Giano community ban? Options

[Ottava]

Giano is up for a community ban and I am split on the matter. After all, he is an interesting fellow.

Pro: Content contributor with many featured credits.
Con: Has turned to drama instead of content since 2008 and refuses to update and bring to standard his old pages without lots of drama, attacks, and the rest.

Pro: Tells the civility police how it is.
Con: Its part of one of the few circles left that could be called a "cabal" and his nastiness is protected by many entrenched people, including a few Arbs that he helped get adminship and their AC status.

What do others thing? He does seem to be begging for a ban as of late.


By the way, it probably doesn't help when he edit wars the ban proposal thread out three times.

This post has been edited by Ottava:

[Moulton]

If he really does crave drama over the dull work of writing an authentic encyclopedia, then banning him will be a win-win for everyone. Wikipedians love the drama of these community ban exercises, and Giano loves to be in the middle of drama of any sort.

Who cares about writing an encyclopedia, anyway? If that's what people want to do, there are better sites where the only work underway is the dull work of crafting an authentic encyclopedia.

[A Horse With No Name]

As much as I like Giano personally, it is impossible not to notice the level of inconsistency that goes into dealing with him. The level of protection he gets is abnormal, and -- to be perfectly cruel -- the actual quality of his contributions does not match his reputation as a content creator.

But, then again, this is typical of the hypocrisy and double standards that permeate Wikipedia. As long as we have arbitrators who ignore policy to protect their friends (shout out to Nurse Anne), and as long as there are AN/I loudmouths who rally behind some buffoons while rush to crucify people of identical buffoonery (shout out to Kww and BB), then the place is just a bad comedy show. And for those of us denied access to the stage, we can at least watch supposedly intelligent people make jackasses of themselves. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/popcorn.gif)

[Theanima]

I don't think Giano should be banned. On a related note, they want to ban Malleus as well. In fairness, Malleus contributes a lot of valuable content. On the other hand, he makes frequent and unprovoked personal attacks (yes, personal attacks) that come off as incredibly childish, and makes the atmosphere unpleasant for anyone who dares to disagree with him. I might say, oh just ignore it it's Malleus being Malleus. But when he comes to your talk page to start lecturing on about vague "incompetence" and "abuse" without any diffs whatsoever, it begins to push the limits even articles writers have.

[Subtle Bee]

If he really does crave drama over the dull work of writing an authentic encyclopedia, then banning him will be a win-win for everyone. Wikipedians love the drama of these community ban exercises, and Giano loves to be in the middle of drama of any sort.

Who cares about writing an encyclopedia, anyway? If that's what people want to do, there are better sites where the only work underway is the dull work of crafting an authentic encyclopedia.

I used to think that I understood what motivated Giano, but I no longer believe that. But since many of us concur that WP isn't an authentic encyclopedia anyway, I don't see what's gained in banning him. It's fascinating that Jimbo's been predicting his imminent demise since '07, to little effect, so if nothing else he has value as an icon of resistance. Besides, as an outsider, I enjoy the drama, in the same way I get a guilty thrill watching "Intervention" or "Cheaters". If WP committed itself to the "dull work" you suggest, we'd all have much less to talk about.

Also, I've been off for a week and so haven't met our new friend Milowent, who nonetheless deserves compliments for coining "insane hall monitors" to describe those anal manners monkeys forever fighting their Civility Wars. It's an apt metaphor, and it shortens up to "Jimbalo(ette)s".

[Ceoil]

Giano is more valuable to the project than his contibutions or openions. He represents someting that is being lost to, well Randy from Boise, who is interested in the internet only and having a voice for its own sake - on whatever website, doesn't matter. All the problems on wiki are caused by thoes people - so caught up in the game and process that they cannot ''think'', they just follow and leave a mire of shit behind.

[later edit by the confused]
Eh, this was meant as a direct reply to horsey, but I havn't figured out how to do that yet.

So there, horsey, you've been told!

This post has been edited by Ceoil:

[A Horse With No Name]

Eh, this was meant as a direct reply to horsey, but I havn't figured out how to do that yet.

So there, horsey, you've been told!

Thanks. Now make yourself useful and fetch me a Guinness and a copy of the Daily Racing Form. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/wink.gif)

[Theanima]

Giano is more valuable to the project than his contibutions or openions. He represents someting that is being lost to, well Randy from Boise, who is interested in the internet only and having a voice for its own sake - on whatever website, doesn't matter. All the problems on wiki are caused by thoes people - so caught up in the game and process that they cannot ''think'', they just follow and leave a mire of shit behind.

[later edit by the confused]
Eh, this was meant as a direct reply to horsey, but I havn't figured out how to do that yet.

So there, horsey, you've been told!

I think a Wikipedia without Giano (or Malleus, or most users actually) just wouldn't be Wikipedia. They're so ingrained into it, it wouldn't be right seeing them banned.

And, thing is, neither will ever be banned for the sake of a few sharp words. Ever. In fact the only reason either would be banned is if their account got hacked and went on some sort of spree. But even then, I imagine once they regained it they'd be unblocked and all would be forgiven. There is a point in a Wikipedia career when you become a "wiki-veteran" and you can do as you please, pretty much. Giano and Malleus reached that stage long ago.

