This is a lesson for User:Gaia Octavia Agrippa's adoption program. You are welcome to edit this page if you notice any errors or have any additional information to add, but as a courtesy, please notify Gaia Octavia Agrippa if you make any major changes to avoid any possible confusion between her and her adoptee(s). Thanks! |
Vandalism is a big problem for wikipedia. There are many users and ip addresses that edit wikipedia simply to cause trouble. There are some users who only edit wikipedia to remove this vandalism and warn and block vandals.
Vandalism can be:
- Purposefully adding incorrect information
- Purposefully removing correct information
- Purposefully blanking pages (unless it is the creator doing so because they wish that page to be deleted)
- Purposefully adding spam links/advertisements
- Purposefully adding blatant rubbish (e.g. DSFEFERGHSdsafebrqgiuv$"^%)
Warning templates
editBelow are the most commonly used user warning templates. if you come across vandalism during your travels around wikipedia, please revert it and add one of the warning templates onto the users talk page.
Multi-level templates
editEach template comes with a number of levels. When warning vandals or new comers, think carefully about how serious there vandalism is and what level warning they need. The level you choose may influence how easily they are blocked. Normally you would start with a level 1 warning, and move up the levels until you warn them with a level 4. If they continue to edit after a level 4 warning, hey will be blocked from editing.
- Level 1
Assumes good faith. Generally includes "Welcome to Wikipedia" or some variant.
- Level 2
No faith assumption
- Level 3
Assumes bad faith; cease and desist
- Level 4
Assumes bad faith; strong cease and desist, last warning
- Level 4im
Assumes bad faith; strong cease and desist, first and only warning
Test edits
editTemplate | Gives |
---|---|
{{subst:Uw-test1}} | Welcome, and thank you for experimenting with Wikipedia. Your test worked, and it has been reverted or removed. Please take a look at the welcome page to learn more about contributing to this encyclopedia. If you would like to experiment further, please use the sandbox instead. Thank you. |
{{subst:Uw-test2}} | Please refrain from making test edits in Wikipedia pages, even if your ultimate intention is to fix them. Such edits appear to be vandalism and have been reverted. If you would like to experiment again, please use the sandbox. Thank you. |
{{subst:Uw-test3}} | Please stop making test edits to Wikipedia. It is considered vandalism, which, under Wikipedia policy, can lead to blocking of editing privileges. If you would like to experiment again, please use the sandbox. |
{{subst:Uw-test4}} | This is the last warning you will receive for your disruptive edits. The next time you disrupt Wikipedia, you will be blocked from editing. |
{{subst:Uw-test4im}} | This is the only warning you will receive for your disruptive edits. If you vandalize Wikipedia again, you will be blocked from editing. |
Vandalism
editTemplate | Gives |
---|---|
{{subst:uw-vandalism1}} | Welcome to Wikipedia. Although everyone is welcome to make constructive contributions to Wikipedia, at least one of your recent edits did not appear to be constructive and has been reverted. Please use the sandbox for any test edits you would like to make, and read the welcome page to learn more about contributing constructively to this encyclopedia. Thank you. |
{{subst:uw-vandalism2}} | Please refrain from making unconstructive edits to Wikipedia. Your edits appear to constitute vandalism and have been reverted. If you would like to experiment, please use the sandbox. Thank you. |
{{subst:uw-vandalism3}} | Please stop your disruptive editing. If you continue to vandalize Wikipedia, you will be blocked from editing. |
{{subst:uw-vandalism4}} | This is the last warning you will receive for your disruptive edits. If you vandalize Wikipedia again, you will be blocked from editing. |
{{subst:uw-vandalism4im}} | This is the only warning you will receive for your disruptive edits. If you vandalize Wikipedia again, you will be blocked from editing. |