User:Microsoft for POTUS/guidetoappeal

This is taken from Wikipedia's guide to appealing blocks, with some slight modifications, as it seems to work well for Uncyclopedia (and many communities). Under copywrong law, this is legal, as Wikipedia licenses their dumpster fire under CC-BY SA 3.0 (and for this reason, my modified dumpster fire is also licensed under CC-BY SA 3.0, and your modified dumpster fires must be as well, and so on).

This is not a policy. It is just my opinion.

This page in a nutshell: Understand in full the reasons of your block before requesting an unblock. Put all the relevant information in the unblock request, and only that. Keep your mind calm and assume good faith on the part of our experienced administrators. If your appeal is rejected, do not make a new one until you thoroughly understand the reasons.

This is a guide to making unblock requests.

Users may be blocked from editing by Uncyclopedia administrators to prevent damage or disruption to Uncyclopedia. Blocks are lifted if they are not (or no longer) necessary to prevent such damage or disruption.

You, as a blocked editor, are responsible for convincing administrators:

• that the block is no longer necessary because you understand what you are blocked for, you will not do it again, and you will make productive contributions instead; or:
• that the block was not necessary to prevent damage or disruption (i.e., that the block violates our blocking policy); or:
• that your conduct (under any account or IP address) is not connected in any way with the block (this can happen if a block is aimed at resolving a separate situation and you are unintentionally blocked as a result because you use the same IP range).

It also helps to clearly state your reasons for requesting an unblock because:

• If the background or reason isn't clear, your request may be declined out of hand.
• In complicated situations, the reviewing administrator may not read your whole talk page and all of your contributions. Relevant information not in your unblock request may be overlooked.
• If you make repeated invalid or offensive unblock requests, your talk page access may be revoked which makes it even more difficult to request unblocking.

To make an unblock request, copy the following text to the bottom of your user talk page: {{unblock|1=Insert your reason to be unblocked here ~~~~}}. Don't forget to insert your own reason to replace "Insert your reason to be unblocked here". Its composition will be discussed below. If you find that you cannot edit your talk page, fill out the form at the Unblock Ticket Request System.

Before you request unblock

It's important that you understand the reasons why the administrator blocked you before starting an unblock request. A block is not intended as punishment; it's meant to prevent you from making disruptive edits, either in good faith or as vandalism.

Don't ask questions within your unblock request; that's reserved to explain why you will not be a problem to the project, not to request clarifications about policy. Before requesting to be unblocked, you can ask the administrators that blocked you any clarification about their actions, and they will usually answer (although do not expect them to prioritize a satire website above their personal life), though first you have to read the policies they have been cited as the reason for the block. If you need to attract the attention of an administrator, you can write {{ping|UserName}} in your comment and they will get a notice, provided that you sign your edit with four tildes (~~~~) (although this is buggy for some editors, so this won't guarantee that they are pinged).

What happens when you request unblock

It may help with your unblock request if you understand how they are reviewed, and by whom.

• When you save the unblock request to your talk page, it is visible for everyone to see and review.
• Administrators are volunteers. Be patient. Any review will be carried out by an administrator that feels the need to do so.
• An administrator reviewing your request will look at the reasons given for the block, and your unblock request, in light of relevant policies. The aim in each case is to reduce disruption, damage, and similar issues from affecting Uncyclopedia.
• They may, if they choose, leave a note for the blocking admin if they feel they need more information and put your request on hold. If they are considering unblock, administrative etiquette requires they inform the blocking admin and allow an opportunity to comment.
• Often you will find more than one user commenting on your block, or a mini-discussion happening. This is to allow for all sides to be considered.
• In some cases, unblock requests may require some other special professionals (such as CheckUsers or other admins) to comment.
• If your request is accepted, they will leave a templated response on your talk page and unblock. If it is declined, they will give their reasons in an edit to the request template.
• Unintelligible block appeals may be closed as being incoherent, or as trolling. Appeals that are brief and focused on the concerns of the blocking admin will make administrators easier to decide.

Composing your request to be unblocked

Try to make it as easy as possible for the reviewing administrator to see why your block is not or no longer needed. Be clear, using easily readable English. Administrators are volunteers, and may have limited time or patience for trying to find out what you mean to say.

Understand what you did and why you have been blocked

To effectively contest your block, you must understand the reason for it. Also, if the reviewing administrator concludes that the block was justified, you will not be unblocked unless the reviewing administrator is convinced that you understand what you are blocked for, and that you will not do it again.

