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Requests for clarification and amendment

Amendment request: Genetically modified organisms

Initiated by DrChrissy at 23:57, 28 December 2016 (UTC)

Case or decision affected

Genetically modified organisms arbitration case (t) (ev / t) (w / t) (pd / t)

Clauses to which an amendment is requested

1. DrChrissy topic banned (January 2016)

List of any users involved or directly affected, and confirmation that all are aware of the request

• DrChrissy (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) (initiator)

Information about amendment request

• DrChrissy topic banned (January 2016)

• Rescind the topic ban

Statement by DrChrissy

Over 12 months ago, I was topic banned from editing "...all pages relating to genetically modified organisms, commercially produced agricultural chemicals, and the companies that produce them, broadly interpreted". I am seeking this sanction be lifted.

Since the imposition of the topic ban, I have remained a highly productive editor here on Misplaced Pages - please see my user page where I have listed articles I have created and significantly edited. It is clear I have not simply "waited out" this sanction.

To the best of my memory, I have not violated this topic ban, nor have I been accused of skirting around the ban or testing it. The protection of these articles has been successful.

The reasons I wish to have this sanction lifted are two-fold:

• First, I wish to be able to directly edit GM animal articles. I have a vast experience of animal behaviour based on my real life university position. Many articles on GM animals could benefit from edits, some in my areas of expertise.
• Second, I often edit animal-related articles which contain interwoven GM related content. I would like to have lifted the pressure of having to be extremely careful what I write, where I write and looking over my shoulder.

In summary, topic bans are imposed to protect articles - I believe this has been achieved. DrChrissy 23:57, 28 December 2016 (UTC)

Statement By Beyond My Ken

DrChrissy's statement neglects to mention some facts:

• 1. As a result of the Genetically modified organisms arbitratuion case, which closed on 12 December 2015, DrChrissy received this topic ban:

  DrChrissy is indefinitely topic-banned from all pages relating to genetically modified plants and agricultural chemicals, broadly interpreted; appeals of this ban may be requested no earlier than twelve months since the date the case closed.

  DrChrissy's topic ban was less stringent that that received by other parties to the case. This was deliberate on the Committee's part, to allow him to edit about gentically modified animals. However, less than a month later, because of DrChrissy's continued problematic editing and testing of the boundaries of his topic ban, the ban was changed by motion to read:

  DrChrissy's topic ban which currently states that "DrChrissy is indefinitely topic-banned from all pages relating to genetically modified plants and agricultural chemicals, broadly interpreted; appeals of this ban may be requested no earlier than twelve months since the date the case closed" is replaced with "DrChrissy is indefinitely topic-banned from all pages relating to genetically modified organisms, commercially produced agricultural chemicals, and the companies that produce them, broadly interpreted; appeals of this ban may be requested no earlier than twelve months since the date the case closed."

• 2. Prior to the GMO case, DrChrissy received editing sanctions from the community. On 16 May, he was

  indefinitely topic banned from editing any biomedical articles.

  This, too, had to be clarified. It was modified on 20 May to read

  User:DrChrissy is topic banned from alternative medicine, broadly construed. To be clear, this includes alternative medicine for humans and animals, so Veterinary acupuncture does fall under the scope of this ban. Animal biology, behavior, health, and normal veterinary medicine does not fall under the scope of this ban so long as it does not intersect with alternative medicine topics such as acupuncture, homeopathy, TCM, energy medicine, faith healing, etc. DrChrissy is also topic banned from human medical articles and WP:MEDRS related discussions (in accordance with the previous close, and to reduce the possibility of conflict with the same group of users). This modifies the close of Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive885#Topic ban for DrChrissy which imposed a topic ban from "biomedical articles". This ban may be appealed no sooner than 6 months from now, and will be logged at WP:RESTRICT.

  and had to be modified again on 3 September 2015 "to clarify 'broadly construed' for human medicine and MEDRS", to read

  User:DrChrissy is topic banned from alternative medicine, broadly construed. To be clear, this includes alternative medicine for humans and animals, so Veterinary acupuncture does fall under the scope of this ban. Animal biology, behavior, health, and normal veterinary medicine does not fall under the scope of this ban so long as it does not intersect with alternative medicine. DrChrissy is also topic banned from human health and medicine, and WP:MEDRS related discussions, broadly construed.

• 3.The clear conclusion to be drawn from this is that DrChrissy cannot be trusted to edit responsibly in this topic area. Even when he received very specific topic bans, his editing required that the bans be modified a number of times to prevent his editing around their edges. It seems obvious that if his ArbCom ban is lifted, he will return to precisely the same kind of editing that got him banned in the first place. This is because DrChrissy is the epitome of a civil point of view pusher. He has a specific agenda, and his edits are designed to promote that agenda and skew our articles.

• 4.The evidence DrCrissy provides for the sanction to be lifted is "To the best of my memory, I have not violated this topic ban". This is not a reason that a ban should be lifted, it is the minimum requirement of an editor under a topic ban. The articles have been "protected" because DrChrissy is forbidden to edit them. To say that a reasonable response to that is to lift the topic ban is simply illogical and flies in the face of DrCrissy's editing history.

• 5.I urge the Committee to reject this appeal to lift DrChrissy's topic ban. Beyond My Ken (talk) 03:12, 29 December 2016 (UTC)

Statement by {other-editor}

Other editors are free to make relevant comments on this request as necessary. Comments here should address why or why not the Committee should accept the amendment request or provide additional information.

Genetically modified organisms: Clerk notes

This area is used for notes by the clerks (including clerk recusals).

• Cleaned. For the future, please use this link to file requests for amendment. Kevin (aka L235 · t · c) 02:30, 29 December 2016 (UTC)

Genetically modified organisms: Arbitrator views and discussion

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