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Case clerk: Cameron11598 (Talk) Drafting arbitrators: BU Rob13 (Talk) & KrakatoaKatie (Talk)

Arbitration case pages exist to assist the Arbitration Committee in arriving at fair, well-informed decisions. This page is not designed for the submission of general reflections on the arbitration process, Wikipedia in general, or other irrelevant and broad issues; and if you submit such content to this page, please expect it to be ignored or removed. General discussion of the case may be opened on the talk page. You must focus on the issues that are important to the dispute and submit diffs which illustrate the nature of the dispute or will be useful to the committee in its deliberations.

Submitting evidence

Word and diff limits

Supporting assertions with evidence

Rebuttals

Expected standards of behavior

Consequences of inappropriate behavior

Evidence presented by Beeblebrox[edit]

Fred Bauder violated WP:NEVERUNBLOCK and WP:WHEEL

Special:Block/Fred Bauder is all you need to establish this. On November 11 Fred was blocked. Twelve minutes later he unblocked himself. Another twelve minutes passed before the block was re-instated by a second admin with the block summary "Reblocking; unblocking yourself is clear admin abuse per WP:NEVERUNBLOCK" thus clearly informing Fred of the policy in the extremely unlikely case that he somehow was not aware of it. EDIT: Fred clearly ws very aware of this, per [1] Three minutes later he unblocked himself a second time, and ten minutes after that a third administrator blocked him.

Arbcom has in the past maintained that the correctness of the initial block is irelevant and the blocking policy upholds this position:"Unblocking will almost never be acceptable:When it would constitute wheel warring. To unblock one's own account, except in the case of self-imposed blocks. ...Each of these may lead to sanctions for misuse of administrative tools—possibly including desysopping—even for first-time incidents.". The second unblock is particularly egregious as it is clearly wheel warring, which is always to be avoided. Fred, as a highly experienced Wikipedian and former arbitrator himself, should have been fully aware of the relevant policies. His frustration with the barrage of questions and other activities on his questions page is understandable, but his response when his actions were challenged was not.

(I personally do not belive the scope of the case should go beyond this and would have preferred a simple motion for desysop. The possibility that one or more of the other admins involved here violated WP:INVOLVED does not change the easily established facts presented above and does not in and of itself merit a full case unless there is evidence of an ongoing pattern of violating the involved admin policy.) Beeblebrox (talk) 22:06, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Maxim's desysop

Within ten minutes of posting at ANI [2] that he had removed Fred's admin privileges, Maxim duly reported his action to the committee [3] for their review.

Replies/rebuttals

"I'm not aware that Fred Bauder has been previously admonished. wbm1058 (talk) 3:09 pm, Today (UTC−9)"

I'm not aware of him being the subject of such an admonishment from arbcom, but as a former arb he did used to be one of the people doing the admonishing, including for self-unblocking. When you put self-unblocking and wheel warring together as he did that' a double whammy of offenses, either of which can lead to a desysop on its own. Beeblebrox (talk) 00:33, 18 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

JytDog's timeline below is more thorough and informative than what I've presented here. I personally think this is enough for a desysop but what he's compiled there is even more compelling. Beeblebrox (talk) 19:34, 18 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Ronald Duncan's evidence contains a number of glaring errors. See related thread on talk page. Being submitted just under the wire as it was I suggest it be ignored as poorly presented and in parts provably false. Beeblebrox (talk) 23:41, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by UninvitedCompany (talk · contribs)[edit]

Historical role of bureaucrats

I have provided links to past policy discussions regarding emergency de-sysopping by bureaucrats, and my findings regarding the history of such actions, at WP:BN. Since the page is periodically archived, I also offer this permalink.

Best regards, The Uninvited Co., Inc. 22:44, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Tenure, good faith, quantity, and quality of contributions by participants

The committee is no doubt aware that Fred Bauder (talk · contribs) and Maxim (talk · contribs) each have made extensive contributions to Wikipedia, are passionate in their good-faith efforts to further the goals of the project, and have extensive contribution histories spanning over ten years, that show their lengthy and ongoing commitment to Wikipedia.

