Difference between revisions of "Starfleet Commander:Vandalism is not a game"

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m (Created page with '{{Policies}} Some pages on Starfleet Commander are '''Protected''', which means they can not be edited or modified by anyone except an [[Starfleet Commander:Administrators|Admini…')
 
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{{Policies}}
 
{{Policies}}
Some pages on Starfleet Commander are '''Protected''', which means they can not be edited or modified by anyone except an [[Starfleet Commander:Administrators|Administrator]]. This may be for any number of reasons; because of continuous vandalism, edit wars, and so on.
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Pages, titles, and language that may '''glamorize vandalism''' by turning it into a game between vandals and "vandal fighters" are strongly discouraged.
  
===How long are pages protected?===
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== Overview ==
How long a page is protected depends on the nature of its protection. The [[Main Page]] is always protected because of its central nature to Starfleet Commander. Other pages are protected when there is an epidemic of vandalism. Normally, a vandal will be blocked for vandalizing multiple times, but when there are multiple vandals or continuous vandalism done over time, the page will be protected for an amount of time at the disretion of an administrator. These pages are eventually unbanned, after enough time has passed that we feel the vandals have "lost interest."
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Vandalism on wikis can be encouraged unintentionally or accidentally by giving unnecessary recognition to certain vandals or their actions. Similarly, glorifying the act of "anti-vandalism" can have an equally inflammatory effect.
  
===Why are pages permanently protected?===
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While reverting vandalism is a necessary and constant process on most active public wikis, it is not a game of "[[Wikipedia:cops and robbers|cops and robbers]]" and should not be regarded or described as such. Using titles and language such as "vandal fighter" or "anti-vandal" on one's user page can encourage vindictive and retaliatory behavior on the part of passing vandals in search of a target.
Certain special pages on Starfleet Commander are always protected for various reasons. These include:
 
  
*'''Main Page:''' The Main Page of Starfleet Commander is always protected because it is the most important page on the wiki; the first page users see when they visit, and it contains all important links on the wiki. It must not be available to editing because of the major impact vandalism of the main page would have on the entire site.
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Hypothetically speaking, which user's page would a vandal rather attack: one whose comments are value-neutral (and hence, a boring target), or one whose language contains such phrases as "Watch out, vandals!" or "Counter-Vandal Expert?"
  
*'''Starfleet Commander Policy:''' Certain pages are designated as Starfleet Commander policy and protected. They are denoted by the "Protected Policy" template, as seen on this page. This is because Starfleet Commander policies are the sole responsibility of the administrators, and not negotiable or changeable by other users.
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Thus, ironically enough, '''in glamorizing the act of counter-vandalism we create an ''incentive'' for vandalism itself'''.
  
*'''Administrator's User Pages:''' User Pages are described for users to provide information about themselves, they are usually only changed by that user. However, due to their high visibility on the site, several administrators pages have been the target of vandalism, and thus are blocked from editing. These pages are not a part of Starfleet Commander and the only changes made to them should be at the discretion of their users.
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== Recommendations ==
  
===Can I protect a page?===
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When dealing with vandals or reverting their vandalism, do so quietly, efficiently, and without fanfare. Avoid the temptation to loudly congratulate oneself or others in their vandalism-correcting efforts. When possible, do not bestow anti-vandalism barnstars or similar accolades upon others ''unless extremely well deserved''. A well-decorated "vandal fighter" is an easy and inviting mark for a vandal or troll.
Standard users do not have the ability to protect pages, but if you wish to request protection on a page, do so [[Starfleet Commander talk:Protected page guidelines|here]].
 