You are informed about the block reason in two ways. First, the blocking administrator provides a brief reason that you will see when you try to make an edit. Second, the administrator may leave a message explaining your block on your user talk page. These messages should include the names or abbreviations of those of our site rule that the blocking administrator believes you have violated.

Before you make an unblock request, you should attentively read the policies and guidelines named in your block reason. They are usually one or more from among the following: vandalism, sockpuppetry (i.e. ban evasion), edit warring, spamming, or just being an unpleasant person. If you have read these pages and don't understand, then a first step might be to request a clearer explanation. Attempts to work with others and understand their concerns will be seen positively.

Give a good reason for your unblock

As a user requesting to be unblocked, it is your responsibility to explain why you believe your block violates Uncyclopedia's blocking policy or should otherwise be reversed. Specifically:

1. State your reason for believing your block was incorrect or for requesting reconsideration. It is not enough if you just say that the block was "wrong" or "unfair", or another user violated a policy first. You must explain why it was wrong to block you, or why it should be reversed.
2. Address the blocking administrator's concerns about your conduct (the reason given for your block). As explained above, you have been informed about the reason for your block. You must address this reason in your request. This means that you must either explain why the block reason is incorrect or not applicable to your conduct, or you must convince the reviewing administrator that you won't do it again.
3. Give evidence. If you state that you did or did not do something, or that the blocking administrator is missing something important, please provide brief details and a link in the form of a differential edit ("diff") if possible, or other evidence showing that you don't (or didn't) do what the block reason states.

Stick to the point

1. Be brief.
2. Stay calm and civil. The use of profanities, ramblings, ALL CAPS SCREAMING and personal attacks will lead to the decline of your unblock request without further review of your edit history. The block duration may also be extended. You may also lose access to your talk page and email access.
3. Provide key information briefly. If a mistake has happened, show actual evidence or explain it (briefly). Don't make vague claims that cannot be checked, or allege conspiracies or bad faith unless there is clear good-quality evidence in the form of diffs.
4. Focus on the concerns of the blocking admin and the situation going forward. Show that you understand the blocking administrator's concern and what they want you to do better. Blocks happen because the community has to prevent certain behaviors, and we want you to understand some things matter to us. If you show willingness to appreciate our concerns, discuss the incident in good faith, genuinely learn from mistakes, and show you can keep to the spirit of community policies, often that is all that's needed. If the community still doesn't agree and the block isn't lifted, you will be seen positively when it's over for showing maturity, accepting the outcome, and showing that you are willing to abide by the community's voting.

Do not make legal threats and do not resort to coercion

You are blocked because of concerns about actions that are a problem. Responding by threats or attempts that show gross lack of understanding makes it worse; it suggests you will not learn in the future.

Threatening to sue Uncyclopedia for disagreeing with you is just an attempt to use scary words to censor people that disagree with you, and will likely make your reputation worse. Threatening to harm anyone in real life is illegal, and is possible to get you in legal trouble if the threat sounds serious.

If you have made a threat, or might make a threat, click 'show'.

Genuine defamation, privacy breaches, copyright breaches, and misinformation, are taken very seriously. Gossip, unimportant information, and some private details may also be removed at times. Uncyclopedia has many ways of checking whether our policies or the law governing our website supports your position, and it fields many user teams for this purpose. We act very quickly in response to well-founded complaints. Often, however, people who think they have legal grounds for complaint actually don't according to the law that governs our content. Uncyclopedia is not written by an editor-in-chief or paid staff. The Uncyclopedia community or administration does not act as "editor in chief". It is created and changed by volunteer editors worldwide, and other editors may differ with your view. Uncyclopedia is an enjoyable satire work. If editors see your demand as one-sided, poorly supported, or inappropriate, then you may be unsuccessful. That is how it should be. Do not use Uncyclopedia for advertising, advocacy, or writing about yourself. The Uncyclopedia community (editors) usually doesn't care about threats you make. They care about our content and our criteria for suitability, quality, and reliability. If they review your complaint and disagree, then a legal threat will not change their mind. If you did make a threat and were blocked, then taking it back is often a big part of being unblocked. A message to the effect of "I take back my threat and won't repeat it again; can anything be done to resolve this?" is a good approach. Ask for advice; don't shake a stick.

