User:Valereee/How to use blocks
This is an essay on best practices for using blocks on well-intentioned editors. This excludes vandals, single-purpose accounts, sockpuppets, and other editors who are WP:NOTHERE to build an encyclopedia.
Blocks are intended to prevent damage and never as punishment. When blocking a well-intentioned editor who is behaving badly, the least restrictive block that prevents the issue from continuing should be used.
Limited duration blocks
Blocks of limited duration are often suggested as a consequence for bad behavior. This is considered punitive. Blocks of limited duration should be used to prevent ongoing issues that are expected to be short-term by their very nature, such as edit-warring. Examples of appropriate short-term blocks include:
- Partial block from a single article to prevent ongoing edit-warring
Indefinite blocks
Idefinite blocks are not somehow harsher than limited duration blocks. Indefinite blocks are used to force an editor to address a behavioral problem in order to become unblocked. Examples of appropriate indefinite blocks include:
- Partial block from an article to force an editor to discuss at article talk
- Partial block from article space to force an editor to address concerns at their own user talk
- Partial block from Wikipedia space to enforce a topic ban from that area
Full indefinite blocks
A full, indefinite block of a well-intended user should be rare. Examples of appropriate full, indefinite blocks include:
- An egregious personal attack
- An egregiously problematic statement in a discussion or edit summary
- Ongoing problematic behavior that continues after having been discussed on their user talk