Wikipedia:Sanctions against editors should not be punitive: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 07:15, 13 June 2015 edit Jarble (talk \| contribs) Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users 149,214 edits removing a redundant summary of WP:Disruptive editing ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 15:48, 20 July 2024 edit undo AntiDionysius (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers 20,586 edits m Reverted edit by 49.146.28.96 (talk) to last version by WindTempos Tag: Rollback
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Line 1: {{redirect\|WP:PUNITIVE\|the blocking policy\|WP:BLOCKNOTPUNITIVE}} ~~{{essay\|WP:NOTPENAL\|WP:NOTPUNISHMENT\|WP:PENAL\|WP:PUNISH\|WP:PUNITIVE}}~~ {{essay\|interprets=the [[Wikipedia:Blocking policy\|blocking policy]] and the [[Wikipedia:Banning policy\|banning policy]]\|WP:NOTPENAL\|WP:NOTPUNISHMENT\|WP:PENAL\|WP:PUNISH\|WP:PUNITIVE}} {{nutshell\|Administrative sanctions against editors are not punitive, and imposed solely to prevent harm to the encyclopedia.}} ~~[[File:Sumatran_Tiger_01.jpg\|right\|thumb\|300px\|This tiger is kept in a cage not to punish the animal but to [[Incapacitation (penology)\|prevent it from hurting people]]]]~~ Wikipedia has various [[WP:sanctions (essay)\|actions that can be taken against editors]] for certain violations, including various forms of [[WP:DE\|disruptive editing]]. These include temporary or indefinite [[WP:BLOCK\|blocks]] and [[WP:BAN\|bans]]. These are punishments according to common definitions: they are [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punish penalties imposed because of offenses and violations], and admins are [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/punish inflicting these penalties or sanctions because of these offenses]. It may seem harsh that some people are given this treatment, but it is important to remember that these sanctions are intended to be significantly ''preventative'', not exclusively ''punitive''. Some editors, even some [[WP:ADMIN\|administrators]] on [[WP:ENC\|Wikipedia]], forget [[WP:~~ENC~~HERE\|why we are here]] and begin to adopt a '''punitive model''' for Wikipedia politics. They support [[WP:BLOCK\|blocks]], [[WP:BAN\|bans]], and [[WP:AE\|enforcement of Arbitration Committee sanctions]] in order to exact retribution on "bad users" rather than helping to create and improve encyclopedic content. This is regrettable and problematic, not to mention contrary to the reason for blocks, bans, and enforcements as stated in the Wikipedia guidelines and policies linked in the previous sentence. When proposing or supporting an action that could easily be interpreted to be punishment, ask yourself, "Will this action help make the content on Wikipedia better?". If the answer is not an unequivocal "yes" and you still end up supporting the action, you may be an adherent to the punitive model of Wikipedia. This may also mean you enjoy the perceived "power" that you get from enforcing your will through the various features (or bugs) of the Wikipedia community. Administrators should follow a '''preventative model''' for their actions with a goal of curbing disruptive or harmful behavior from editors rather than trying to punish them. [[WP:Topic ban\|Topic bans]], [[WP:Page protection\|page protections]], [[WP:Partial blocks\|partial blocks]] and so on are in some cases more helpful to the project than [[WP:Indefinite block\|indefinite blocks]] or [[WP:Community ban\|community bans]]. Short blocks may easily be interpreted as [[WP:GAME\|gamy]] slaps on the wrist that just serve to aggravate rather than enlighten. If you have a problem with the actions of a user, why not try to discuss the matter with ~~her or him~~them before blocking? There is [[Wikipedia:Administrators#Accountability\|accountability]] for administrative actions.▼ == See also == ▲Administrators should follow a '''preventative model''' for their actions with a goal of curbing disruptive or harmful behavior from editors rather than trying to punish them. [[WP:Topic ban\|Topic bans]], [[WP:Page protection\|page protections]] and so on are in some cases more helpful to the project than [[WP:Indefinite block\|indefinite blocks]] or [[WP:Community ban\|community bans]]. Short blocks may easily be interpreted as [[WP:GAME\|gamy]] slaps on the wrist that just serve to aggravate rather than enlighten. If you have a problem with the actions of a user, why not try to discuss the matter with her or him before blocking? * [[meatball:LimitDamage]] ==~~See~~External ~~also~~links== [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2065981 ''Punitive Preventive Justice: A Critique''] Bernard E. Harcourt, University of Chicago (May 2012) [[Incapacitation (penology)]], the use of [[Sentence (law)\|sentencing]] to prevent crime [[Category:Wikipedia sanctions]]