I support this too. It's also too bad users can't at least be safe from the Fair Use Nazis in their own userspace, but apparently the paranoid legal environment on WP is too gutless to stand up to the ridiculousness. (Sorry, am I sounding a little bitter? I had an image vandalized off of removed from my userpage which was a screenshot from a 17-year-old Sega game whose
publisher went out of business 12 years ago... But that's a rant for somewhere else. Yes, I do understand that was absolutely correct under current policy. I'm just saying the policy is insane and trying to make a martyr of WP for political reasons.) -
Daniel Pritchard05:58, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
Support. I would prefer if admins ability to edit userpages were also restricted, but this policy is still a massive improvement over the status quo. Mgekelly - Talk09:13, 2 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support, why should other users need to edit your user page? This measure will effectively make it impossible for anybody to vandalise a userspace.
Dan198019:31, 5 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support because all Wiki users hate it if they click on their History page and find a IP address or vandal edit your userpage in a bad way (Trust me, I know how it feels like). And, I really hate it, and YOU do as well, so, SUPPORT!
Weirdy07:45, 21 May 2006 (UTC).reply
Support. My userpage has been vandalized with insults and pornographic material several times and there is still not an effective way to prevent this.
Rosa09:31, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support. There are some strong arguments in the oppose section here, but I would respectfully disagree. My user page is not a place for everyone, it is a place for me only. If others want to make comments regarding my activities or contact me for some reason then they can use my discussion page. In theory it would be nice if we could just amend the guidelines cited here, but in practise this will do absolutely nothing to curtail vandals.
DrunkenSmurf18:18, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support My reasons are the same as DrunkenSmurf's. P.S. If anyone is wondering whether I am a
sock puppet due to this username's recent creation, I have merely transferred accounts into my real name account. I was formerly known as
Dilbert3.
MickeyK20:47, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support, but only if it is an opt-in feature. Users should be able to choose whether or not they want their userpage(s) to be protected. ~Mr Inky · (
T@C)15:13, 28 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support,
Greg L. I don't see how qualified support would work (allowing for minor spelling or grammar corrections). If a user has a poor userpage, let's go ahead and let them advertise their lack of attention to detail. No one has any business messing with another's userpage.
I believe that this policy might work, with the following exceptions: 1) people are allowed to make minor spelling or grammar corrections to others' userpages 2) barnstars and other awards may be presented. Also, editing another's userpage shouldn't be completely locked out (technically), but there could be a bot that automatically reverts all changes that do not have a certain syntax (e.g. typing "changing another's userpage - blah blah blah" in the edit summary). If it does have the syntax, then the bot can list the diff on a log, and patrollers can review and remove listings in the log. --
King of♥♦♣♠01:10, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
I like all The restrictions above but I do Believe your User Space is not Yours. And Your user Page should be mainly Wikipedia related. I think Only User pages that have been Vandalized more than once (One person several times in a row should not count) should have protected User pages. Main User pages should mostly have Wikipedia content and sub-pages with some more personal stuff.--
E-Bod20:51, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
I support users being able to change spelling and grammar on a user page, but nothing else (contents of a user page). Since my own user page has recently been vandalized twice (by a user that was not logged in; adding complete crap to it (but in grammatically sound English!)), you can understand why.--
JorisvS16:14, 1 May 2006 (UTC)reply
I would like this only if I get to choose wheather it is protected and which subpages are protected. Also the user talk page must be unprotected.
Zoohoo21:01, 13 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support With Protest The user pages should only be available to edit to the users, Administrators should require permissions to edit someone elses user page from a hiarchy of other Administrators to insure fairness.
Almost Famous07:26, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
A user page is effectively a wiki-related user profile. There should not be the scope for others to rewrite details relating to a given author, and I fail to see why anyone would want to have their user page altered (yes, even spelling/grammar : this can be notified through talk page, and in any case spelling and grammar is an expression of the individual). However, talk pages should always be open for editing (as they are the only method of contact if there is no public email address given). Instead of fixed always-on protection for all users, allow a user to protect/unprotect pages related to their own profiles (except talk) as they see fit?
Tobermory18:40, 14 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support, but only if userpages are semi-protected by default. That way, established users can fix errors, but it stops most vandals. It also has the side effect of not allowing the user to edit their user page for four days, which personally I think is a good thing, as it requires users to focus on the enclyopedia first, and have a user page second, and not to come here, spend time setting up their user page first, before contributing (and many people only do the first step, and not the second). Regards,
MartinRe12:05, 23 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support but authorised users (or bots) should be able to edit user pages containing images, articles or templates that have moved, to point them to the right place.
