking for Misplaced Pages:Avoid weasel words (shortcut: WP:AWW) or Misplaced Pages:WikiProject WikipediaWeekly (shortcut: WP:WWPC). | 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. | Shortcuts |
A wheel war is a struggle between two or more admins in which they undo another's administrative actions — specifically, unblocking and reblocking a user; undeleting and redeleting; or unprotecting and reprotecting an article. Do not continue a chain of administrative reversals on a disputed point.
Most editors (and admins) tend to agree that wheel wars are a Bad Thing. Just as edit warring is considered harmful and needlessly divisive, so is wheel warring considered improper behavior for an administrator.
Possible indications
Possible indications of wheel warring are:
- Admins get too distressed to discuss something.
- An admin takes it upon himself to undo another admin's actions without consultation.
- An admin deliberately ignores an existing discussion (often at WP:ANI or WP:DRV) and implements his or her preferred action or version of an edit.
- An administrative action is repeatedly performed and reversed (by anyone).
Sanctions
Sometimes, admins are temporarily blocked for wheel warring. However, this can result in a wheel war itself, which creates an escalation of conflict and should therefore be avoided. Wheel warring may result in loss of administrative privileges from the arbitration process. On the other hand, the violator may simply be reprimanded or cautioned. Wheel warring has been used as grounds for sanctions by ArbCom in a few cases. (See summaries of these cases as they pertain to wheel warring.)
Alternatives
If you feel the need to wheel war, try these alternatives:
- Discuss the substantive issue with opposing admins.
- Post the issue to AN and wait for comment from other admins.
- Seek dispute resolution, just as you would in case of a potential edit war.
- Have a nice cup of tea and a sit down
Misplaced Pages works on the spirit of consensus; disputes should be settled through civil discussion rather than power wrestling.
Cases of wheel warring used as grounds for sanctions by ArbCom
- Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Pedophilia userbox wheel war
- Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Freestylefrappe
- Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Tony Sidaway
- Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Guanaco, MarkSweep, et al
- Misplaced Pages:Requests for arbitration/Daniel Brandt deletion wheel war
See also
- Misplaced Pages:Three revert rule
- Wheel war
- Misplaced Pages:Wheel war/Commentary
- Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard
- Misplaced Pages:Resolving disputes
- Misplaced Pages:List of controversial issues
- Misplaced Pages:Adminitis
External links
- Wheel wars entry at Jargon dictionary
- meatball:AnarchyAndFreedom
- meatball:SoftSecurity
- meatball:MetaModeration
- meatball:TitForTat