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Bulbapedia:Protection: Difference between revisions

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Below are the guidelines that should be used when there is debate on whether or not to '''protect''' a page. Only Administrators have the power to protect a page; the uses of protection, how to do it (for the Admins), and when to do it are outlined below.
{{nutshell|Administrators can protect a page so that it cannot be edited. To make a change to a protected page, leave a message on the talk page.}}
{{shortcut|1|BP:Protect}}
As part of the MediaWiki software, pages on Bulbapedia can be '''protected''' from editing by users below a certain rank. Below are guidelines both for users and administrators for when a page is to be protected.


==How to use protection!==
==For users==
Protected pages ''cannot'' be edited in any way by normal users; however, the source wikicode of the page can be viewed. Pages that are protected from creation are ''always'' protected for a reason; do ''not'' try to find a different title to create the page under. Ask an administrator, preferably the one who protected the page, for the reason for the protection.


Protection is something that can and should be utilized by the Bulbapedia staff for numerous reaosns, which will be defined in detail below. However, it's important to understand the simple nature of protecting a page before instructions are laid out regarding when to protect a page.
If there is something on a protected page that should be added or changed, leave a message on the talk page. If nobody has replied to the message or made the change after several days, ask an active admin on their talk page.


A protected page is, essentially, a page which regular users (the public) cannot touch.  Administrators of all types may edit the page, but no other Bulbapedia users can. Uses of protection should include, most notably:
There are two levels of protection from editing of a page: pages can be protected from moving or editing by users who are not {{bp|autoconfirmed}}, as well as from all who are not on Bulbapedia's {{bp|staff}}. The protection from autoconfirmed users is mainly to keep users who have not been around long from editing a page and inserting information which will have to be cleaned up; usually this is not used due to the relatively short time between registration and becoming autoconfirmed.


*Protecting high visibility pages such as the [[Main Page]] from vandalism.
Protection restricted for administrators only is used most often on Bulbapedia. Protection of a page already created may be due to speculation added to or vandalism of the page, and should not be, in most cases, set to indefinite.
*Preventing change to the Bulbpedia logo, along with all other site logos.
*Maintaining copyright and licence pages from modification.
*Protecting certain ''"system administration"'' pages from modification.  Only the Administrators should be able to edit the rules.
*User pages and their subpages that are subject to repeated vandalism.


Temporary protection can be enacted for the following circumstances:
==For administrators==
''Please note that this is not a comprehensive list and that administrators can use their discretion with regards to protecting a page.''
Bulbapedia pages are allowed to be protected either indefinitely or with an expiration time. Pages protected with an expiration time are preferred in most instances, such as the case of edit warring or vandalism, though indefinite protection is often afforded to the high-use templates that appear on many of our pages, as well as to pages which should only be edited by administrators, such as pages on policy. A list of times that administrators can protect a page for is provided by default; however, administrators can also protect for arbitrary amounts of time ranging from one second to hundreds of years.


*Protecting a page so that editing or reverting wars may not take place, allowing for a "cooldown" period.
Pages can be separately protected from moving as well as from editing. All Pokémon species pages should be protected from moving, while protection for editing them should expire one year or less from the point of protection.
*Protecting a page or image that has been a target of repeated and persistant vandalism.
*Preventing changes to a page while investigating a possible bug in the [[MediaWiki]] software, which would be rare.


Protecting a page in the event of an edit war or revert war is not a support of the page in whatever state it may be in; it simply means that the war must be put to a stop.
Always explain why the page has been protected in the [[Special:Log/protect|protection log]]. In some cases, this may not be especially clear and it is important that those unable to edit the page know why they have been locked out.


==What to and what NOT to do==
{{-}}
 
{{Bulbapedia guidelines}}
#Do not protect a page if you are the administrator involved in an edit dispute over that page.  Powers that are given should not be abused in those circumstances; contact another administrator to gauge the situation and make judgement.
#Add the <nowiki>{{protected}}</nowiki> note at the top of the page for pages that are temporarily protected.  Permanantly protected pages do not need this markup displayed.
#Do not edit or revert a protected page involved in any form of dispute. A moderation committee will be called in to issue a decision; no single Administrator shall be the sole maker of that sort of decision.
#Remember to remove the "Protected" label once the page is unprotected.
 
