User:Cassiopeia/CVUA/Gardo Versace

Hello, welcome to your Counter Vandalism Unit Academy page! Every person I instruct will have their own page on which I will give them support and tasks for them to complete. Please make sure you have this page added to your watchlist. Your academy page has been specifically designed according to you and what you have requested instruction in - for that reason, please be as specific as possible when under my instruction, so that I know the best ways to help you (and do not be afraid to let me know if you think something isn't working). If you have any general queries about anti-vandalism (or anything else), you are more than welcome to raise them with me at User talk:Cassiopeia/CVUA/Gardo Versace.

Make sure you read through Vandalism as that's the knowledge which most of the questions I ask you and tasks you do will revolve around.
 * Read through Wikipedia:Vandalism, bookmarked, looks like this will need to be re-read a few times and continuously referred back to. Also read Diffs.

This page will be built up over your time in the Academy, with new sections being added as you complete old ones. Each section will end with a task, written in bold type - this might just ask a question, or it might require you to go and do something. You can answer a question by typing the answer below the task; if you have to do something, you will need to provide diffs to demonstrate that you have completed the task. Some sections will have more than one task, sometimes additional tasks may be added to a section as you complete them. Please always sign your responses to tasks as you would on a talk page.
 * How to use this page
 * Once you graduate I will copy this page into your userspace so you have a record of your training and a reference for the future.

Twinkle Twinkle is a very useful tool when performing maintenance functions around Wikipedia. Please have a read through WP:TWINKLE.
 * Enable Twinkle (if haven't already) and leave a note here to let me know that you have enabled it.
 * , pls let me know if you have enable the Twinkle. Thank you. Cassiopeia(talk) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)
 * I've just enabled Twinkle. Warmest regards. Gardo Versace (talk) 08:38, 31 May 2020 (UTC)
 * , Thank you and pls read Twinkle/doc. Cassiopeia(talk) 08:58, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

Good faith and vandalism
When patrolling for vandalism, you may often come across edits which are unhelpful, but not vandalism - these are good faith edits. It is important to recognise the difference between a vandalism edit and a good faith edit, especially because Twinkle gives you the option of labelling edits you revert as such. Please read WP:AGF and WP:NOT VANDALISM before completing the following tasks.


 * Please explain below the difference between a good faith edit and a vandalism edit, and how you would tell them apart.

Answer: A good faith edit is an edit made by a user who honestly believes that he is making useful and necessary changes to Wikipedia. A vandalism edit, on the other hand, is an edit tainted with malice; an edit which is deliberately done to frustrate the end that Wikipedia wants to achieve - the creation of a free encyclopedia across different languages that presents the sum of all human knowledge.

To distinguish a good faith edit from a vandalism edit, the touchstone is whether the edit in question is attended by malice and was deliberately done by the editor. For instance, edit warring, disruptive editing or the omission of edit summaries are listed as WP:NOT VANDALISM because they may proceed from an honest belief that the user is making useful contributions to Wikipedia. That same honest belief negates a deliberate malicious intent from the user which means that vandalism was not the intent of the user.


 * ✅. The key here is "intention". If an editor intends to help Wikipedia, and the edit is considered disruptive, they are still considered a "good faith" editor especially the new editor does not aware their edits are disruptive. Vandalism is a "deliberate attempt" to harm Wikipedia. Editor might edit adds incorrect or unsourced information and this does not necessarily mean a user is a vandal; the key is their "intention". Cassiopeia(talk) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)


 * Please find three examples of good faith but unhelpful edits, and three examples of vandalism. You don't need to revert the example you find, and I am happy for you to use previous undos in your edit history if you wish.
 * Good faith

Answer:

(1) This Special:Diff/770708265 is a good faith but unhelpful edit because per WP:PROTAGONIST interpretations in the form of labels should be avoided.
 * ✅. Cassiopeia(talk) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

(2) This edit Special:Diff/951445688 is also good faith but unhelpful because FPJ's Ang Probinsyano redirects to Ang Probinsyano which renders nugatory the edit made by the said user.
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

(3) Finally, this Special:Diff/950121314 is a good faith edit but ultimately unhelpful because the addition is in violation of WP:NOTNP.
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

Answer:
 * Vandalism

(1) This Special:Diff/939857658 is a form of juvenile vandalism edit because of the use of a derogatory term which is not germane to what the page is all about.
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

(2) This one Special:Diff/827811136 is likewise a vandalism edit as it falls under the category of illegitimate blanking, the user being brazen enough to state in the edit summary that the entire page was blanked and replaced with a crude term.


