Note: This RFC has been closed and re-opened.
I request that this Rfc is closed for the minute to give User:Betacommand time to explain his actions RyanPostlethwaiteSee the mess I've created or let's have banter 22:54, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
Now reopened RyanPostlethwaiteSee the mess I've created or let's have banter 01:33, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
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Betacommand needs to not make inappropriate blocks any more.
Betacommand is a very established administrator who does great service to wikipedia in stopping some very clear username violations from being able to edit. However, over the past week, there have been many usernames blocked by him that are in no way violation of username policy (it should be noted, that these blocks were meant in good faith).
Betacommand originally blocked these editors on site, without a request for comment;
This was followed up with WP:RFCN's being filed by concerned editors and requests for betacommand to comment were put on his talk page. He did comment on a couple of these names here.
Depite concerns being raised at this point, there has been continued blocking of users without requests for comment;
By blocking these users, it is highly likely that they will stay away from the project even though they may have been potentially very good editors. RyanPostlethwaiteSee the mess I've created or let's have banter 22:29, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
Post the initial RFC filing there has been 2 discussions on WP:AN/I regarding this [1] [2]. Beta command has continued to block users without consenting the community and post discussion with him, the following blocks have been placed upon users for username violations that do not appear to be against WP:U
There has also been a suspected sock puppet case in which Betacommand blocked users without sufficient evidence that they were socks, the users in question are;
There has also been questions of blocks raised in November 2006 for username blocks
Once again, I reiterate that these blocks were meant in good faith, however, the community has given betacommand admin tools with the understanding that he understands policy fully, however, there is evidence to suggest that he does not understand WP:U, by which he has placed most of his blocks RyanPostlethwaiteSee the mess I've created or let's have banter 01:32, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
(Provide diffs. Links to entire articles aren't helpful unless the editor created the entire article. Edit histories also aren't helpful as they change as new edits are performed.)
When this topic came up recently, I suggested that Betacommand hold off on blocking while it's being discussed. He did not respond. More recently, I outright asked if he would stop blocking. He did not respond. Taking a quick glance through my previously communications with Betacommand, I found the thread at User_talk:Betacommand/20061017#Reasons_for_block_of_User:Respect_My_Authoritah.21_.3F dating back to early November. Here, there were inappropriate username blocks mentioned. Betacommand did participate in this thread, but never said anything resembling "Whoops, I'll be more careful from now on". Looking at his blocks since that time, it's clear he's still not using adequate judgment. Friday (talk) 15:13, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
This is perhaps not the identical issue, but closely related: WP:RFCN saw a number of Betacommand's username blocks for which we simply could not see any WP:U violation, and for which Betacommand had recorded no specific reason beyond "usernameblock". My suggestion to Betacommand on his talk page (21 February 2007) was that he use the optional parameter in the ((usernameblock)) template to specify the exact reason (not just "usernameblock") when blocking. This received no reply. My other comment on his talk page (22 February 2007) was that he had left account creation blocked when requiring username changes by users he had blocked, despite the fact this left them unable to create new accounts to comply with his instruction. "I didn't try counting how many blocks need to be revisited to enable account creation, but it looks like a lot. Will you be able to fix this on your own?" This also received no reply. These topics came up again in the "WP:RFCN has lost its marbles" thread on WP:ANI (in comments 25-26 February 2007, specifically [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]), where I repeated the comments and again received no direct reply -- though Betacommand did address one of those issues when replying to another: "In regard to the account creation issue that was a bug in the code that I use for blocking users this was raised and I fixed it." This leaves unclear whether all the users already blocked have had their account creation re-enabled. I have no personal problem with Betacommand, I commend his devoting so much energy to his work for the community, I am not requesting or suggesting any kind of rebuke or other disciplinary action, I would prefer this entire discussion remain non-adversarial, but I would like to know that any remaining old account creation blocks are revisited and fixed where appropriate, that questionable blocks get explained, and that henceforth the specific reasons will accompany the blocks -- because so far the one most common pattern I've been able to see in these blocked usernames is that many contain punctuation or other non-alphanumeric characters, which isn't a WP:U violation; this leaves me uncertain that we're playing by the same rulebook. -- Ben 08:41, 1 March 2007 (UTC)
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I would like to begin my summary by making one thing clear: Betacommand is a very valuable administrator and editor, who has contributed a lot to this project. His relentless blocking of inappropriate usernames has been very useful to the work of other admins and editors, and can only be applauded. Over ninety percent of these blocks are uncontested and uncontestable: those usernames are clearly inappropriate, and Betacommand was very right in blocking them. However, over the past week and a half, Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User names has been flooded with contested username blocks by Betacommand, almost all of which were overruled. One erroneous block can be an error, two as well, but this is just too much. This needs to be addressed. The suggestion has been made that Betacommand was using some kind of bot or script to block usernames based on patterns. This is plausible, since e.g. Chrisgodwin (talk · contribs) seems to have been blocked for the use of the word god in the name. Betacommand was blocked for the use of an unauthorized bot on November 28, 2006. The possibility that he has done this again needs to be addressed as well.
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In my outside view, I wrote:
I believe that it has been established that Betacommand has used a script to report suspicious usernames, and that he has subsequently manually blocked those reported usernames that he deemed inappropriate. I believe that this is permitted under Wikipedia:Scripts. I feel that this particular issue has been addressed and resolved. AecisBrievenbus 11:58, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
A very legitimate concern has been raised here but use of the RfC procedure seems premature. Suggestions regarding Betacommand's procedure for making username blocks have been raised on his talkpage as recently as today and he has not yet had a chance to respond to them. I suggest that this RfC be withdrawn or held in abeyance for a few days to see if the matter can be resolved via ordinary talkpage discussion. I would also urge that Betacommand make only obvious username blocks during that time. Newyorkbrad 22:02, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
I have a couple of issues with Betacommand's actions. 1) His consistant use of vague (Please read our username policy and choose another name) log entries and the equally vague ((usernameblocked)) on the user's talk pages. 2) Although he has answered some of the issues brought to his attention; it does not appear that he has made resolving this dispute any kind of priority.
There are two very simple things he could do which I believe would go a long way here. 1) He has this great page which lists suspicious usernames. If he could simply incoporate that information into ((usernameblocked)) or the block log, one of the biggest objections to his methods would be resolved. 2) Filling out a response to this RfC would be another acknowledgement that he intends to resolve this dispute. Since the dispute has been certified I feel he obligated to at least do that. My best case scenario would be that his response would explain the cost benifit analysis to his method of blocking usernames and he would suggest an appropriate method for either handling borderline cases before a block or reviewing them afterwards.
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My major concern with Betacommands actions were how he was choosing names to block and how he was blocking them. There are many instances in Betacommands block log where he will block 10+ editors per minute, all with the same edit summary. He may be using a script but i find it really hard to review each case and make sure a block is appropriate before issuing a block when there is less than 6 seconds between each block. is a recent example at 14:43. Looking through the bloclk log there are many many more instances of username blocks that are not obvious, however handed out in rapid fire. As well, after a recent perusing of the block log, WP:RFCN at the time of this post has several names block by beta which have no apparent policy violation. The previous hubub of his actions have not been addressed and are being continues.-- Chrislk02 (Chris Kreider) 17:35, 26 March 2007 (UTC)
This RFC hasn't been edited in well over a week, and has since been superceded by Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Betacommand. I suggest closing this RFC. AecisBrievenbus 10:45, 8 April 2007 (UTC)
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