[Commons-l] Please don't spam user-talk pages with generic warnings

Tue Jul 18 15:15:15 UTC 2006

I agree. This tends to happen on Wikipedia a lot. Thousands of talk
pages are full of the same subst'ed templates. Over the years, I'm
sure this will add up to several gigabytes of wasted space (and years
of wasted time).

On 18/07/06, Brianna Laugher <brianna.laugher at gmail.com> wrote:
> Please don't spam user-talk pages with generic warnings. (No source/no
> license/copyvionote)
> Why? Because it's counter-productive and therefore a waste of your time.
>
> If you notice a user already has a dozen recent warnings, or if you've
> got 10 more to add, instead of adding another one which they're just
> as likely to ignore, take the time to write a short sharp warning
> explaining
> * specifically what they're doing wrong (not "violating copyright" -
> "uploading logos" "uploading screenshots" "uploading random images
> from the web")
> * why it's wrong (like: source is require for all images - logos are
> considered unfree - screenshots don't take any new copyright)
> * relevant policy pages (usually Commons:Licensing)
> * where they can ask for help (their talk page, if you watch it, your
> talk page, Commons:Help desk / Village pump in their language)
> * the principle of WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK BEFORE UPLOADING.
> * that if they upload any more files and ignore what you've taken the
> time to say, then they will be blocked.
>
> And if they do that, then block them. If you're not an admin, ask one
> to block them.
>
> While they're blocked they can still edit their talk page. This is a
> good chance to drill home source/licensing requirements and the like,
> if they stick around.
>
> The aim of the warnings is to try and make users understand the
> importance of various copyright requirements. Spamming their talk page
> is not further to that aim, so it should be avoided. "Notifying the
> uploader" is not the real aim: making them understand is.
>
> As a rough guide, I would say first block, 1 or 3 days. Second block,
> 3 days or a week. Third block, a week or a month. Fourth block, I'd
> want to know a very good reason why it shouldn't be permanent. It all
> depends on the specific circumstances of course, like exactly how many
> images they're uploading, if they're giving false licenses, if they're
> responding to messages and warnings, if there's a language barrier,
> etc.
>
> regards,
> Brianna
> user:pfctdayelise
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-- 
Oldak Quill (oldakquill at gmail.com)