Requests for comment/Administrators' abuse of authority in Russian WP

The following request for comments is closed. Inactive RfC and out of scope. Use local processes. Ajraddatz (talk) 17:05, 8 May 2016 (UTC)

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OneLittleMouse

February 11, 2013 Russian WP administrator OneLittleMouse blocked me. No warning, no explanation, no diffs, nothing. The only explanation was the diff descrption "Abuse of User talk page". This violates Russian WP blocking policy, which demands that administrators state clear reasons for blocking and give direct links to the rules which were violated.

The rule also says that blocking shouldn't be revenge or retaliation. In this case, however, OneLittleMouse saw that my case was being processed by another administrator and we were in the middle of a conversation to find mutually acceptable terms. OneLittleMouse simply shut me up and deprived me of the opportunity to mend my ways and correct whatever mistakes were made.

Judging by this ("OneLittleMouse regrets user Leo711 was unblocked prematurely"), OneLittleMouse has some personal issues with me. Last time he blocked me TWO MINUTES after a complaint was filed, despite the blocking policy demanding to discuss blocking users with significant contributions or large experience in Wikipedia. Was I doing something so disruptive that it required immediate actions? Well, I asked a newbie to read the rules - that called for a two-weeks long block from OneLittleMouse.

Why so long? He uses what is called "progressive blocking", which means every time you violate a rule, however small the violation is, your block period is doubled. If you look at my block log, you will see the proof of that.— The preceding unsigned comment was added by Leo711 (talk)

I confirm the request. Some administrators in Russian Wikipedia does not consider it necessary to follow the rules in their actions. For example OneLittleMouse put a site in the blacklist during the unfinished debate its authority, it does not consider that it is necessary to warn anyone or gotten through situation. Furthermore when I tried to challenge its validity [1], none of his colleagues administrators neglected to comment on his actions. And despite the obvious violation the rules, the result of the query was: "request was not supported by other administrators," That is, in the Russian Wikipedia administrators do not consider it necessary to remind colleagues to follow the rules. Most accurately explained the situation another administrator ShinePhantom against the request to respect the ordinary participants, said: "And who are you that I respect you? Since we are not familiar with"[2]. Llans12 (talk) 18:28, 24 February 2013 (UTC)

Alex Smotrov

Alex Smotrov is the most notorious administrator in Russian WP. His notoriety has led to the term "смотровщина" ("smotrovism") describing the policy of banning opponents and blocking anyone who he doesn't like for some reason.

In my particular case, I tried to complain to other admins about the above mentioned case of OneLittleMouse. I posted a request on the appeal page. Seven minutes later it was deleted. Again, the reason for that was only given in the edit description field and read: "сверху чётко написано «перед подачей запроса сначала обсудите...» (it says on top "discuss first") referring to the requirement to discuss administrative actions with the admin in question. I undid this deletion in order to add a PS clarification that I indeed tried to talk to the admin in question but he failed to reply to my Wikimail. Alex Smotrov, again, deleted my post and blocked me for "edit wars".

When I tried to reason with him on my User talk page and explain that it wasn't a war but rather an added explanation, he said that I should've used the diff description field to warn him about it and admitted that he didn't read my updated message. In the same diff, he also said that what I said in my post was a lie and demanded that I correct it according to how he thinks it should be written. I refused to do so, called such demands "censorship", which, in my opinion it is, and told him that his actions violate the principles of "Free encyclopedia". In response he threatened to extend my block for "trolling".

The reason for all this is my ongoing "war" against favoritism and abuse of power in Russian WP. Russian administrators give certain privileges to their "favorites" and allow them to do anything to provoke the users they don't like and then, when a conflict finally erupts, they block the provoked party. Nice and easy. And if someone dares to blow the whistle about it (like yours truly), he or she gets blocked "progressively" until the block period reaches years and makes it impossible for a person to work in WP.— The preceding unsigned comment was added by Leo711 (talk)

Situation in general

THIS is how Russian admins work. It's just two examples of systematic abuse of administrative power. Users actually leave Russian WP because it is absolutely impossible to work like that. Having FUN while working in Russian WP has become a thing of a long lost past. I don't know what else I can do to stop this travesty. And I definitely can't go on like that.

I truly believe an intervention is in order. If Metawiki admins... I'm sorry, I'm not too experienced in all this, so I don't know how all your "positions" are called... So, if Metawiki admins take action in at least these two cases and make at least these two admins mend their ways, it'll be a reality check for all of them. It's absolutely time to wake them up and remind them about the rules and inherent equality of ALL members of Wikipedia community.— The preceding unsigned comment was added by Leo711 (talk)

It's hard to make any comment since I cannot read Russian at all, btw you don't seem to be victim of a sort of ostracism at all (the same for Llans12) since there are 91 other sysops and an arbcom I guess you missed several steps in dispute resolution. --Vituzzu (talk) 14:27, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

• I don't know how accurate your portrayal of the situation is, but I have to tell you that it really doesn't matter. Meta admins and even stewards simply can't come in to a project like ru.WP and start removing problematic admins. On any project with it's own Arbitration Committee, that is the last stop for dispute resolution, it cannot be overridden in any way by an RFC at Meta. Even if it could it probably wouldn't, very little is ever resolved by RFCs here. Sorry, but this is a waste of your time and effort, you will have to appeal to the Russian ArbCom. Beeblebrox (talk) 21:51, 4 March 2013 (UTC)

Repeating your complains in every page you believe to be by far related is such a form of trolling, please stop doing it. --Vituzzu (talk) 14:27, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

