Changes: Help:Blocking

Revision as of 23:55, 28 January 2021

Administrators can block registered and anonymous users (by blocking accounts and individual IP addresses, respectively) to prevent them from editing a wiki. Blocked users can only browse articles. Administrators may choose to restrict a registered user's ability to use their message wall or talk page.

Why block?

Users can be blocked for many reasons. Blocks are usually given for:

Vandalism, such as inserting false information.
Spamming.
Repeatedly adding pages that violate copyright.
Abusing user rights.
Harassing or insulting other users.
Offensive or misleading usernames/avatars and refusing to change them.
Impersonating another person.
Breaking other policies.

Each community may have its own blocking policies. However, blocking should not be considered a standard disciplinary measure. Admins are advised to discuss the matter with the user first, warning them about the consequences of their behavior and blocking if the warning does no effect.

In most cases, a short block should be enough to resolve the matter. IP addresses should never be blocked for longer periods of time, to avoid situations where a dynamic IP is used by a completely different user and they find themselves unable to edit.

How to block?

File:UCP block.png

A Special:Block Page

Users can be blocked through the Special:Block:

Enter the username or IP address of the user or IP you want to block.
Select an expiry time for the block. Blocks are usually best kept as short as possible. You can customize the block duration by typing it in the box. Infinite blocks can be made this way by typing infinite or indefinite in the box.
Enter a reason for the block. If a suitable reason isn't in the drop-down, then type it into the box below. Remember that the reason will be public, so keep it clear, informative, and polite.
An IP block will block all users with that IP, whether they are logged in or not. Because IPs can be shared, you can leave logged in users unaffected by the block by leaving the box "Prevent logged-in users from editing from this IP address" in the bottom section of the block page unchecked.
If a logged-in user is blocked, they can try to evade the block by logging out and editing anonymously. To prevent this, you can set the block to include the IP address that the logged-in user is using. Check the box marked "Automatically block the last IP address used by this user, and any subsequent IPs they try to edit from".
The blocked user can be prevented from editing their Message Wall by selecting the "Prevent this user from posting on their Message Wall while blocked" option.

Click "Block this user" to complete the block.

Note that the form also includes useful links that allow you to edit the block reasons template, access the unblock page, or review active blocks.

Blocking the right user

When selecting which user to block, keep in mind:

Usernames are exact and case sensitive. The easiest way to ensure you're blocking the right user is to copy and paste the username from elsewhere on the wiki into the Block box.
IP addresses can be blocked using either the IPv4 or IPv6 format. As with usernames, you should only block the exact IP address used by the offending user, or else the block won't work.
For vandalism or spam coming from very similar IP addresses, a "range block" may be appropriate. However, this should be done sparingly. See the "Should we block ranges?" section on the blocking FAQ page for details.
You may also request to check user IPs if a range block may be appropriate for your situation or not. See "How can I request an IP check?".

How to appeal a block?

If you feel you have been unfairly blocked, first contact the person who blocked you. Show them the entire message you get when you attempt to edit a page so that they can investigate the matter and unblock you if they believe the block was made in error.

A list of admins on each community can be found by going to the Special:ListAdmins page on that wiki. If you are unable to edit at all on the wiki, you can leave a message on Community Central to the admin of the wiki you're blocked from.

If the block is upheld, the best course of action is to simply wait out the block, perhaps contributing to a different wiki. Repeatedly asking admins for unblocking or leaving multiple messages to that same end may be considered harassment and have the exact opposite effect.

In some circumstances, such as when the block reason violates Fandom's Terms of Use, you may contact Fandom support for advice. However, Fandom staff will generally not interfere with local communities and their admins by unblocking users without prior consultation.

Common block summaries

The drop-down reasons for blocking are editable at MediaWiki:Ipbreason-dropdown. By default these include:

Inserting false information
Abusing multiple accounts
Spamming links to external sites
Intimidating behavior/harassment
Removing content from pages
Inserting nonsense/gibberish into pages
Unacceptable username

Further help and feedback

Browse and search other help pages at Help:Contents
Check Fandom Community Central for sources of further help and support
Check Contacting Fandom for how to report any errors or unclear steps in this article

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