The Uninvited Co., Inc. 22:53, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by Maxim[edit]

A brief (recent) history of self-unblocks

Emergency desysops, bureaucrats, and stewards

Gaps in established procedure and practice: a synthesis

Evidence presented by wbm1058[edit]

Uncharted territory

Wikipedia:Former administrators/reason/for cause shows only three former incidents of Arbitration Committee-confirmed desysopping due to "war". Two of these were by Jimmy Wales, who historically has used "founder" privileges

  1. Wheel warring (ArbCom confirmed) by Jimbo Wales 6 February 2006
  2. Wheel warring (ArbCom confirmed) by Jimbo Wales 23 February 2007

and the third was

! Per Prodego's block log, he was blocked for 31 hours (violation of WP:POINT)
  • Fred Bauder did not issue any retaliatory blocks! So, clearly this case does not present any sort of precedent that might be followed here. – wbm1058 (talk) 04:30, 17 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Precedent does not support desysopping Fred Bauder

Wikipedia:Wheel war/Examples provides some citations of ArbCom findings for historical reference. Among these is a case where an administrator was cited for Inappropriate blocking: Freestylefrappe blocked Jeffrey O. Gustafson (talk · contribs) for three hours over "modify[ing] the comments of other users" — the "other users" in this case being namely Freestylefrappe himself. When Jeffrey O. Gustafson unblocked himself, Freestylefrappe reblocked for six hours. This constitutes behaviour inappropriate of an administrator, who should not block in a dispute where he himself is a party, nor wheel war. Indeed, the editor who unblocked himself in this case was not sanctioned, while the editor who blocked him was desysopped, for multiple transgressions including this inappropriate block. While the editor who unblocked himself was later apparently sanctioned for another incident, that desysopping was only temporary as he eventually only lost his bit for inactivity. Here's the relevant block log. This is one of the relevant wheel-warring cases cited at WP:Administrators. wbm1058 (talk) 01:40, 21 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by Rschen7754[edit]

Additional desysops for wheel warring

Wbm1058 is incorrect:

Stewards do desysop for wheel warring in certain cases

However, as enwiki does have emergency removal procedures from ArbCom (unlike most other wikis where it would take a 7 day procedure to remove an administrator by community vote), I do not think a steward would have taken action if the request was presented to them 2-3 hours after the fact. Stewards are advised to act cautiously on enwiki and (especially) dewiki, because they are the largest wikis and a mistake there could offend enough editors to cause their annual confirmation to fail. --Rschen7754 18:31, 17 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by Hawkeye7[edit]

@Wbm1058: Although ArbCom did say "in the face of previous admonishments", in fact there was only one previous admonishment, and that was for taking action while WP:INVOLVED. This was noted by ArbCom at the time, but it decided not to change the wording. Hawkeye7 (discuss) 01:12, 18 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by Jytdog[edit]

After several years of little activity, per his edit count, Fred decided to run for Arbcom per his statement.

As often happens in elections, Fred received some rather pointed questions pretty much from the getgo/

FB'a answers have been... terse and cryptic (e.g their first round of answers and 2nd round, 3rd round, which prompted several people to ask him to elaborate, eg Boing here and here from Winged Blades of Godric.

Fred found some of them (from Boing!, Winged Blades of Godric, and Softlavender) to be Extended comments as he noted - continuing with the terse crypticness - on 11 November in the 1st diff at the talk page when he started moving questions there (the other diffs from Talk are here -- no edit notes. There was no edit note on the Questions page when he removed this content from there (!). I cannot provide any diffs on the questions page from the relevant time period, due to the oversighting of the history.

Based on Fred's recent post on the Workshop page, the question from Beeblebrox in particular seems to have been the proximal cause for FB's upsetness... the question from Beeblebrox on 8 November here), was asking Fred: "I’m wondering if you could comment on what led to you unsubscribing from the functionaries mailing list." (which is a very careful, neutral way to ask the question). The fact that FB was removed from the list, is information available on WP.

This is somewhat hard to understand since Beeblebrox posted on 8 November and the talk page removals didn't begin until 11 November. I cannot work out the motivation, but the behavior (edit warring on his question page, and unblocking himself twice, are very clear.

There appears to be some question about Maxim's judgement in de-sysopping. I think it would be useful to have the whole timeline as it unfolded at the question page, the block log, the user rights log, and the filing of the Arbcom case, all in one place. (again, I cannot show diffs at the questions page due to the oversighting; the page history is here)

