RetroTechCollection:Blocking policy
 | This page is a RetroTechCollection policy. All editors should follow it. Propose changes on the Village Pump before making them. |
A block stops an account or IP address from editing RetroTechCollection. Blocks are made by administrators. This page sets out when and how blocks are used; it follows section 7 of the Terms of Use, and where the two differ, the Terms of Use apply.
When users are blocked
[edit source]For most violations the steps are:
- information about the relevant policy
- a formal warning on the user's talk page
- restricted editing rights
- a short block of 24 to 72 hours
- a longer block of up to one month
- an indefinite block, pending review
- a permanent ban
Some violations lead to an immediate block without warnings:
- illegal content, which also leads to a permanent ban (Terms of Use, section 5.3.1)
- threats, and legal threats against the wiki or its users
- vandalism and spam
- evading a block with another account or IP address
- repeatedly uploading uncited copyrighted material, or uploading again material removed at the copyright holder's request
Accounts found to belong to someone under 13 are closed (Terms of Use, section 2.1).
Warnings are left on the user's talk page. Administrators may use Twinkle's warning templates, which escalate through four levels; see RetroTechCollection:TW.
What a block covers
[edit source]A block can cover the whole wiki, or only particular pages or namespaces. It can also stop the user creating new accounts, and where necessary stop them editing their own talk page. Other restrictions, such as a ban from a subject area or from interacting with a particular user, are recorded on the user's talk page.
Appeals
[edit source]An appeal should acknowledge the violation, explain why the block was wrong or is no longer needed, commit to following the rules, and be civil.
- Appeal first to the administrator who made the block. Blocked users can usually still edit their own talk page, or can email [email protected].
- If that fails, appeal to another administrator, where there is one.
- The final appeal is to [email protected].
- After a final appeal is declined, wait 6 months before appealing again.
An appeal can end in an unblock, an unblock with conditions, a decline with reasons, or a decline with no further appeal. There is no appeal against a ban for illegal content.
The block log is public: Special:Log/block.