RationalWikiWiki:Lock policy
From RationalWikiWiki
RationalWikiWiki lock policy details our policies on locking pages to prevent editing and other changes by other editors. This article is intended for general use; for sysop-specific instructions regarding how to lock, see the Sysop guide.
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[edit] Protocol
Due to an incident of pagemove vandalism which damaged certain pages beyond recovery, all existing pages have been move locked (see below) to prevent the further loss of articles. Any new pages created, including talk and non-mainspace pages, must be move locked for an infinite period of time.
Actions that merit locking a page are:
- A RationalWikian has repeatedly attempted to whitewash their own article.
- Spammers attacking a particular page.
- Spammers creating a particular non-existent page that will never be needed or used.
- A vandal or troll continuously creating a malicious page that is otherwise off-mission or is libelous as defined by United States legal code.
If the censor or edit warrior in question is an IP, only a partial lock (see below) may be applied.
If they are a registered user, a full lock (see below) is called for. On RationalWikiWiki, no lock may last longer than six weeks, except for the standard move lock, which should last indefinitely, and the spam lock, also indefinitely. Additionally, no pages (except userspace pages excluding user talkpages) should be locked beyond the "Janitor" level.
[edit] What locking is
Locking refers to a page being closed down so it may no longer be edited by regular editors. While the page cannot be edited, it can still be viewed. The "edit" tab in the top part of the page is replaced by a "view source" tab. The "view source" option lets you view the wikicode of the page, as if you were editing, except you can't change anything.
The talk page of a locked page is still editable, unless locked in a separate action. If a talk page has been locked, then the article page remains editable unless locked separately.
A page can also be locked to prevent regular editors from moving the page, without restricting normal editing by anyone.
[edit] Who can lock pages
Only users with police rights can lock pages. (For a list of police go here.)
[edit] Kinds of lock
- Partial lock --- Only IPs are barred from editing the page
- Full lock --- IPs and registered users are barred from editing the page. Only janitors can edit the page.
- Move lock --- Normal editing by any user is unaffected, but IPs and registered users are prevented from moving the page. Only janitors can move the page. This has been applied to all pages on RationalWikiWiki.
[edit] Note regarding terminology
"Locking" is not an official MediaWiki term. The official MediaWiki term is "protecting", but we avoid calling it that, because "protecting" implies that it is some sort of salvation, as if the page has been rescued from abuses being rained down upon it by evil editors. The reality of "protection" is that it has historically been thoughtlessly, unilaterally, and unjustly applied whenever a particular admin felt like it. We call it what it is: "locking". As in, "Oh, crap, I just got locked out of my house."