Waggers11:06, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support as per Tobermory. Allow users the choice of protecting or un-protecting their pages. This will allow useful edits but will allow a user to safeguard their page if it is repeatedly vandalised. Personally, I would keep mine open to editing but I would prefer to have the choice.--
TDE13:22, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support in principle, but only if users can choose whether to protect/unprotect their own pages, per the various concerns above. The semi-protect idea sounds good too.
BryanG(talk) 20:22, 26 May 2006 (UTC) Changed to oppose.
BryanG(talk)20:10, 9 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Only if sub-pages are excluded. I quite often take user subpages out of the Wikipedia category space. Users often put fork articles into the category system by this means, as user subpages are rarely nominated for deletion.
CalJW22:15, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support as per Tobermory I believe this is a good Idea that will Reduce Stress on Admins and Reduce Vandalism in General, however another idea is to Prevent Removal of Warnings by the warned editor also, however I don't know if that's possible. --
Corporal Punishment00:59, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support in principle, but only if users can choose whether to protect/unprotect their own pages, per the various concerns above.
Tibi0811:26, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support if the user has the option of turning user page protection on and off. I like it when people edit my user page, so of course I'd have protection off. However, the people who want it can have it turned on. —
THIS IS MESSEDOCKER(TALK)21:30, 28 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Partial support, users should be able to choose whether they want people to be able to write to their user pages and sub pages (but not talk). This fixes collaboration and if people want to be able to have others correct spelling etc. they still can. Maybe a reverting bot would be a good way of doing this, then people can throw up barnstars and helpful edits and if I am interested I can watchlist the userpage and see if someone put up something nice.
Lundse14:07, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support as long as the feature can be turned on/off on a "global" or per-page/subpage basis, except user talk pages which should remain editable. --
Heptite(T)(C)(@)22:49, 1 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Support with modification It should indeed an optional feature, left to the user's discretion to use or not. I know i would use it.
Frankff22:37, 19 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Support with modification I think this isn't a bad idea, if the following modifications are made: The User has a choice for each page in their user space, except the User Talk page, of whether they want to block all edits, block all but minor edits (and can follow up on major edits disguised as minor), or allow all edits by other users. I'd also like to note that this solves a lot of objections raised by those who opposed, so if this vote fails to achieve consensus, (as appears to be likely), it would be a good idea to put it back in in a modified version to determine whether that version would be suitable. ---
DrLeebot17:44, 21 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose
Oppose this proposal but not necessarily its content. A new proposal is the wrong way to go about this; it's sufficient simply to refine the wording already found at
Wikipedia:User pages#Ownership and editing of pages in the user space. Feel free to strengthen the language found there as you see fit. This is a wiki; be bold. If you are reasonably moderate then I doubt anyone will object. There is no need to treat this as a change in policy; we already manage user pages in this way, generally speaking. If you have a specific dispute with a specific editor who edited your user page; or perhaps you simply don't want anybody to edit it, ever, then it's easy enough to resolve this. If you need help then please feel free to
talk to me or request admin assistance.
John Reid04:44, 20 April 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose, especially because of the subpages part. Lots good collaboration starts in userspace. And even with the main userpage, many editors invite modification by others. Is rampant userpage vandalism such a dire problem?--
ragesoss01:42, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose given that vandalism will find its way elsewhere. I'd far rather have the contents of my userpage changed by someone messing with me than have that person take their grievance to another more public page. My own userpage, I monitor. Other pages at WP, it's hit or miss. Besides, as noted above, there are productive reasons for non-admins to edit pages--sometimes I get cranky at people taking liberties, but I've had people edit my userpage to reaim links after page moves, for example, and I see no reason to prohibit this. I don't see a need for a rule here: exercise
Wikipedia:Wikilove,
Wikipedia:Wikiquette, revert the vandals, protect userpages (briefly) in extreme cases of repeat vandalism, and otherwise go on with the project.
Jwrosenzweig02:17, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose per Jwrosenzweig. It might be good for people to be allowed to semiprotect userpages, but I personally appreciate people editing my userpage, for things like substing userboxes. As a relatively new user who doesn't get userpage vandalism but sometimes doesn't notice right away when a userbox I use gets deleted, I think that if something like this exists, it should be optional. --
Clarinetplayer03:51, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose Gives special power to admins. Other users may also want to edit a user's page to fix spelling mistakes and link errors.