  1. 14:49, 11 November 2018 FB first tried to hat/collapse some comments from Boing, Winged Blades of Godric, and Softlavender,(diff) and then apparently got frustrated trying to get that right, and...
  2. 14:50, 11 Nov -- FB removed the hatting/collapsing removed 229b from questions page (diff)
    14:52, 11 Nov -- FB pastes content from questions page onto Talk page diff
    14:53, 11 Nov -- FB removed 6,080b from questions page (diff)
    14:54, 11 Nov -- FB removed 4,395b from questions page (diff)
    14:56, 11 Nov -- FP pastes more onto Talk page 2 diffs
    14:56, 11 Nov -- FP pastes more onto Talk page diff
    • 14:59, 11 Nov -- Winged Blades of Godric restores 10,475, reverting all FB's removals on the questions page (diff)
  3. 15:00, 11 Nov -- FB again removed 3,307 from questions page (diff)
    15:02, 11 Nov -- FB removed 7,168 from questions page ({https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee_Elections_December_2018/Candidates/Fred_Bauder/Questions&diff=next&oldid=868336875 diff])
    • 15:03, 11 Nov -- Winged Blades of Godric uses rollback, restores 10,475 on questions page (diff)
  4. 15:04, 11 Nov -- FB rollsback on questions page (diff)
    • 15:05, 11 Nov -- Boing! said Zebedee rollsback reverts on questions page (diff)  Fixed
  5. 15:07, 11 Nov -- FB rollsback questions page (diff)
    • 15:07, 11 Nov -- Winged Blades of Godric rollsback on questions page (diff)
  6. 15:07, 11 Nov -- FB rollsback on questions page (diff)
    • 15:09, 11 Nov -- Boing! said Zebedee rollsback reverts on questions page (diff)  Fixed
      • 15:10, 11 Nove -- Boing! said Zebedee blocks FB (block log)
        • 15:16, 11 Nov -- Boing! said Zebedee opens ANI thread (thread is now archived here
      • 15:22, 11 Nov -- 2018 FB unblocks self (block log)
  7. 15:22, 11 Nov -- FB rollsback on questions page (diff)
    15:26, 11 Nov -- Boing! said Zebedee removes content FB had pasted onto questions Talk page diff
15:26, 11 Nov -- Bishonen at ANI diffNote': Fred Bauder has unblocked himself. Another obvious competence issue. WP:RFAR next?
15:27, 11 Nov -- Boing at ANI diff That's an emergency desysop situation, isn't it?
15:28, 11 Nov -- FB comment at ANI diff No material has been removed. Lengthy repetitive comments and campaigning by users opposed my candidacy have been moved to the talk page where further comments can be made, and anyone can view them. (NOTE, per FB's contribs from that time, this was the first of only three comments FB made anywhere, discussing his actions before the Arbcom case opened)
15:30, 11 Nov -- FB comment at ANI diff The block was made by a participant in an edit war. I have the right to have a page to respond to questions that is not cluttered up by campaigning against me.
15:31, 11 Nov -- Iridescent responds, diff Yes; per WP:NEVERUNBLOCK this is straightforward admin abuse. Desysop at minimum and probably a lengthy block (or even siteban) for intentional disruption.
15:32, 11 Nov -- Boing comment at ANI diff I have emailed Arbcom to request temp desysop.
15:39, 11 Nov‎ -- Future Perfect at Sunrise restores (nonrollack) content on questions page (diff)

In my view, given a) FB's a) lack of any effort to discuss his concerns with the questions he was removing; b) lack of CLUE and his IDHT with respect to people's reactions to his removals, edit warring, and self-unblocking, and in addition his c) reckless use of his tools, and given that d) Boing had emailed asking for an emergency desysop -- given all that, Maxim's IAR action was not unreasonable, and should be allowed to stand. There was no reason to assume that FB would not continue wheel-warring to unblock himself. This was a very strange situation of someone who clearly should not have had the tools abusing them blatantly, twice, and even defending that abuse, in a very public forum. It would have been better had someone responded more swiftly to the desysop request, but that is done. This is what IAR is for. Jytdog (talk) 02:46, 18 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by Risker[edit]

*NOTE: The edits discussed in the evidence below have now been unsuppressed, and parties and community members may assess them directly. Risker (talk) 05:06, 21 November 2018 (UTC) Reply[reply]

Timeline that may be obscured due to currently suppressed edits

This timeline is provided as fact evidence to address the timeline of edits that occurred on the pages specified below, which are not currently available to the community due to edit suppressions that are unrelated to these edits. Please note that this information is provided without prejudice or intention to influence this matter in any way. There is no suppressed material in the edits described below, and all of the content of those edits is currently visible on the candidate question page, as well as the history of the candidate question talk page.

This is a timeline of actions for the period 14:39 hours on 11 November 2018 to 15:47 hours on 11 November 2018, that pertain to this case. They are specific to

Other pages that were edited during the relevant period include:


Users whose actions are identified in this chart are as follows:

Time Stamp User

Acting

Page/

Log

Action

Taken

Description
14.39 Bus

Stop

Questions Edit Last edit to the page prior to the key time frame. Included to match up subsequent automated edit summaries
14.43 -