Giano and Malleus would be missed so much more than the likes of TreasuryTag and MickMacNee.

[Subtle Bee]

And, thing is, neither will ever be banned for the sake of a few sharp words. Ever. In fact the only reason either would be banned is if their account got hacked and went on some sort of spree. But even then, I imagine once they regained it they'd be unblocked and all would be forgiven. There is a point in a Wikipedia career when you become a "wiki-veteran" and you can do as you please, pretty much. Giano and Malleus reached that stage long ago.

Now that I'm done boggling at the oxymoronic phrase "Wikipedia career", I'll point out that plenty of veterans still get the axe. I think in Giano's case he has such a long history of beating back blocks and vendettas set against him by jealous tyrants he's become a bit of living mythology, a trickster god who shuns the conservative establishment to side with puny mortals.

But is the essence of Prometheus the stealing of fire, to shine light in dark places? Or is it the eternal willingness to choke your tormenters with your own liver, as the penance for venting your spleen?

[HRIP7]

Giano is more valuable to the project than his contibutions or openions. He represents someting that is being lost to, well Randy from Boise, who is interested in the internet only and having a voice for its own sake - on whatever website, doesn't matter. All the problems on wiki are caused by thoes people - so caught up in the game and process that they cannot ''think'', they just follow and leave a mire of shit behind.

Mm. Quite well said.

[Ceoil]

Mr Horse says: Thanks. Now make yourself useful and fetch me a Guinness and a copy of the Daily Racing Form.

A confused and painced nuub says: Christ - am I you bitch now? Damn it, my mother had told me I could do better than the likes of you. Seems my mother lied.

One or two shots of Powers with your skin mag?

This post has been edited by Ceoil:

[Ceoil]

This might be a stupid question, but I'm just going to ask straight out. These non content rent a view ''people'', why, what are they doing with their lives?


This post has been edited by Ceoil:

[Eva Destruction]

This might be a stupid question, but I'm just going to ask straight out. These non content rent a view ''people'', why, what are they doing with their lives?

So, you don't think spending eight hours a day telling other people not to use the word "poop" is a constructive hobby?

Way-back-when, I once did some work for a rate-my-photo site; it never failed to amaze me that they had a constant stream of volunteer moderators who would do nothing except patrol the uploaded photos for pictures of celebrities. Never underestimate the appeal of "if the pond is small enough, even a minnow can be the biggest fish"; remember that to most of these people, this is the first time in their life they've ever had any authority. To harp on one of my well-trodden themes, the ex-military/cops and retirees who are also disproportionately active as Wikipedia admins tend not to be as "respect my authority!" as the teenagers.

[A Horse With No Name]

I think a Wikipedia without Giano (or Malleus, or most users actually) just wouldn't be Wikipedia. They're so ingrained into it, it wouldn't be right seeing them banned.

For the 100 to 200 people who call Wikipedia home, I would agree. For the millions of people who rely on Wikipedia solely to look up World Cup trivia or to see which movie won the Oscar, they don't know Giano or Malley exist, nor do they care about this "block" and "ban" crap.

Giano and Malleus would be missed so much more than the likes of TreasuryTag and MickMacNee.

There's always a new wave of colorful characters who come in. And some of them are actually old favorites in new roles. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/wink.gif)

[Zoloft]

Wikipedia veteran editors get shoved in the pit all the time. It's just that it's taken so long for Giano.

Now that he's pretty much stopped cranking out content, he's removed his best protection, so he might be gone soon.

[Eva Destruction]

There's always a new wave of colorful characters who come in. And some of them are actually old favorites in new roles. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/wink.gif)

Treasury Tag, at least, has been reheated more times than a United Airlines meal; remember Rambutan? Circuit Judge? How about Porcupine?

[Theanima]

Wikipedia veteran editors get shoved in the pit all the time. It's just that it's taken so long for Giano.

Now that he's pretty much stopped cranking out content, he's removed his best protection, so he might be gone soon.

Stopped? I beg to differ.

[Zoloft]

Wikipedia veteran editors get shoved in the pit all the time. It's just that it's taken so long for Giano.

Now that he's pretty much stopped cranking out content, he's removed his best protection, so he might be gone soon.

Stopped? I beg to differ.

Pages created by GiacomoReturned: 9
Pages created by Giano: 167
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
So, yeah... pretty much stopped since he flounced and returned the last time.

Get thee to a buttery... (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/tongue.gif)

[Ottava]

Wikipedia veteran editors get shoved in the pit all the time. It's just that it's taken so long for Giano.

Now that he's pretty much stopped cranking out content, he's removed his best protection, so he might be gone soon.

Stopped? I beg to differ.

None of those are important pages or really worth while. Buckingham Palace was the last time he tried to actually write something encyclopedic.

[Eva Destruction]

None of those are important pages or really worth while. Buckingham Palace was the last time he tried to actually write something encyclopedic.

Define "something encyclopedic". Montacute House, Geddes Hyslop, Palazzo Torlonia, Via della Scrofa 117, Rome – all post-return Giano articles. Just because you haven't heard of something doesn't mean it's not important.