Moderation:Policy Discussion/Vandal Banning

=Purpose= This policy aims at changing the Moderation Guidelines to allow moderators more flexibility on issuing warnings and bans. This specifically looks at the Banning of Users section.

Current Guidelines
Banning of Users is restricted to Moderators due to security reasons - a conflict between two users could easily escalate to a constant ban war if such power were available to all users. The following guidelines indicate when Moderators may Ban users. When a Moderator warns or bans a user, the action should be noted on the Moderation/Vandal Data page.

Moderators may only ban users who consistently vandalise wiki pages. This is typically the alteration of a wiki page not in good faith. Impersonating another user via the use of misleading signature tags or any other method is also considered vandalism. A Moderator is expected to warn the user twice (in response to at least two different edits) on their talk page before administering a ban. Some pages may have specific rules as to their usage, and consistent and flagrant disregard for those rules may also be considered vandalism.

Bans shall be escalating in nature, the first being for 24 hours, the second being for 48 hours, the third being a week, the fourth being a month, and the fifth being indefinite. A Moderator may also choose to ban the IP of a user on this scale, should the user attempt to circumvent the ban.

Due to the time-sensitive nature of Vandalism, it is not expected that the Moderator gain community approval before banning vandals. It is, however, expected that a Moderator ban those who clearly act against the community's wishes, and be prepared to reverse a ban should the community desire it. It is part of a Moderator's responsibility to ban any vandals they find on the wiki, subject to the guidelines above.

Purposed Guidelines
Banning of Users is restricted to Moderators due to security reasons - a conflict between two users could easily escalate to a constant ban war if such power were available to all users. The following guidelines indicate when Moderators may Ban users. When a Moderator warns or bans a user, the action and reason why should be noted on the Moderation/Vandal Data page.

Moderators may only ban users who consistently vandalise wiki pages. This is typically the alteration of a wiki page not in good faith. Impersonating another user via the use of misleading signature tags or any other method is also considered vandalism. A moderator is expected to use their best sense of judgement as to how to deal with the vandalism and the user. It is however expected that the moderator inform the user of their vandalism and why it is vandalism before issuing bans where appropiate. Some pages may have specific rules as to their usage, and consistent and flagrant disregard for those rules may also be considered vandalism.

The length of bans can be decided by the moderator, however if it is found that a moderator is constantly giving excessive bans for comparative small offenses then the moderator may stand to loose their position. A Moderator may also choose to ban the IP of a user on this scale, should the user attempt to circumvent the ban. It is mandatory that for a non-time-sensitive attack that a moderator must post a report the Moderation:Vandal Banning page and allow another moderator to deal with it.

Due to the time-sensitive nature of Vandalism, it is not expected that the Moderator gain community approval before banning vandals. It is, however, expected that a Moderator ban those who clearly act against the community's wishes, and be prepared to reverse a ban should the community desire it. It is part of a Moderator's responsibility to ban any vandals they find on the wiki, subject to the guidelines above.