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
Such a block should always be immediately followed by opening a discussion on their user talk. A block template provided automatically by Twinkle is not enough, and waiting for them to open the discussion and ping you is not enough.
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
Such a block should always be immediately followed by opening a discussion on their user talk. A block template provided automatically by Twinkle is not enough, and waiting for them to open the discussion and ping you is not enough.
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
- Ongoing problematic behavior that the editor has refused to discuss