Cedars06:01, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose Wikipedia is a Wiki. Sometimes I see little mistakes on people's pages that just need changing. When it is vandalised, just revert the vandalism. Takes two ticks -
• The Giant Puffin •09:25, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strongly oppose. 1) Vandalism- can be easily reverted; userpage vandalism is normally very easy to spot. Existing semi-protection and full protection can be applied to pages that particularly need it. 2) 'Intrusive edits'- well edits to userpages are either vandalism (see 1), following policy (e.g. removing fair use images, if you disagree with that then argue about that particular policy rather than stopping userpages being edited at all), or welcome (see next point). 3) A lot of edits to the userspace are totally welcome. For example see
User:Banes, which contains an autograph box. Many (subpages in particular) are indented to be used by more than just the user. For example RFA noms prepared in advance, proposed programs, admin coaching, other people helping with userpage design (like mine!) etc. 4) Per above comments, no new policy is needed. Talk about updating existing one if needed (not needed in my opinion). 5) Per Merovingian, there are far more important technical issues to sort out. On that note I will finish this rant...
Petros47112:27, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strong oppose. Most edits to userpages that aren't by the user are bad, some aren't (bot edits substing about-to-be-deleted templates, say?), and the bad ones get reverted quickly. The additional load on vandal-killers doesn't justify protection, except in severe cases. —
Simetrical (
talk •
contribs)
20:39, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose not a problem that needs solving. It won't stop user page vandalism, since the vandals aren't listening anyway.
HidingTalk20:41, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose - We already have a problem with people using userpages as free webspace - making them editable only by one person would only magnify this problem.
JesseW, the juggling janitor 03:06, 27 May 2006 (UTC)
Strongly Oppose - Maybe this is a tad zero-sum but seems unbalanced to protect the user namespace from damage that otherwise would be directed at the main namespace. Nowhere easier to detect, and determine, and revert vandalism than on the userpage. And userpage vandalism is on pages generally away from the viewing public. Protecting the userpage weakens WP. --
Henge05:21, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose I own my userpage, and wouldn't expect people to just go and make edits willy nilly. But if someone wanted to correct a spelling mistake, add some useful info, or even (hint, hint) add a Barnstart - that's fine by me (If I don't like their changes, I just revert). We don't need this policy, and we don't even need the existing policy, its all covered by common sense (or
WP:DICK)
Captainj22:49, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose - there is a gazillion good reasons to edit another user's userpage. Just a couple of them: typos, barnstars, removing fair use images, re-designing the page, leaving a haiku poem, adding "sockpuppet" and similar templates, saying bye bye to a user who has left the project, etc. etc. Also, one of the principles of wikipedia is that no one ownes a page. I think that includes userpages because Wikipedia is not MySpace. I agree that userpage vandalism is nasty, but I see no way to alow all these legitimate userpage edits. Unless you want to create a huge instruction creep which would waist everyone's life.
Renata17:15, 28 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strong Oppose. Users should be able to userfy pages without having to get an admin to do it for them. Furthermore, users should be able to remove fair use images when the owner of the user page has been given ample amount of time to do so but hasn't (for whatever reason, not online, etc). Occasionally I'll see users add indef blocked templates that an admin has forgotten to add. Besides, user page vandalism is easily reverted. Having to go to an admin to fix minor issues like userfying and removing FU images adds more bureaucracy and work for the admins. Also, as stated above, it is not wiki-like.--
PS2pcGAMER (
talk)
10:24, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose. Plenty of viable reasons to edit someone's userpage, as mentioned above. "If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly" applies to userpages too. Reverting userpage vandalism is simple.
drseudo (
t)
22:30, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose. The open nature of Wikipedia gets corroded no matter which way you view restrictions in general.
A user gets guidance for his own page and can copy from other user pages. Blocking access will prevent this.
In general, the revert mechanism prevents the vandals from carrying out any kind of lasting damage. So why bother to tie ourselves in chains, viewing vandalism as an overhead for freedom is a better way to go.
User page vandalism is extremely irritating but harmless, and I feel inconsequential to the user of Wikipedia. Article vandalism is more serious as a viewer may see vandalised pages. Reverts protect articles from lasting damage. Dont make basic wikipedia policy, that is to make a new kind of 'normal' (as opposed to special) wikipages with restrictions, based on considerations of the user community alone.
