User:Acalamari/Warning Removals
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 | This page in a nutshell: Repeatedly removing user warning messages is considered vandalism |
Talk Page Warning Removals[edit]
Recently, there have been discussions about whether the removal of warnings from talk pages is vandalism or not. There have also been edit wars on talk pages. This proposal would consider the removal of Level 2 warnings and higher as vandalism, and would make the blanking of a talk page full of any level warnings vandalism as well.
For example, if a talk page is filled with any level warnings, and a user decides to blank the page, that would be vandalism. Deleting one or more Level-2 or higher warnings would be vandalism. However, removing Level-1 warnings would not be considered vandalism, as those warnings are more like notices than actual warnings.
If a user removes non-Level 1 warnings, is reverted, and then continues to delete the messages, they will be blocked for 3RR violations. If they come off the block, and continue to remove the warnings, they will be given a longer block; or, depending on the circumstances, be given an indefinite block if it is a vandalism-only account.
IP addresses will not be given indefinite blocks; no matter how many times they remove warnings; as most IPs are shared. An indefinite block on an IP would lead to the blocking of good-faith editors. IPs would have to be given expiring blocks only, and possibly have their talk pages semi-protected while the block is in effect.
As well as warnings, the removal of "You have been blocked for..." messages would also be considered vandalism. Even though any user can go into another user's block log to see how many times they've been blocked, it's still vandalism to remove the "blocked for..." notices, as they are still a warning: a warning to avoid getting blocked again.
Legitimate removal[edit]
If a warning is placed on a user's talk page, but the recipient did not vandalize, and can prove it, the warning can be removed, as it's a false warning. Users who did not vandalize can remove warnings from their talk pages: this will not count as vandalism as long as they can prove they did not vandalize.
If a third-party notices this legitimate removal of warnings and intervenes by reverting it, the user with the warnings should inform the reverting user why they removed the warnings from their own talk page. This step should be taken to avoid an edit war.