Beeblebrox if there are specific and legitimate concerns, then I think that it does matter, and the concerns should not be dismissed out of hand. True that there is nobody here with a delegated power to resolve the matter, or to intervene. — billinghurst sDrewth 14:46, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

• Comment RFCs held here are able to discuss issues about other wikis, and look to means of resolution. That said, it needs to be kept civil, legal, and not to be used as a place to belittle, or undertake character assassination, reveal personal details, etc. Also to note that there is nothing that stewards or others here can do to resolve the issue. Resolution lies solely at ruWP, and with its ArbCom. — billinghurst sDrewth 14:46, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

• I'm not sure I understand what point you are trying to make. You concede that there is nothing Meta can actually do even if the above description of events is entirely accurate, but a discussion about what to do about it is still a worthwhile endeavor becasue... yeah that's where you lost me. Honestly, I am not "Meta bashing" here, just trying to give the filing parties some perspective on the chances of this process having the desired effect. realisitically, a discussion in English over here has no chance of changing the very culture of ru.wp. Beeblebrox (talk) 21:49, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

It's alright, Beeblebrox. After seeing a few similar discussions (French WP, Turkish WP) I don't have much hope. But I came to Wikipedia because I wanted to contribute to the best Internet resource ever invented. If this doesn't work, I'm fine with that - life is unfair. But I do believe in eventual prevalence of good over evil. If you noticed, the previous request about Ru:WP was dismissed altogether by a Russian who believes that "Russian Wikipedia is big enough to be able to sort out such disputes without outside involvement". Aparently, this is not true. It is the lack of outside involvement and control that lead to absolute power corrupting them absolutely. This request might have the same fate. But if it registers even in a few minds, the next one will be looked at more seriously... I hope. And I also hope that one day it'll all lead to the Russian corrupt admins getting what they deserve. So this is far from a waste of time. At least, in my idealistic universe. Leo711 (talk) 08:52, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

The previous request was filed by a user with a block log so long that you would need to work several years more to match him. Fortunately, now he is banned from Russian Wikipedia, and the ban was imposed by arbcom. The request was treated very efficiently on Meta, and, frankly speaking, your request should have been treated the same way.--Ymblanter (talk) 10:30, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

My block log grew 30% in a matter of 24 hours. Three blocks in two days for the same thing. And with clear threats made by admins for it to grow bigger if I continue to "disturb" them, I doubt it'll take years for me to catch up. Not that I really want to sit and watch it grow every time I raise an issue or blow a whistle. It's just NOT what I came to WP for. Turning a blind eye on a real problem is hardly "efficient". It's very fast and easy, though, I'll give you that. Leo711 (talk) 11:30, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

Aftermath or Why I can't complain to Russian ArbCom

In response to the above mentioned "missed steps". Complaining to the Ru:WP ArbCom is not only absolutely useless but actually quite dangerous. It consists of the very same people who are administrators. They just rotate taking turns serving ArbCom. But that's not the reason I "skipped" this step.

When I told the admins that I'm going to complain to RfC, the above mentioned OneLittleMouse said (and I quote): "I have to admit that for this kind of edits the user should've been blocked indefinitely because it violates the "No threats" rule."

(FYI, the "No threats" rule refers to the threats of legal prosecution or physical violence in real life.)

When Llans12 tried to support my complaint and said it's become common for Russian admins to stick for each other even in violation of the rules, another administrator ShinePhantom (also mentioned above) said the following: "For the next edit like that you will be retired for good for accusing the admininstrators of conspiracy and covering each other". When asked by Llans12 if that was a threat, ShinePhantom replied: "I never threaten, I'm just warning you out of the kindness of my heart".

If all THAT isn't clear and pure harassment and abuse of administrative rights, then I really don't know what is. I also hope it explains why I didn't go to ArbCom - it was made very clear that if I do, my days in Ru:WP are counted. Leo711 (talk) 07:36, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

This links to what Ymblanter said about the last RfC person being indeffed by ArbCom, now my tool for handling other language wikis besides En is Google Translate so my odds of seeing this stuff properly is questionable however i'm more than willing to take a look around and see it from a mutual set of eyes if it sorts this out, however if what is being said here is true then we have a major problem, mind you this isn't the first time i've seen a case where a user has had an axe to grind with the elite of a Project. Someone once tried to get En Wikinews closed down because they had said axe to grind with the Crat so I wouldn't go believing it all just yet. MIVP

If you need "permission" from me, you have it. Go ahead and check it out. I gave you the links and Google Translator is your friend. I don't think that last case you mentioned is similar to this one. I'm not trying to close Russian WP (or anything, for that matter). It'd be a tragedy if it happened. I'm just trying to attract some attention to what's going on there. I see people leaving and whole projects stopping due to inactivity. It happens for two (or more?) reasons. One is the novelty wearing off and more complicated articles requiring much more work. But the second reason is definitely the way Ru:WP is being run. Russian admins have definitely forgotten that, while not being a democracy or anarchy, it's still a community. And it should be run as such, not ruled with an iron fist. Leo711 (talk) 23:48, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

The saddest part

NOBODY anywhere gives a damn. And THAT is really sad. Leo711 (talk) 08:50, 28 March 2013 (UTC)

It's because the cowardly are too scared to acknowledge the fact that an entire culture, when on the internet, can actually be "wrong." Actually it's two things; bleeding hearts will shove their heads in the sand and keep repeating that "oh it's like that everywhere, there's nothing special about the Russian WP," and people who would be willing to acknowledge something is wrong but are too well aware that all it would take is one person saying "you're just persecuting Russians" and that would stop any progress cold. Until those two things are done away with, nothing will get done. And realistically, those two things will NEVER be done away with. Jros83 (talk) 16:36, 7 May 2013 (UTC)