Weak-ish Oppose. Maybe because I haven't had vandalism on my page, but also because I use other people's user page as examples for cool things to do (or not to do)...
JByrd21:23, 30 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose per
WP:USERPAGE. There are sometimes very good reasons for editing another person's userpage - e.g. if nominating an image for deletion,
WP:IFD states that you should add 'this image is up for deletion...' to the caption. Although it is generally accepted that editing another person's userpage is generally to be avoided, approving this policy/guideline (whatever it is) would undermine both
WP:OWN and the wiki spirit itself.
Cynical23:37, 30 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose per several reasons stated above. Clearly not everybody wants their userpage protected, and this policy is kind of universal. If it were an optional thing that would be different. --
Niroht15:22, 31 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Unswayable Oppose. I don't mind if anons edit my userpages, even if it is vandalism. Hell, It's just making me revert it and get one more edit on my editcount.--
Ac1983fan (
talk •
contribs)
19:15, 8 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose. I've found a great deal of the opposers' comments above valid (especially Renata and PS2pcGAMER), and no longer feel I can even conditionally support this one.
WP:USER is enough already, it's not like it's hard to revert.
BryanG(talk)20:10, 9 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Neutral – I would support if user subpages were not protected, but cannot do so as the proposal stands. I would also prefer it to be a guideline rather than a policy –
Gurch08:23, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strong Neutral - This proposal is very unclear. Will this be some form of software-based protection? Users should certainly be able to opt-out of protection. This is critical for user subpages, which may contain content intended to be gernally editable, but is not really suitable for a main namespace page, or even a Wikipedia namespace page. The proposal really should be updated to adress these sorts of things.
Tacvek21:52, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
How could you even protect it yet still allow the user (if he's not an admin) to edit it, anyway? This proposal is not only a bad idea, it doesn't make sense. --
Rory09621:30, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
As the proposal has been running for over a month and is currently at 43 oppose vs 38 support(s), it looks clear that this is not going to pass, so I will take the liberty of marking this proposal as {{rejected}} Regards,
MartinRe10:52, 2 July 2006 (UTC)reply
I support this too. It's also too bad users can't at least be safe from the Fair Use Nazis in their own userspace, but apparently the paranoid legal environment on WP is too gutless to stand up to the ridiculousness. (Sorry, am I sounding a little bitter? I had an image vandalized off of removed from my userpage which was a screenshot from a 17-year-old Sega game whose
publisher went out of business 12 years ago... But that's a rant for somewhere else. Yes, I do understand that was absolutely correct under current policy. I'm just saying the policy is insane and trying to make a martyr of WP for political reasons.) -
Daniel Pritchard05:58, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
Support. I would prefer if admins ability to edit userpages were also restricted, but this policy is still a massive improvement over the status quo. Mgekelly - Talk09:13, 2 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support, why should other users need to edit your user page? This measure will effectively make it impossible for anybody to vandalise a userspace.
Dan198019:31, 5 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support because all Wiki users hate it if they click on their History page and find a IP address or vandal edit your userpage in a bad way (Trust me, I know how it feels like). And, I really hate it, and YOU do as well, so, SUPPORT!
Weirdy07:45, 21 May 2006 (UTC).reply
Support. My userpage has been vandalized with insults and pornographic material several times and there is still not an effective way to prevent this.
Rosa09:31, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support. There are some strong arguments in the oppose section here, but I would respectfully disagree. My user page is not a place for everyone, it is a place for me only. If others want to make comments regarding my activities or contact me for some reason then they can use my discussion page. In theory it would be nice if we could just amend the guidelines cited here, but in practise this will do absolutely nothing to curtail vandals.
DrunkenSmurf18:18, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support My reasons are the same as DrunkenSmurf's. P.S. If anyone is wondering whether I am a
sock puppet due to this username's recent creation, I have merely transferred accounts into my real name account. I was formerly known as
Dilbert3.
MickeyK20:47, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support, but only if it is an opt-in feature. Users should be able to choose whether or not they want their userpage(s) to be protected. ~Mr Inky · (
T@C)15:13, 28 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support,
Greg L. I don't see how qualified support would work (allowing for minor spelling or grammar corrections). If a user has a poor userpage, let's go ahead and let them advertise their lack of attention to detail. No one has any business messing with another's userpage.
