User:LostInRiverview/Test4

The Sims Wiki administrators can utilize blocks to correct actions that are harmful to the wiki or are undertaken in bad faith. Blocks are a measure of last resort that should be utilized only after other methods of correction are attempted, or only in cases where immediate action is necessary in order to counteract a significant present disruption. Blocks should never be used as a punitive measure, but should be used only to prevent further damage in an urgent situation, or to assist in correcting harmful behavior. Non-templated and templated warnings should be sought as a first measure to correct errant behavior, and administrators should be careful to consider whether the behavior of another user is truly disruptive or simply misunderstood or misdirected. However, in instances where a user clearly and deliberately acts in bad faith, blocks may be used to immediately curtail further bad faith action.

The Sims Wiki (has not yet) established policies to govern how blocks are applied, and how blocks can be appealed.

Standards for issuing blocks
In some cases, rapid action on the part of the administration may be necessary in order to put an immediate stop to harmful activity on the wiki. In other cases, a user's block should be deliberated on and discussed before it is implemented.

Short-term blocks
Administrators may act unilaterally to issue a short-term block, lasting no longer than one week, for any of the following reasons:
 * Continued use of profanity, inappropriate or overly-graphic language
 * Repeated deliberate deletion of proven-to-be valid information
 * Deliberate attacks on other users
 * Obvious attempts to circumvent previously-issued blocks via the use of an unauthorized extra account (i.e. sockpuppetry)
 * Obvious bad faith edits with the apparent goal to cause disruption, damage or chaos, or to violate official wiki policies
 * Apparent user account breaches by persons other than the rightful account owner
 * Repetitive spam, any spamming of pornography or pornographic content, or any demonstrated cases of cross-wiki spam (i.e. the same user account posting on different wikis with the same or similar spam content)

After an administrator has issued a block, they should inform the blocked user of the block. Urgent blocks may be appealed in regards to the fairness of the block itself, and blocked users should retain talk page access. If a blocked user chooses to abuse talk page editing privileges, an administrator other than the administrator that issued the initial block may revoke talk page access.

A user that is blocked for any of these reasons may not have their block extended beyond one week without administrative consensus. If a user, after having their block expire or lifted, acts in a manner warranting another block, any administrator (including the initial blocking administrator) may act to issue another block, with a maximum length of one week. If a user has been given a block but a longer-term block may be needed, a discussion of long-term action should be started on the Admin Portal Talk Page.

Long-term blocks
All blocks which are to last for more than one week are considered long-term blocks. All long-term blocks must be discussed on the Admin Portal Talk Page before being issued and there must be consensus among administrators participating in the discussion. Long-term blocks may be set for a defined length of time or may be set to continue indefinitely.

During a block discussion, administrators may choose to apply escalating blocks for any future policy violations of a similar nature by the same user. In establishing a block, administrators may not restrict a user's privilege to edit their own talk page or to appeal their block unless the user has demonstrated an abuse of either privilege in the past. If a user abuses talk page access while under a long-term block, an administrator may temporarily revoke talk page access for up to a week. Permanent revocation of talk page access may only take place after an additional administrative discussion.

Prohibited blocks
Administrators are granted a wide latitude in determining reasons for issuing blocks. However, blocks may never be issued due to, or in part because of:
 * Actions performed on wikis other than The Sims Wiki, on other websites, or in real life, unless those actions have a direct negative affect on The Sims Wiki
 * Personal grudges or vendettas
 * Actions undertaken on the wiki that do not violate official policy, even if such actions do not adhere to established precedents or guidelines
 * Actions undertaken in good faith, unless such repeated actions cause significant harm if unchecked

In issuing blocks, the burden of proof to justify the issuance of blocks lies with the administrators. In all cases, users should be assumed as innocent unless proven guilty based on reliable evidence as provided by an administrator. Administrators should be careful in how they view evidence and remain focused on assuming good faith. Actions taken far in the past should be less-heavily scrutinized than more recent actions, and justifications for issuing blocks should be based first and foremost on demonstrable violations of existing policy.

Block appeals
TBD

Block expiration or termination
After a block expires, is successfully appealed, or is otherwise terminated, the blocked user will be allowed to return to editing the wiki as a member in good standing in most circumstances. Administrators may choose to impose editing restrictions on a user as a condition of awarding an appeal or after the expiration of a block. Violations of an established editing restriction should be determined and agreed-upon by the administrators in advance. However, no block issued as the result of a violation of an editing restriction may violate any portion of this policy.