[Wikipedia-l] Re: Re: Ban warning to GrahamN

Thu Sep 5 20:43:02 UTC 2002

Jimbo Wrote:
>Not having reviewed the incident in question, I would tend to agree
>with Axel here.  Banning ips is supposed to be for vandalism of the
>most obvious sort, like inserting random 'farts' in pages, or
>uploading inappropriate pictures, etc.
>
>What did the guy say, anyway?

For those who haven't been following this - GrahamN had posted a bad 
tempered message on Anti-Semitism/Talk in which he referred to the 
'Zionist's desire to dominate all other ethnic groups in [Israel]' and 
similar.  It was originally in response to a change to the page by 
SLRubenstein.  I understand that Graham and SLR have since come to a 
civilised mutual understanding.

There then followed a very lengthly, bad mannered and inappropriate 
exchange, mainly between GrahamN and another user, RK.  Each was accusing 
Zionists or Non-Zionists of racism and bigotry in broadly equal measure 
(with RK liberally making allegations of anti-semitism, directed at April 
among others).

Ed, I appreciate your attempts to stop this inappropriate argument on the 
talk page.  However, using your sysop status to threaten banning people just 
isn't appropriate. In a situation like this it could be perceived that you 
were taking sides in an argument on behalf of Wikipedia, which is not what 
sysop status is for.

In this case we were dealing with two known Wikipedia contributors, both of 
whom have made good contributions in the past.  Reasoning with them is the 
approach to use here and a ban, or threat of one, totally inappropriate.

I would also ask that sysops should not generally sign contributions as 
sysops (i.e. writing "Ed Poor - Sysop").  It could be give the misleading 
impression that sysops are acting officially on behalf of Wikipedia, rather 
than acting as an individual contributor.

Tim (Enchanter)

>Axel Boldt wrote:
>
> > >This is a warning: any more personal or provocative remarks, and I
> > >will will ban you for a day. --Ed Poor, sysop
> >
> > ...and the ban will be undone immediately of course. Ed, please
> > refrain from using your sysop status as if it were a position of
> > power.
> >
> > Axel

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