Wikipedia:The Standard offer
 | This essay contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia users. Essays may represent common ideas, or ideas that many users would not support. They are not rules. Think carefully about what they say before following them. |
When an editor receives a siteban or an indefinite block, one of the things he or she usually wonders is where things go from there. Is there any way to return to good standing or are they are left outside of Wikipedia forever?
The standard offer is not binding; it is just a set of requirements some Wikipedians believe in. However, it may help to achieve consensus and move the process of returning to Wikipedia forward.
The standard offer
[change source]It's simple:
- Wait at least six months without editing and sockpuppeting. It can be tempting to edit an unblocked IP address while the user account is blocked, but don't do that as it is considered as block evasion.
- Promise to avoid the behavior that led to the block/ban.
- Don't create any extraordinary reasons to object to a return.
How does it work?
[change source]- Contact a willing administrator or experienced editor (via email or IRC).
- If they agree a review is appropriate, they'll open a thread on the administrators' noticeboard.
- Discussion usually takes a few days.
Apologies aren't necessary, just basic courtesy and a willingness to move forward productively.
Eligibility
[change source]The standard offer applies to community-based indefinite blocks and bans in situations where things just didn't work out: normal people, short fuses, etc. It doesn't extend to extremes. Generally speaking, if law enforcement could have become involved then this offer doesn't apply.
Variations
[change source]The six month threshold can be adjustable under special circumstances. If an editor shows an very good post-ban record of behaviour, such as positive contributions to another Wikimedia Foundation wiki, then a return might be considered sooner.
On the other hand, if the indefinitely blocked or banned user continues to be especially disruptive then some may become unwilling to consider a return for a much longer time or, quite possibly, ever.