An information page describes the wiki's customs, technicalities or practices.
Blocking can sometimes be involve difficult decisions, or you just don't know how long to block someone. This page will try to list as many cases and recommendations as possible. It is a good idea to check the user's contributions, block log, or posts before blocking in order to take everything into account. Note that the lists below are by far not exhaustive at all, as there are a myriad of cases in which blocking is needed.
- This page is NOT a policy, it does not define how Administrators should block, it is just a guide on how-to.
- Also note that text like "3-6 weeks" or "Infinite" means block length, "Ban" generally refers to a a site ban, unless otherwise specified. Bans may only be established by Bureaucrats, the Staff Team or the community.
Tips
If you find yourself blocking a user multiple times, just increase the block time by 1.5-3x longer than the previous. If the block is over 1 year, it is recommended to set it to infinite.
- If a user persists these offense multiple times, it is recommended to request the Staff Team for a resolution.
- If multiple IP's from the same range are offending, it is recommended to a range block.
Length and Variability
Since each user is very different from the last, each user should be considered separately unless they are Sockpuppets. If a user's only actions are disruptive/libelous/offensive actions, it is safe to block them for infinite periods of time.
Sockpuppetry
If a user ever uses an alternate account to evade your block, it is a very good idea to block all suspected sockpuppets for infinite and request the Staff Team for a resolution.
Staff Members
If you think a staff member should be blocked somehow for the one following criteria, it is recommended you talk to other Administrators about the situation. Such cases are rare, but are very serious as the guidelines on staff members expects good behavior for them to even be considered for promotion.
Criteria
The following list assumes semi-bad faith acting. If you are sure the user is acting in good-faith, it is a good idea not block.
Comments/Posts
Commenting/Posts on this wiki tends to be immature and sometimes outright toxic even if there is a notice posted right at the comments section.
- Blocks should be short of the user is just immature, but infinite if they were toxic.
- If all/most/A good chunk the comments by a user fit the criteria below to a good degree, it is a good idea to block them for infinite periods of time.
- List of some Possible Cases (Not Exhaustive)
- Immaturity
- Only/all/Good portion of the comments by the user - 6 months-Infinite
- Minor - 2-6 weeks
- Medium/2nd offense - 2-3 months
- Heavy/Long-Term/Persistent (It is recommended to request the Staff Team to open a case for situations related to long-term abuse) - Ban (Infinite)
- Toxicity/Personal Attacks
- Only/all/Good portion of the comments by the user - 6 months-Infinite
- Minor - 3-6 months
- Medium/2nd offense - 6-Infinite months
- Heavy/Long-Term/Persistent - Infinite (Possible Ban)
- Off-topic posts/comments
- Minor - No block needed, just deleting the comment is fine; with an optional warning.
- Medium/2nd offense - Strict warning/1-4 weeks
- Heavy/Long Term/Persistent - Infinite/Ban
- "First" and filler/nonsense comments
- First and only comment by the user - 6 months-Infinite
- Mistake - Warning/Ignore comment
- Heavy/Long Term/Persistent - Infinite/Ban
- Discussing controversial topics
- Intentional inciting - 6 months-Infinite
- Mistake - Strict Warning
- Heavy/Long Term/Persistent - Infinite/Ban
- Advertising/Scamming
- Any offense - Infinite
Disruption
Disruption comes in all forms, commenting, posts, edits, and other actions. Disruption is divided into 2 categories, intentional, and non-intentional. If the disruption is intentional, a infinite block should be made at once. If not, a user should be given a short block or a warning.
- List of some Possible Cases (Not Exhaustive)
- Disruptive Editing (Good Faith)
- You must talk to the user first, unless if they are a IP, in order to assume good faith.
- Disruption-only account/IP - Infinite
- Minor - Medium-Strict Warn
- Medium/2nd offense - 3-18 months
- Heavy/Long Term/Persistent - Infinite/Ban
- Disruptive Editing (Bad Faith)
- Disruption-only account/IP - Infinite
- Minor - 3-Infinite months
- Medium/2nd offense - Infinite
- Heavy/Long Term/Persistent - Ban
- Disruptive Comments/Posts
- Only/all/Good portion of the comments/posts by the user - 6 months-Infinite
- Mistake/Other comments were not disruptive (Midly disruptive) - Warning/Delete comment only
- Mistake/Other comments were not disruptive (Mediumly disruptive) - 3-6 weeks or a strict warning
- 2nd offense - 3 months-Infinite
- Heavy/Long Term/Persistent - Ban
Vandalism
Vandalism is the most common reason a user is blocked. Generally, you don't need to worry about it because users are most likely already blocked by the abuse filter. If they do somehow get through (Please notify Thundercraft5 about any filter leakages at once), an infinite block is recommended, unless you feel the user somehow made a mistake.
Spam
Spam is a form of advertising, and it is most likely a company/website trying to get a better search engine ranking. Such IPs/User accounts are strongly recommended to be blocked for infinite periods of time. You can report such accounts/IP's to SOAP.
Toxicity
Toxicity is a general term used to describe a person who is generally not nice, or commonly makes rude remarks or posts, and sometimes have anger management issues and are often underage or immature. Toxicity can cause users to leave the wiki, or cause other users to become like them. As such, blocks you make on toxic users are encouraged to be very strict.
Edit Warring
Edit Warring Is a conflict which 2 or more editors have a conflict of interest and revert each other's edits (More info at Blocking Policy § Edit Warring).
- First offense - Warning/3 day-3 weeks
- Second offense - 6 weeks-4 months
- Third offense+ - 6 months-Infinite/Ban
Abusive Account Names
Abusive Account Names are accounts which are named intentionally to cause harm, disruption, or deface an Individual. The most abusive are already likely blocked by the abuse filter, and they are generally rare, so you don't have to worry about them too much. If they happen to appear, an infinite block is strongly recommended, and the accounts should be reported to SOAP or Fandom Staff.
Abuse of User Rights
Abuse of User rights while rare, can result in massive damage if the user responsible is a high-ranking staff member.
Any one of these cases should be taken seriously, and asking other Administrators/the Staff Team for advice is recommended.
There are 2 possible reasons for such a case:
- An staff member's account has been compromised, and should be blocked immediately and a note sent on their message wall, and their rights stripped for safety reasons if you can remove them.
- A staff member has chosen to vandalize, disrupt, or other harmful actions to the wiki. If such a case happens, please ask other Administrators for a recommended action or consult the Staff Team for advice.
Appeals
When a user appeals a block, the way they do it is what matters the most. Observing whether they seem to accept that they did something wrong or that they want to improve or move on from it in a positive manner is key in reviewing appeals.
- If a user shows that they want to improve, reduce the block to around under 3 months or even unblock them if you feel that they deserve a second chance.
- If a user remains adamant that they did not do anything wrong, then it is recommended to increase the block by 2x longer.
- While blocking a user can be generally defined, appealing cannot as users often have very differing accounts for why they did wrong, or how they want to improve.
Final Notes
While this page lists the recommended length for blocks and appeals, in the end, it is up to the Administrator to decide the length of the block.
- Blocking in a perfect form should not be used as punitive measures, but due to the very nature of how blocks work and appear, they are inherently punitive in some form even if it is not the goal of the block. It is generally not a good idea to block as punishment unless it is a last resort needed to teach a troublesome user a lesson.
- It is a good idea to look at the block list to see how other Administrators are blocking.
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