I believe that this policy might work, with the following exceptions: 1) people are allowed to make minor spelling or grammar corrections to others' userpages 2) barnstars and other awards may be presented. Also, editing another's userpage shouldn't be completely locked out (technically), but there could be a bot that automatically reverts all changes that do not have a certain syntax (e.g. typing "changing another's userpage - blah blah blah" in the edit summary). If it does have the syntax, then the bot can list the diff on a log, and patrollers can review and remove listings in the log. --
King of♥♦♣♠01:10, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
I like all The restrictions above but I do Believe your User Space is not Yours. And Your user Page should be mainly Wikipedia related. I think Only User pages that have been Vandalized more than once (One person several times in a row should not count) should have protected User pages. Main User pages should mostly have Wikipedia content and sub-pages with some more personal stuff.--
E-Bod20:51, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
I support users being able to change spelling and grammar on a user page, but nothing else (contents of a user page). Since my own user page has recently been vandalized twice (by a user that was not logged in; adding complete crap to it (but in grammatically sound English!)), you can understand why.--
JorisvS16:14, 1 May 2006 (UTC)reply
I would like this only if I get to choose wheather it is protected and which subpages are protected. Also the user talk page must be unprotected.
Zoohoo21:01, 13 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support With Protest The user pages should only be available to edit to the users, Administrators should require permissions to edit someone elses user page from a hiarchy of other Administrators to insure fairness.
Almost Famous07:26, 19 April 2006 (UTC)reply
A user page is effectively a wiki-related user profile. There should not be the scope for others to rewrite details relating to a given author, and I fail to see why anyone would want to have their user page altered (yes, even spelling/grammar : this can be notified through talk page, and in any case spelling and grammar is an expression of the individual). However, talk pages should always be open for editing (as they are the only method of contact if there is no public email address given). Instead of fixed always-on protection for all users, allow a user to protect/unprotect pages related to their own profiles (except talk) as they see fit?
Tobermory18:40, 14 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support, but only if userpages are semi-protected by default. That way, established users can fix errors, but it stops most vandals. It also has the side effect of not allowing the user to edit their user page for four days, which personally I think is a good thing, as it requires users to focus on the enclyopedia first, and have a user page second, and not to come here, spend time setting up their user page first, before contributing (and many people only do the first step, and not the second). Regards,
MartinRe12:05, 23 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support but authorised users (or bots) should be able to edit user pages containing images, articles or templates that have moved, to point them to the right place.
Waggers11:06, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support as per Tobermory. Allow users the choice of protecting or un-protecting their pages. This will allow useful edits but will allow a user to safeguard their page if it is repeatedly vandalised. Personally, I would keep mine open to editing but I would prefer to have the choice.--
TDE13:22, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support in principle, but only if users can choose whether to protect/unprotect their own pages, per the various concerns above. The semi-protect idea sounds good too.
BryanG(talk) 20:22, 26 May 2006 (UTC) Changed to oppose.
BryanG(talk)20:10, 9 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Only if sub-pages are excluded. I quite often take user subpages out of the Wikipedia category space. Users often put fork articles into the category system by this means, as user subpages are rarely nominated for deletion.
CalJW22:15, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support as per Tobermory I believe this is a good Idea that will Reduce Stress on Admins and Reduce Vandalism in General, however another idea is to Prevent Removal of Warnings by the warned editor also, however I don't know if that's possible. --
Corporal Punishment00:59, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support in principle, but only if users can choose whether to protect/unprotect their own pages, per the various concerns above.
Tibi0811:26, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support if the user has the option of turning user page protection on and off. I like it when people edit my user page, so of course I'd have protection off. However, the people who want it can have it turned on. —
THIS IS MESSEDOCKER(TALK)21:30, 28 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Partial support, users should be able to choose whether they want people to be able to write to their user pages and sub pages (but not talk). This fixes collaboration and if people want to be able to have others correct spelling etc. they still can. Maybe a reverting bot would be a good way of doing this, then people can throw up barnstars and helpful edits and if I am interested I can watchlist the userpage and see if someone put up something nice.
Lundse14:07, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Support as long as the feature can be turned on/off on a "global" or per-page/subpage basis, except user talk pages which should remain editable. --
Heptite(T)(C)(@)22:49, 1 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Support with modification It should indeed an optional feature, left to the user's discretion to use or not. I know i would use it.