Admins shouldn't use their power to protect a page if they are involved with the page in terms of contribution or any discussion in the talk page.  Remember that ultimately the administrators of Bulbapedia are not the primary editors of Bulbapedia, and it is not the administrator's job to solve disputes solely via their power.  In addition, Administrators should not show preference to one version of an article over another except in cases of vandalism.  Legitimate, non-vandalism disputes should if at all possible be solved by moderation of one or more administrators and avoid using page protections and [[Bulbapedia:Blocking policy|blocks]].
 
==Editing Protected Pages==
 
Admins should refrain from editing temporarily protected pages except to revert to a version prior to an occurance of vandalism.  Once again, administrators are supposed to be nonpartisan in page-accuracy disputes and revert/edit wars.
 
If a page is permanantly protected and a major edit is proposed either by a member of the community or by one of the Administrators, it should be first discussed in that page's [[Bulbapedia:Talk page|talk page]].  If it is approved by a majority of the users who comment or is seen as necessary by the staff, the edit may be made.  Minor edits should also be made cautiously; any content change may be ill-recieved by some members.  If at all possible it's best to run any changes by the community via talk pages before actually making the changes.
 
==Administrator notes==
 
Administrators, when protecting a page, please remember to add a description (short, if possible), of why the page was protected for the record.  This option is provided to you upon clicking the "protect" link on the taskbar at the top of your MediaWiki interface.  Giving a note on why the page was protected makes it easier for a moderation committee to work without having to contact the original protecting admin.  If the reason for protection is lengthly (20+ words) and requires explanation, you can e-mail it to any or all other administrators.
 
Please be intelligent in decisions to protect pages, as sometimes the act of protecting can be worse than the fight that started it.  Be mature, be responsible, and be sensible.  Admins are not judge, jury, and executioner; however, at the same time, they are responsible for sound judgement and a weighing of the options.  Strike the balance.

Revision as of 09:27, 26 May 2012

273Seedot.png This is an official Bulbapedia policy. In a nutshell:
Administrators can protect a page so that it cannot be edited. To make a change to a protected page, leave a message on the talk page.
Shortcut
BP:Protect

As part of the MediaWiki software, pages on Bulbapedia can be protected from editing by users below a certain rank. Below are guidelines both for users and administrators for when a page is to be protected.

For users

Protected pages cannot be edited in any way by normal users; however, the source wikicode of the page can be viewed. Pages that are protected from creation are always protected for a reason; do not try to find a different title to create the page under. Ask an administrator, preferably the one who protected the page, for the reason for the protection.

If there is something on a protected page that should be added or changed, leave a message on the talk page. If nobody has replied to the message or made the change after several days, ask an active admin on their talk page.

There are two levels of protection from editing of a page: pages can be protected from moving or editing by users who are not autoconfirmed, as well as from all who are not on Bulbapedia's staff. The protection from autoconfirmed users is mainly to keep users who have not been around long from editing a page and inserting information which will have to be cleaned up; usually this is not used due to the relatively short time between registration and becoming autoconfirmed.

Protection restricted for administrators only is used most often on Bulbapedia. Protection of a page already created may be due to speculation added to or vandalism of the page, and should not be, in most cases, set to indefinite.

For administrators

Bulbapedia pages are allowed to be protected either indefinitely or with an expiration time. Pages protected with an expiration time are preferred in most instances, such as the case of edit warring or vandalism, though indefinite protection is often afforded to the high-use templates that appear on many of our pages, as well as to pages which should only be edited by administrators, such as pages on policy. A list of times that administrators can protect a page for is provided by default; however, administrators can also protect for arbitrary amounts of time ranging from one second to hundreds of years.

Pages can be separately protected from moving as well as from editing. All Pokémon species pages should be protected from moving, while protection for editing them should expire one year or less from the point of protection.

Always explain why the page has been protected in the protection log. In some cases, this may not be especially clear and it is important that those unable to edit the page know why they have been locked out.


Bulbapedia policies and guidelines
Manual of style Anime • Games • Manga • Sidegames • TCG
Help pages Dispute resolution • FAQ • List of link templates • Wikicode • Values
Articles Manual of style • Notability requirements • Speculation policy • Unreleased materials • Protection • Vandalism
Talk pages Code of conduct • Signature policy • Talk page policy
Templates Link templates • List of link templates • Template policy • Usertag policy
Userspace Username policy • Userspace policy • Usertag policy
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