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Motivations for vandalism (as distinguished from abuse like harassment and edit warring) range from a desire for recognition and infamy^[1][2] to frustration with the project or community. Vandalism is encouraged by offering such users exceptional notice. This is particularly true for prolific vandals, who were (prior to this essay) immortalised by Wikipedia pages, meticulously catalogued by category pages, dedicated specific templates, and who thereby become a notable part of wiki culture.

Contents 1 Encouragement 2 Continuing to deal with vandalism 3 How to mitigate vandalism 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Encouragement

This glorification of vandalism through infamy encourages Internet memes through reinforcement, where users imitate notorious or unique vandalism methods for amusement, to share in the infamy, or for the thrill of defying authority and/or the perception of destroying other users' work. Denying recognition and infamy removes the primary motivations for vandalism and disruption.

Media exposure of vandalism on Wikipedia seems to invite increased vandalism. When a person writes in a newspaper, or says on television, that it is easy to insert nonsense in Wikipedia, invariably a number of imitators want to see it for themselves and believe they are "hackers". Making a big thing out of this issue just reinforces this behavior (see positive feedback).

[edit] Continuing to deal with vandalism

Some material is still going to be valuable in dealing with vandalism, so this is not about pretending vandalism does not exist. Information on vandalism should be critically appraised for its genuine value, and if that value outweighs any detriment from the publicity of that vandal/vandalism. Stating that a certain individual is involved in very obvious vandalism probably does not enable any better recognition or response to that vandalism, it merely adds to the legend of a specific vandal. On the other hand, documenting a new form of vandalism in a neutral manner like Wikipedia:Vandalism#Types of vandalism ensures a suitable awareness of that vandalism's existence.

[edit] How to mitigate vandalism

If you see information pages about vandals or vandalism that you think have no practical purpose, list them for deletion (if you see a whole group of similar pages, make a group nomination). User pages for indefinitely blocked users (except sockpuppets and banned users) that have no practical purpose can be put on WP:MfD after a short while.^[3] Remember that this is not a criterion for speedy deletion, though.

For the same reasons, most indefinite block templates place user pages in Category:Temporary Wikipedian userpages, whence they are routinely deleted after at least a month along with associated user pages.

[edit] See also

Similar pages:

• m:What is a troll?
• Wikipedia:Don't stuff beans up your nose
• Wikipedia:Revert, block, ignore
• Wikipedia:The Motivation of a Vandal
• User:The Cunctator/HomePage Vandalism
• DissuadeReputation
• Wikiversity:No shrines for vandals

Contrasting pages:

• Wikipedia:Revert, block, ignore#Opposing view
• Wikipedia:Long-term abuse

[edit] References

1. ^ As an example of desire for recognition and infamy as a motivation for vandalism, see "Pelican shit" on Wikipedia talk:Long term abuse.
2. ^ request for own long term abuse page user had previously taken screenshots of their own sockpuppets vandalism and added them to other long term abuse pages
3. ^ IP addresses stored for registered users are only kept in the system for so long; categorising a user after this period of time serves no useful purpose.

v • d • e Essays on Wikipedia civility The basics How to be civil · Duty · Enjoy yourself · Thank you · Apology · Truce · Forgive and forget · No vested contributors · Staying cool when the editing gets hot · Overzealous deletion · Divisiveness Philosophy An uncivil environment is a poor environment · How many legs does a horse have? · You can't squeeze blood from a turnip · Wikipedia is not about winning · The Last Word · The grey zone · You are probably not a lexicologist or a lexicographer · Writing for the opponent · There is no common sense Dos Assume the assumption of good faith · Assume no clue · Assume clue · Avoid personal remarks · Avoid the word "vandal" · Call a spade a spade · Candor · Drop the stick and back slowly away from the horse carcass · Deny recognition · In praise of 1RR · Revert only when necessary · Get over it · Go ahead, vandalize · Mind your own business · Discussing cruft · Keep it down to earth · Revert, block, ignore Don'ts Arguments to avoid in edit wars · Don't be inconsiderate · Don't call a spade a spade · Don't call the kettle black · Don't take the bait · Do not insult the vandals · Just drop it · Don't edit war over the colour of templates · Don't be ashamed · Don't feed the divas · Don't stuff beans up your nose · Don't spite your face · Don't revert due to "no consensus" · Do not call things cruft · No angry mastodons · Don't template the regulars · Don't be a fanatic · Don't accuse someone of a personal attack for accusing of a personal attack Wiki Relations WikiLove · WikiHate · WikiCrime · WikiViolence · WikiBullying · WikiPeace · WikiWar