Frankff22:37, 19 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Support with modification I think this isn't a bad idea, if the following modifications are made: The User has a choice for each page in their user space, except the User Talk page, of whether they want to block all edits, block all but minor edits (and can follow up on major edits disguised as minor), or allow all edits by other users. I'd also like to note that this solves a lot of objections raised by those who opposed, so if this vote fails to achieve consensus, (as appears to be likely), it would be a good idea to put it back in in a modified version to determine whether that version would be suitable. ---
DrLeebot17:44, 21 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose
Oppose this proposal but not necessarily its content. A new proposal is the wrong way to go about this; it's sufficient simply to refine the wording already found at
Wikipedia:User pages#Ownership and editing of pages in the user space. Feel free to strengthen the language found there as you see fit. This is a wiki; be bold. If you are reasonably moderate then I doubt anyone will object. There is no need to treat this as a change in policy; we already manage user pages in this way, generally speaking. If you have a specific dispute with a specific editor who edited your user page; or perhaps you simply don't want anybody to edit it, ever, then it's easy enough to resolve this. If you need help then please feel free to
talk to me or request admin assistance.
John Reid04:44, 20 April 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose, especially because of the subpages part. Lots good collaboration starts in userspace. And even with the main userpage, many editors invite modification by others. Is rampant userpage vandalism such a dire problem?--
ragesoss01:42, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose given that vandalism will find its way elsewhere. I'd far rather have the contents of my userpage changed by someone messing with me than have that person take their grievance to another more public page. My own userpage, I monitor. Other pages at WP, it's hit or miss. Besides, as noted above, there are productive reasons for non-admins to edit pages--sometimes I get cranky at people taking liberties, but I've had people edit my userpage to reaim links after page moves, for example, and I see no reason to prohibit this. I don't see a need for a rule here: exercise
Wikipedia:Wikilove,
Wikipedia:Wikiquette, revert the vandals, protect userpages (briefly) in extreme cases of repeat vandalism, and otherwise go on with the project.
Jwrosenzweig02:17, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose per Jwrosenzweig. It might be good for people to be allowed to semiprotect userpages, but I personally appreciate people editing my userpage, for things like substing userboxes. As a relatively new user who doesn't get userpage vandalism but sometimes doesn't notice right away when a userbox I use gets deleted, I think that if something like this exists, it should be optional. --
Clarinetplayer03:51, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose Gives special power to admins. Other users may also want to edit a user's page to fix spelling mistakes and link errors.
Cedars06:01, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose Wikipedia is a Wiki. Sometimes I see little mistakes on people's pages that just need changing. When it is vandalised, just revert the vandalism. Takes two ticks -
• The Giant Puffin •09:25, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strongly oppose. 1) Vandalism- can be easily reverted; userpage vandalism is normally very easy to spot. Existing semi-protection and full protection can be applied to pages that particularly need it. 2) 'Intrusive edits'- well edits to userpages are either vandalism (see 1), following policy (e.g. removing fair use images, if you disagree with that then argue about that particular policy rather than stopping userpages being edited at all), or welcome (see next point). 3) A lot of edits to the userspace are totally welcome. For example see
User:Banes, which contains an autograph box. Many (subpages in particular) are indented to be used by more than just the user. For example RFA noms prepared in advance, proposed programs, admin coaching, other people helping with userpage design (like mine!) etc. 4) Per above comments, no new policy is needed. Talk about updating existing one if needed (not needed in my opinion). 5) Per Merovingian, there are far more important technical issues to sort out. On that note I will finish this rant...
Petros47112:27, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strong oppose. Most edits to userpages that aren't by the user are bad, some aren't (bot edits substing about-to-be-deleted templates, say?), and the bad ones get reverted quickly. The additional load on vandal-killers doesn't justify protection, except in severe cases. —
Simetrical (
talk •
contribs)
20:39, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose not a problem that needs solving. It won't stop user page vandalism, since the vandals aren't listening anyway.
HidingTalk20:41, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose - We already have a problem with people using userpages as free webspace - making them editable only by one person would only magnify this problem.
