[WikiEN-l] Re: A neo-Nazi wikipedia

Tue Aug 23 18:22:45 UTC 2005

SlimVirgin, MattCrypto: this is why I love Wikipedians so much.  I love
this kind of discussion.  Assume good faith, careful reasoning, a
discussion which doesn't involve personal attacks of any kind, a
disagreement with a positive exploration of the deeper issues.

I'm very proud.

slimvirgin at gmail.com wrote:
> Matt unblocked [[User:Amalekite]] and I reblocked him, then we
> exchanged posts as follows in case others are interested:
> 
> Hi Matt, I've reblocked the above. I don't normally reblock when
> another admin unblocks (in fact, I don't think I've ever done it), but
> this case is exceptional. Amalekite is [[Alex Linder]], the
> owner-operator of [[Vanguard News Network]]. He has posted a list of
> Wikipedians he believes are Jews on the [[Stormfront]] website, as
> well as details of how to edit using open proxies and sockpuppets.
> It's clear he was trying to cause major disruption, which is why
> [[User:Homeontherange]] blocked him. The issue has been discussed on
> the mailing list. [[User:SlimVirgin]] 07:22, August 23, 2005 (UTC)
> 
> Hi SlimVirgin, I don't like getting into conflict, particularly with
> things like block wars and protect wars, so I'm unhappy about this.
> But in this case I think that this is simply unjust; we should block
> people indefinitely based on their actions, not based on what they say
> on other websites, and not because they're neo-Nazis. If it is, as you
> assert, clear that he's trying to disrupt Wikipedia, then it will
> surely quickly become apparent, and we can block him then, right? But
> otherwise, I think it must be innocent until proven guilty.
> [[User:Matt Crypto]] 07:32, 23 August 2005 (UTC)
> 
> I take your point, Matt, but I feel you ought to have discussed this
> with the blocking admin, rather than undoing the block. I would also
> argue that for a Wikipedian to draw up a list of other editors by
> their perceived ethnicity, and to post that list on a racist website,
> is highly provocative, and I don't see how it can be detached from his
> actions on Wikipedia. He wasn't blocked for being a member of
> [[Vanguard News Network]] or [[Stormfront]], but for his actions in
> encouraging anti-Semites and racists to target Jewish editors, and for
> encouraging them to violate policy by creating sockpuppets and using
> open proxies. I don't see why we should have to wait until the
> disruption begins before blocking him. He tried to cause massive
> disruption: that he (appears to have) failed was simply down to the
> others' lack of response. [[User:SlimVirgin]] 07:41, August 23, 2005
> (UTC)
> _______________________________________________
> WikiEN-l mailing list
> WikiEN-l at Wikipedia.org
> http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
> 