Vandalism: Difference between revisions

244 bytes added ,  6 May 2004
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*[[Sysop vandalism]] is systematic bias applied and reinforced by the [[sysop power structure]] - it only becomes vandalism when persistent [[ad hominem delete]]s or out of process actions occur, ''e.g. as [[Wikimedia]] authorizes''
*[[Sysop vandalism]] is systematic bias applied and reinforced by the [[sysop power structure]] - it only becomes vandalism when persistent [[ad hominem delete]]s or out of process actions occur, ''e.g. as [[Wikimedia]] authorizes''
*Ordinary [[ad hominem revert]] is sometimes called vandalism, and it is, if and only if errors (not just bias) is restored to user visibility.  It only becomes [[sysop vandalism]] if [[IP block]]s or [[protected page]]s are used to enforce the sysop's view over the non-sysop's view.  ''This is very common in any [[Wikimedia]] forum, and sysops are encouraged to express their own biases.''
*Ordinary [[ad hominem revert]] is sometimes called vandalism, and it is, if and only if errors (not just bias) is restored to user visibility.  It only becomes [[sysop vandalism]] if [[IP block]]s or [[protected page]]s are used to enforce the sysop's view over the non-sysop's view.  ''This is very common in any [[Wikimedia]] forum, and sysops are encouraged to express their own biases.''
*[[Sysop vigilantiism]] and [[developer vigilantiism]] are power abuses but they are not vandalism.  They are more likely to involve [[libel]] against a person than damage to pages themselves, though they prevent some people contributing.
*[[Sysop vigilantiism]] and [[developer vigilantiism]] are power abuses but they are not vandalism.  They are more likely to involve [[libel]] against a person than damage to pages themselves, though they prevent some people contributing.  


It is a common political tactic to call [[trolls]] "vandals" although there is a clear distinction between the two:  one tells a vandal based on what ordinary end users would distinguish about the material;  a troll on the other hand is a person whose view is merely offensive to someone in a [[sysop power structure]];  Neither has anything to do with the material's accuracy or bias necessarily.  [[Trolling]] and '''vandalism''' are ontological distinctions, not operational ones - one cannot tell they have occurred based on responses or excuses or vigilantiism that they appear to "cause".  It's a social question.
It is a common political tactic to call [[trolls]] "vandals", e.g. as [[Tim Starling]] and [[M. R. M. Parrot]] do, although there is a clear distinction between the two concepts:  one tells a vandal based on what ordinary end users would distinguish about the material;  a troll on the other hand is a person whose view is merely offensive to someone in a [[sysop power structure]];  Both labels are used as simple insults and the use of neither has anything to do with the material's bias or even accuracy necessarily:  calling someone "a troll" is a common [[usurper]] tactic, e.g. employed heavily by [[Auntie Angela]], [[Erik Moeller]].  [[Trolling]] and '''vandalism''' are ontological distinctions, not operational ones - one cannot tell they have occurred based on responses or excuses or vigilantiism that they appear to "cause".  It's a social question.
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