Wikipedia:Dealing with disruptive or antisocial editors

(Originated by Erich 04:26, 8 Jul 2004 (UTC).)

The time line for refining and considering this policy:

See also:

This policy is intended to place a fair system in the gaps between the process, , , policy and the . It does not seek to replace any of the above, but allows efficient management of recalcitrant, difficult, problem behavior.

It may be very helpful to ask ourselves these questions before initiating this formal process:

This policy does not at all affect the ability of admins to summarily block persistent vandals.

Before any type of warning or direction should be given, effort should be made to resolve the problem amicably. It may be that the user is unaware of the policy in question. Regardless of how obvious you think it should be, point the user to the page describing the policy. If the user is aware of the policy, but disagrees with it, show the user that there is consensus for the policy. To do this you may want to request community involvement. Upon ratification of this policy, a section will be added to for "Policy disputes". While disputes in this section may include references to user behavior, the focus should be on the policies or guidelines themselves, not any particular user.

While trying to resolve the problem amicably you may find that there is no policy prohibiting the user's behavior. If that is the case, and you believe there can be consensus for such a policy, you should propose one. This blocking policy is not a method to allow a large majority of admins to enforce their own personal rules.

If at least three admins agree that a user is knowingly engaging in behavior which violates a valid policy, they may formally warn a user to cease that behavior ("Notice to cease"). Such a warning may be created by anyone, but it is not in effect until certified by at least three admins per the certification rules below (see "Number of admins required to certify").

The overall tone of the warning should be firm, but respectful. Avoid ranting! Rants do not portray an aura of authority and command. The warning should include, at least:

A notice to cease expires after 60 days.

If a user continues to engage in the problematic behavior after receiving a formal warning, two additional signature sections should be added: "Admins certifying block" and "Admins objecting to block". Upon certification by at least three admins per the certification rules below (see "Number of admins required to certify"), the user shall be blocked for 24 hours. The notice to cease shall be kept in effect after a block is instituted, and in the case additional blocks are needed signature sections shall be added ("Admins certifying block #2", etc).

The Arbitration Committee and Jimbo Wales may also overturn blocks.

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