Wikipedia:Not every IP is a vandal

This is an essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

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This page in a nutshell: Check before you revert an IP's edit, as what may seem like being bold and clever may just be shoving a new user out of Wikipedia editing forever.

Take a look at this. This is not meant to single any one user out, but this edit revert was not necessary. This was probably reverted because the editor wasn't registered; i.e., they were under an IP address. IPs are often reverted on sight, usually without checking what the edit consisted of. But not every IP is a vandal.

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When looking for vandalism, many search for red usernames without a second look at the blue ones, assuming that red usernames signify a new vandal or IP to punish. This is not always the case. This is a good example. Some users don't make userpages: some prominent editors include Nanonic, Serols, and Trappist the monk (an administrator). They haven't made their own userpages, but they have been here for a long time and have made lots of great edits behind the scenes. The IP 76.66.193.90 made over 1,600 constructive edits to the English Wikipedia. Other non-vandal IPs include 220.101.28.25, 24.20.69.240, 69.181.249.92, 92.12.217.145, 47.227.95.73 and 184.152.68.190.

On the Scots Wikipedia, there is an IP that constantly helps us out with vandalism and other tasks like translating. He has been there for more than a year without a username and has become colloquially known as 84.135, a shortened form of the IP.

And probably most prominently and locally, right here on the English Wikipedia, 68.39.174.238 (now known as 76.117.247.55) is likely the best example of an IP editor on Wikipedia. They have been around for years, and had a request for adminship, now deleted. An inspirational user, and one without an account.

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See also