JesseW, the juggling janitor 03:06, 27 May 2006 (UTC)
Strongly Oppose - Maybe this is a tad zero-sum but seems unbalanced to protect the user namespace from damage that otherwise would be directed at the main namespace. Nowhere easier to detect, and determine, and revert vandalism than on the userpage. And userpage vandalism is on pages generally away from the viewing public. Protecting the userpage weakens WP. --
Henge05:21, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose I own my userpage, and wouldn't expect people to just go and make edits willy nilly. But if someone wanted to correct a spelling mistake, add some useful info, or even (hint, hint) add a Barnstart - that's fine by me (If I don't like their changes, I just revert). We don't need this policy, and we don't even need the existing policy, its all covered by common sense (or
WP:DICK)
Captainj22:49, 27 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose - there is a gazillion good reasons to edit another user's userpage. Just a couple of them: typos, barnstars, removing fair use images, re-designing the page, leaving a haiku poem, adding "sockpuppet" and similar templates, saying bye bye to a user who has left the project, etc. etc. Also, one of the principles of wikipedia is that no one ownes a page. I think that includes userpages because Wikipedia is not MySpace. I agree that userpage vandalism is nasty, but I see no way to alow all these legitimate userpage edits. Unless you want to create a huge instruction creep which would waist everyone's life.
Renata17:15, 28 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strong Oppose. Users should be able to userfy pages without having to get an admin to do it for them. Furthermore, users should be able to remove fair use images when the owner of the user page has been given ample amount of time to do so but hasn't (for whatever reason, not online, etc). Occasionally I'll see users add indef blocked templates that an admin has forgotten to add. Besides, user page vandalism is easily reverted. Having to go to an admin to fix minor issues like userfying and removing FU images adds more bureaucracy and work for the admins. Also, as stated above, it is not wiki-like.--
PS2pcGAMER (
talk)
10:24, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose. Plenty of viable reasons to edit someone's userpage, as mentioned above. "If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly" applies to userpages too. Reverting userpage vandalism is simple.
drseudo (
t)
22:30, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose. The open nature of Wikipedia gets corroded no matter which way you view restrictions in general.
A user gets guidance for his own page and can copy from other user pages. Blocking access will prevent this.
In general, the revert mechanism prevents the vandals from carrying out any kind of lasting damage. So why bother to tie ourselves in chains, viewing vandalism as an overhead for freedom is a better way to go.
User page vandalism is extremely irritating but harmless, and I feel inconsequential to the user of Wikipedia. Article vandalism is more serious as a viewer may see vandalised pages. Reverts protect articles from lasting damage. Dont make basic wikipedia policy, that is to make a new kind of 'normal' (as opposed to special) wikipages with restrictions, based on considerations of the user community alone.
Weak-ish Oppose. Maybe because I haven't had vandalism on my page, but also because I use other people's user page as examples for cool things to do (or not to do)...
JByrd21:23, 30 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose per
WP:USERPAGE. There are sometimes very good reasons for editing another person's userpage - e.g. if nominating an image for deletion,
WP:IFD states that you should add 'this image is up for deletion...' to the caption. Although it is generally accepted that editing another person's userpage is generally to be avoided, approving this policy/guideline (whatever it is) would undermine both
WP:OWN and the wiki spirit itself.
Cynical23:37, 30 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose per several reasons stated above. Clearly not everybody wants their userpage protected, and this policy is kind of universal. If it were an optional thing that would be different. --
Niroht15:22, 31 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Unswayable Oppose. I don't mind if anons edit my userpages, even if it is vandalism. Hell, It's just making me revert it and get one more edit on my editcount.--
Ac1983fan (
talk •
contribs)
19:15, 8 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Oppose. I've found a great deal of the opposers' comments above valid (especially Renata and PS2pcGAMER), and no longer feel I can even conditionally support this one.
WP:USER is enough already, it's not like it's hard to revert.
BryanG(talk)20:10, 9 June 2006 (UTC)reply
Neutral – I would support if user subpages were not protected, but cannot do so as the proposal stands. I would also prefer it to be a guideline rather than a policy –
Gurch08:23, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
Strong Neutral - This proposal is very unclear. Will this be some form of software-based protection? Users should certainly be able to opt-out of protection. This is critical for user subpages, which may contain content intended to be gernally editable, but is not really suitable for a main namespace page, or even a Wikipedia namespace page. The proposal really should be updated to adress these sorts of things.
Tacvek21:52, 29 May 2006 (UTC)reply
How could you even protect it yet still allow the user (if he's not an admin) to edit it, anyway? This proposal is not only a bad idea, it doesn't make sense. --
Rory09621:30, 26 May 2006 (UTC)reply
As the proposal has been running for over a month and is currently at 43 oppose vs 38 support(s), it looks clear that this is not going to pass, so I will take the liberty of marking this proposal as {{rejected}} Regards,
MartinRe10:52, 2 July 2006 (UTC)reply