14.50

FB Questions 5 edits FB attempts to collapse question section from BSZ and WBG. Was unsuccessful in correctly formatting collapses, then self-reverted
14.52 FB Q-Talk Edit Pastes questions from BSZ to talk page
14.53 FB Questions Edit Removes questions from BSZ, leaving header and referral to talk page
14.54 FB Questions Edit Removes questions from WBG, leaving referral to talk page
14.55 FB Q-Talk Edit Pastes questions from WBG to talk page, section header missing
14.56 FB Q-Talk Edit Pastes section header for WBG's questions to talk page
14.59 WBG Questions Edit Reverts FB's removals of questions with automated edit summary "Reverted edits by Fred Bauder (talk) to last version by Bus Stop"
14.59 FB Q-Talk Edit Pastes questions from Softlavender to talk page
15.00 FB Questions Edit Removes questions from Softlavender, leaving referral to talk page
15.02 FB Questions Edit Re-removes questions from BSZ & WBG, leaving referral to talk page
15.03 WBG Questions Edit reverts to last version by WBG (restores questions)
15.04 FB Questions Edit Reverts to last version by FB (removes questions)
15.05 BSZ Questions Edit Reverts FB's last edit (restores questions)
15.07 FB Questions Edit revers BSZ's edit (removes questions)
15.07 WBG Questions Edit reverts fb's edit (restores questions)
15.07 FB Questions Edit Reverts WBG's edit (removes questions)
15.09 BSZ Questions Edit Reverts FB's last edit (restores questions)
15.10 BSZ Block log BLOCK BSZ blocks FB for 24 hours with a block summary "Edit warring"
15.22 FB Block log UNBLOCK FB unblocks self, with summary "Blocked by participant in edit war"
15.22 FB Questions Edit Reverts BSZ's edit (removes questions)
15.26 BSZ Q-Talk Edit Removes questions from talk page
15.34 Iri Block log BLOCK Iridescent blocks FB for 24 hours with summary "Reblocking. Unblocking yourself is clear admin abuse per WP:NEVERUNBLOCK"
15.37 FB Block log UNBLOCK FB umblocks self with summary "Need to participate in discussion"
15.39 FPAS Questions Edit Restores questions with edit summary "Restore legitimate content"
15.47 FPAS Block log BLOCK FPAS blocks FB indefinitely with summary "Edit warring and wheel warring gone wild"

Evidence presented by Mailer Diablo[edit]

On the role of B'crats

User talk page was not disabled

- Mailer Diablo 19:25, 20 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by Fut.Perf.[edit]

Precedents of re-blocking after self-unblocks

Evidence presented by Alanscottwalker[edit]

FYI: Self-Unblocking by functionaries administrators disabled per [7]. Alanscottwalker (talk) 02:47, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by Ronald Duncan[edit]

A number of Wikipedia:Administrators and Wikipedia:Bureaucrats ganged up on a candidate who responded inappropriately

I think it all kicks off back on November the 5th when User:WJBscribe asks a question implying that User:Fred Bauder did not follow policy in his contributions to articles on Donald Trump a controversial topic if every there was one. User:WJBscribe then 20 minutes later slapped a User_talk:Fred_Bauder#Donald_Trump_(post-1932_politics_of_the_United_States)_(discretionary_sanctions_notice) onto User talk:Fred Bauder.

There are then a series of questions that are negative statements about the candidate, some of which refer back to the discretionary sanctions notice and to each other from

They then get into edit warring, blocking and an embarrassing mess, and Beeblebrox reports Fred Bauder for unblocking.RonaldDuncan (talk) 12:38, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Then whilst he is blocked they try to Community ban him. Wikipedia:Administrators'_noticeboard/IncidentArchive996#Proposal:_Community_ban Which was rejected.RonaldDuncan (talk) 16:56, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Winged Blades of Godric seems to still have it in for Fred Bauder

He nominated 3 articles that Fred Bauder started for deletion on 25 November.

As an outsider this looks like an ongoing vendetta.RonaldDuncan (talk) 14:42, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

You missed another one (scroll a few threads up) and if you disagree with my nominations, you can always have your say in the AfDs.WBGconverse 15:17, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Thanks it is too late it has already been deleted. I can not see what was there to comment on it. Destruction is always quicker than creation.RonaldDuncan (talk) 16:41, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]
It just feels a bit Wikipedia:POINTY RonaldDuncan (talk) 17:04, 27 November 2018 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Evidence presented by {your user name}[edit]

before using the last evidence template, please make a copy for the next person

{Write your assertion here}

Place argument and diffs which support your assertion; for example, your first assertion might be "So-and-so engages in edit warring", which should be the title of this section. Here you would show specific edits to specific articles which show So-and-so engaging in edit warring.

{Write your assertion here}

Place argument and diffs which support the second assertion; for example, your second assertion might be "So-and-so makes personal attacks", which should be the title of this section. Here you would show specific edits where So-and-so made personal attacks.