Rocky Wiki:Blocking Policy

Administrators have the ability to stop a user from editing for any duration. However, sysops are only allowed to block users, or ban users, if an offence is made to disrupt the wiki. The following are actions a user might perform that could result in a temporary or permanent block:

s Leading to Bans

• Page-blanking articles for no justified reason
• Replacing article content with illegitimate text or other material
  • Please be patient with new users. Some may not understand the sensitivity of others about others editing their articles. Assume good faith and let the user defend himself before placing a ban, or requesting a block.
• Moving pages to inappropriate titles (General pagemove should be accepted, though if obvious vandalism such as xxxx HAS BEEN CONQUERED BY THE ROMAN EMPIRE appears, a ban should be placed)
• Creating a sockpuppet account.
  • Note: We should clarify to new users with policy pages or other means the definitions of sockpuppetry, and give specific reasons why a sockpuppet should not be used. If a new user is unaware of this policy, the main account should not be banned for an extended period of time, though the sockpuppet, regardless of its intention, should be banned.
• Creating articles for the purpose of disruption
  • This does not mean horribly misspelled articles that don't contain an elaborate plot, but rather articles that are irrelevant to Rocky and having offensive content
    • offensive content could be pornography, vulgarity, blatant insults to pages and/or users, or spamming
  • Please also note that the purpose of disruption should be narrow, and the intent clear in this instance. Creating articles that are indeed Rocky is not an , whatever quality they may be. Creating an article to compete with or insult another user can result in the article's deletion, but a short, if existent, ban.
• Evading previous blocks with new account.
  • This can be considered a form of sockpuppetry, but if the account is created to keep contributing, even though the user was previously blocked, it is an analogy of a jailbreak, however the intention may be.
  • If you create an account to appeal a ban, the account still has a risk of being blocked indefinitely as a sockpuppet. You should plead your case via email, IRC, or placing an unblock template on your talk page. Please give a valid reason, and an administrator will likely notice your request and act on it.
• Suspicious username
  • A suspicious username could be something resembling another user's name, though this is not always intentional. The name could also declare vandalism or offend another user. In these cases, the accounts can be assumed vandals or disruptors and should be warned after the first contribution, and banned if any vandalism comes from the account.
  • In the cases that the username may contain a part of another user's name, the resemblance may be coincidental. If the usernames create confusion among one another, a message should be left on the newer user's talk page suggesting a name change. If the account is not overwhelmingly similar to another user, the suggestion may be declined, unless a significant majority in the community favour a change in a username.
  • Some usernames are blatantly obvious of intentions. Account names clearly saying something offensive about another user should immediately banned.
• Spamming
  • This is advertising another site or page that disrupts the community. Also, advertising a candidate for an election or a new article on an irrelevant talk page should also be prohibited, but only blocked if persistent after warnings. Blocks in this instance could range from hours to infinite, depending on the severity.

Please note:

• Some users have not stumbled upon the page discussing this matter, and the first can be forgiven if the problem does not persist and the user apologises or justifies his mistake. Please assume good faith. Users can change in intent, and minor offences that are not directly defacing the website should not have indefinite blocks.

Duration of bans

Failure to follow article guidelines

Failure to follow article guidelines is when a user is told by an administrator to properly use the manual of style and layout guide, yet they do not listen.

• First offence: Warning
• Second offence: Warning #2
• Third offence: 1 week ban
• Fourth offence: 1 month ban
• Fifth offence: 1 year ban
• Sixth offence: Permanent ban

Page blanking and page moving

Page blanking is when a user deliberately blanks a page that was not created by them for no good reason. Page moving is when a user deliberately moves a page that is not their own to something else, not in good faith or for their own advantage.

• First offence: Warning
• Second offence: Warning #2
• Third offence: 1 week ban
• Fourth offence: 1 month ban
• Fifth offence: 1 year ban
• Sixth offence: Permanent ban

Personal attacks

Personal attacks are when a user makes a personal attack against another user.

• First offence: Warning
• Third offence: 1 week ban
• Fourth offence: 1 month ban
• Fifth offence: 1 year ban
• Sixth offence: Permanent ban

Sockpuppeting

Sockpuppeting is when a user uses a sockpuppet to get around Rocky Wiki, to either evade a block or just to "start of new". This is not allowed.

• First : Permanent ban (for sockpuppet); 1 week ban for actual user account.
• Second : Permanent ban (for sockpuppet); 1 month ban for actual user account.
• Third offence: Permanent ban (for sockpuppet); 1 year ban for actual user account.
• Fourth offence: Permanent ban for both sockpuppet and actual user account

Spamming

Spamming is when a non-constructive and/or pointless message is being posted on several talk pages or even forums, and the user posting it doesn't comply to stop.

• First offence: Warning
• Second offence: Warning #2
• Third offence: 1 week ban
• Fourth offence: 1 month ban
• Fifth offence: 1 year ban
• Sixth offence: Permanent ban

Vandalism

Vandalism is any kind of vandalism on any of the above topics, or just vandalizing any article, user page, talk page, forum or template. Vandalism can vary on the punishment.

• Posted gibberish on pages, non vulgar or explicit: Warning
• Repeated: 1 week ban
• Posted some sort of explicity or vulgar item, such as cuss words meant to degrade page they defaced, uploading porn, etc: Permanent ban

Notes about America Online (AOL)

America Online (AOL) is a widely used ISP that uses a special caching system to assign IPs to users. These IPs change rapidly because they are assigned per page, and not per user. Blocks applied to these IPs should be fairly short (around 1 day) to avoid potential collateral damage. It should be noted that AOL gives its service in USA, Canada and United Kingdom.