  
[[Category: Help|Protected page guidelines]]
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== Language, Attitudes, and Behaviors to Avoid ==
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* '''Avoid''' the use of militaristic or law enforcement language and attitudes when dealing with vandalism. Calling oneself an "agent," a "vandal fighter," or a "warrior" is counterproductive, as it will encourage vandals to respond in kind. Likewise, mimicking the names and structures of real life military, paramilitary, espionage, or government organizations creates a needless and self-destructive game out of vandalism and counter-vandalism.
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* '''Do not''' add personal remarks or taunts to the user pages of blocked vandals or their sockpuppets. Doing so not only gives them unwarranted attention for their efforts, but also strengthens their resolve to fight back.
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* '''Do not''' impersonate administrators or staff, or otherwise claim, imply, or purport to have powers or authority that you do not have.
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* '''Resist''' the urge to bully or harass new users, whose unconstructive edits to the site might be the result of ignorance or innocent experimentation, rather than malice. Doing so creates an unwelcome environment to new Wikians, and breeds the sort of resentment among them that may push them toward vandalism. [[w:Assume good faith|Assume good faith]].
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* '''Remember''' that the primary purpose of this wiki is to edit, contribute, and enhance Starleet Commander. Never allow the "fight" against vandalism to take precedence over meaningful and positive contribution to the contents of this wiki.
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== Counterpoints ==
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* An occasionally cited counter-argument to the policy of de-glamorization is the converse: if we take away the "fun" of reverting and combatting vandalism, then we will take away the incentive for people to do it, and eventually we will run out of people to revert vandalism effectively. When keeping in mind a proposal such as [[wikipedia:WP:GAME|WP:GAME]], we must decide for ourselves where the greater good lies. Does de-glamorization cause more attrition in vandal-reverters than it does in vandals? Or vice versa?
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* This proposal asserts (and is predicated upon) the notion that more vandals are lost to de-glamorization than vandal-fighters. The vandal, by nature, seeks attention and infamy for his actions. He stands more to lose when vandalism and counter-vandalism are made mundane than the counter-vandal does.
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==Related links==
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Deny recognition|Deny recognition]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Cleaning up vandalism|Cleaning up vandalism]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Vandalism|Vandalism]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Don't be a hero|Don't be a hero]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:On assuming good faith|On assuming good faith]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Edit war|Edit war]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Don't stuff beans up your nose|Don't stuff beans up your nose]]
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* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Staying cool when the editing gets hot|Staying cool when the editing gets hot]]
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[[Category:Help]]

Revision as of 00:35, 27 June 2010

Pages, titles, and language that may glamorize vandalism by turning it into a game between vandals and "vandal fighters" are strongly discouraged.

Overview

Vandalism on wikis can be encouraged unintentionally or accidentally by giving unnecessary recognition to certain vandals or their actions. Similarly, glorifying the act of "anti-vandalism" can have an equally inflammatory effect.

While reverting vandalism is a necessary and constant process on most active public wikis, it is not a game of "cops and robbers" and should not be regarded or described as such. Using titles and language such as "vandal fighter" or "anti-vandal" on one's user page can encourage vindictive and retaliatory behavior on the part of passing vandals in search of a target.

Hypothetically speaking, which user's page would a vandal rather attack: one whose comments are value-neutral (and hence, a boring target), or one whose language contains such phrases as "Watch out, vandals!" or "Counter-Vandal Expert?"

Thus, ironically enough, in glamorizing the act of counter-vandalism we create an incentive for vandalism itself.

Recommendations

When dealing with vandals or reverting their vandalism, do so quietly, efficiently, and without fanfare. Avoid the temptation to loudly congratulate oneself or others in their vandalism-correcting efforts. When possible, do not bestow anti-vandalism barnstars or similar accolades upon others unless extremely well deserved. A well-decorated "vandal fighter" is an easy and inviting mark for a vandal or troll.

Language, Attitudes, and Behaviors to Avoid

  • Avoid the use of militaristic or law enforcement language and attitudes when dealing with vandalism. Calling oneself an "agent," a "vandal fighter," or a "warrior" is counterproductive, as it will encourage vandals to respond in kind. Likewise, mimicking the names and structures of real life military, paramilitary, espionage, or government organizations creates a needless and self-destructive game out of vandalism and counter-vandalism.
  • Do not add personal remarks or taunts to the user pages of blocked vandals or their sockpuppets. Doing so not only gives them unwarranted attention for their efforts, but also strengthens their resolve to fight back.
  • Do not impersonate administrators or staff, or otherwise claim, imply, or purport to have powers or authority that you do not have.
  • Resist the urge to bully or harass new users, whose unconstructive edits to the site might be the result of ignorance or innocent experimentation, rather than malice. Doing so creates an unwelcome environment to new Wikians, and breeds the sort of resentment among them that may push them toward vandalism. Assume good faith.
  • Remember that the primary purpose of this wiki is to edit, contribute, and enhance Starleet Commander. Never allow the "fight" against vandalism to take precedence over meaningful and positive contribution to the contents of this wiki.

Counterpoints

  • An occasionally cited counter-argument to the policy of de-glamorization is the converse: if we take away the "fun" of reverting and combatting vandalism, then we will take away the incentive for people to do it, and eventually we will run out of people to revert vandalism effectively. When keeping in mind a proposal such as WP:GAME, we must decide for ourselves where the greater good lies. Does de-glamorization cause more attrition in vandal-reverters than it does in vandals? Or vice versa?
  • This proposal asserts (and is predicated upon) the notion that more vandals are lost to de-glamorization than vandal-fighters. The vandal, by nature, seeks attention and infamy for his actions. He stands more to lose when vandalism and counter-vandalism are made mundane than the counter-vandal does.

Related links