Talk about yourself, not others

You are blocked because of what you did, not because of what others did. For this reason:

1. Do not complain about other people, such as editors you may have been in a conflict with, or the blocking administrator. Disagreements with others should be addressed through discussions with the community after you are unblocked, but your unblock request is not the place for this. The only thing that your unblock request needs to address is why you did not in fact disrupt Uncyclopedia or why you will no longer do so. Unblock requests that contain personal attacks or incivility against others will be declined and may lead to being blocked from your talk page.
2. Do not excuse what you did with what others did. Two wrongs do not make a right. An unblock request that just asks administrators to block another editor will be declined.
3. Assume good faith towards others. The other editors who may have reported you, and the administrator who blocked you, and everybody involved, are not part of a diabolical conspiracy against someone half a world away they've never met in person, and an unblock request that presumes they are will probably not be accepted.

Agree to follow Uncyclopedia community customs

If you are blocked for something you did wrong, and especially if you are blocked for a long time, you are more likely to be unblocked if you:

1. Admit to it. All your contributions to Uncyclopedia are logged. There is no point in denying something that you did do (or that other editors examining the record agree it is very likely that you did), because your edits can and will be checked. Even if they were deleted, all administrators, including the one who will answer your unblock request, can still see it.
2. Give people a reason to trust you again. Promise, credibly, that you will stop doing whatever got you blocked. Earn back our trust by proposing improvements to articles or proposing firm steps you will take so the issue cannot happen again.
3. Don't do it again. If you were blocked for an offensive statement or legal threat, do not repeat it in your unblock request. Even if you feel that your conduct did not deserve a block, evidently at least one administrator disagrees with you on that point. Assume that the reviewing administrator will agree with the block, and write your request in a way that cannot give further offense.
4. Tell us why you are here. Say how you intend to help contribute to the encyclopedia after you are unblocked.

If unsatisfied despite everything

In most cases, if others disagree with your request then it's best to accept it. Rarely, a situation may have become so heated or words exchanged, or there may be a genuine reason to worry that the blocking admin has misunderstood or is being extremely unfair. Do not "rant", "flame" or attack others even if you feel attacked yourself. It is the worst thing you can do.

If you have good cause for worrying, it is far better to check you have briefly and calmly made clear your concern and any evidence, and just ask for other independent opinions. Administrators asked to independently review a matter will come to it fresh – often more than one will respond – and may be able to explain or help. They will also consider whether or not the blocking admin appears to have acted reasonably, and what they think has to happen. If they disagree with you, then this can be useful reassurance that the initial view was not unreasonable.

Examples of bad unblock requests

Requests such as these are likely to be denied. If made repeatedly, they may lead to your block being extended or removal of talk page access by either a change of block settings or your talk page being protected from editing.

Click SHOW to view some examples of bad unblock requests

“ My edits were right, so I wasn't edit warring! (Optionally, a very long explanation on why you are right and why everyone else is wrong follows.) ” “ This is an unfair block! I am new here! I did nothing wrong! The blocking administrator hates me! UNBLOCK ME IMMEDIATELY, THIS IS CENSORSHIP!!! ” “ User:A and User:B conspired to have me blocked!!! Corrupt admins condone their doings, they are plotting against me! ” “ If you block me, you have to block User:OtherUser too! He has been vandalizing even more! ” “ Please unblock me. My sister / brother / mother / father / friend / roommate / enemy / pet used my computer and pretended to be me. I won't let this happen again. ” “ Oh lighten up, I was drunk / having a bet with a friend / just playing around. It was a joke! ” “ Oh come on, the blocking administrator is stupid / arrogant / idiotic. Remove his administrator rights and block him! He blocked me for nothing! ” “ My account was hacked / my computer was infected with a virus; I didn't make any of the edits I was blocked for / I've regained control of my computer. ” “ If you do not promptly unblock me, I will have absolutely no choice but to sue Uncyclopedia in order to get my editing rights back. ” “ If you do not unblock me, I WILL continue to harass User:A and other people. ” “ I WILL REALLY shoot my dog if you do not unblock me. ” “ I'll make a big donation to Uncyclopedia if you unblock me as a sign of my good faith. ” “ This isn't fair. Admin X is from Z country and they are biased against me and my country. This is discrimination, not vandalism. ” “ I only made those edits to test Uncyclopedia's security. ” “ THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW! Uncyclopedia is AGAINST THE LAW!! ”