 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

(3) Lastly, Special:Diff/957994137 is a vandalism which falls under the Edit Summary vandalism because the user's edit summary contained abusive content that required an administrative action to remove, and in the example thus given, the user's edit summary was expunged.
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

-

Good day. Any question regrading the assignment, please let me know here. For other questions not relating to the assignments, ping me on the talk page of this subpage  Here. See above the first assignment. Ping me here when you are done and ready for review. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>)


 * My apologies if it took me this long to answer the exercise, I have just started a new job and am just beginning to adjust to it. My passion to learn has not waned one bit and I am still willing to continue learning under your wing, and it would be a great source of joy for me to make it through the end of the academy and graduate. Am really sorry about the delay. Warmest regards Gardo Versace (talk) 19:44, 30 May 2020 (UTC)


 * See the above review. Let me know if you have any questions or you are ready to move on to the next assignment. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:19, 31 May 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the reviews, they were on point and easy to understand. Am ready for the next set of exercises. But if it would involve the usage of Twinkle, I'd like to review first how to use it. I just had it enabled and I have not yet learned how to properly use it. Best regards. Gardo Versace (talk) 08:45, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

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Warning and reporting
When you use Twinkle to warn a user, you have a number of options to choose from: you can select the kind of warning (for different offences), and the level of warning (from 1 to 4, for increasing severity). Knowing which warning to issue and what level is very important. Further information can be found at WP:WARN and WP:UWUL.


 * Please answer the following questions:
 * (1) Why do we warn users?


 * Answer: We warn users in order to inform them of their policy breaches. By informing users of their mistakes, they would be acquainted with the rules of Wikipedia and would become less likely to repeat the same mistake. Gardo Versace (talk) 00:04, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅ Right. the purpose is to "educate" the editors on constructive editing, especially those who are new to Wikipedia and to "deter" them of such actions with stronger warnings leads up to a block.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:26, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * (2) When would a 4im warning be appropriate?


 * Answer: A 4im warning is appropriate in cases of gross, extreme, or numerous vandalism or excessive or continuous disruptive editing. In a 4im warning, bad faith is assumed and constitutes the sole warning given to the user to cease and desist from his conduct, and thus appears stern and strongly worded. Gardo Versace (talk) 00:04, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅. good. 4im is only for widespread and particularly egregious vandalism and for use lower warning for less egregious vandalism.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:26, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * (3) Should you substitute a template when you place it on a user talk page, and how do you do it?


 * Answer: Yes, substitution must be made on a user's talkpage because templates change over time and by making the substitution of templates, it makes the resulting page independent of future changes to the template. Substitution is done by placing the code  in front of the template, for example   Gardo Versace (talk) 00:04, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:26, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * (4) What should you do if a user who has received a level 4 or 4im warning vandalises again?


 * Answer: If a user fails to heed a level 4 or 4im warning, the said user should be reported at WP:AIV so that an administrator can review the user's edit and determine whether a block is warranted. Gardo Versace (talk) 00:04, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:26, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * (5) Please give examples and please do the substitution (using ) of three different warnings with three different levels (not different levels of the same warning and excluding the test edit warning levels referred to below), that you might need to use while recent changes patrolling and explain what they are used for.


 * Answer i: Information.svg Hello. This is a message to let you know that one or more of your recent contributions did not appear constructive and has been reverted. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with our policies and guidelines. You can find information about these at our welcome page which also provides further information about contributing constructively to this encyclopedia. If you only meant to make test edits, please use the sandbox for that. If you think I made a mistake, or if you have any questions, you may leave a message on my talk page. Thank you.
 * This warning is used when a user engages in disruptive editing as I've done in this edit Special:Diff/961495048 Gardo Versace (talk) 00:04, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:26, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * Answer ii: Information orange.svg Please do not add unreferenced or poorly referenced information, especially if controversial, to articles or any other page on Wikipedia about living (or recently deceased) persons. Thank you.
 * This warning is used when a user adds unreferenced controversial information about living persons. Gardo Versace (talk) 23:49, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * Answer iii: Nuvola apps important.svg Please stop your disruptive editing. If you continue to add unsourced or poorly sourced content, you may be blocked from editing.
 * This warning is used when a user adds unsourced or improperly cited material. Gardo Versace (talk) 23:49, 11 June 2020 (UTC)

- See assignment 2 above and for Twinkle, pls read. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:58, 31 May 2020 (UTC)


 * . Done Sorry this took a while. Gardo Versace (talk) 00:04, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * see above comment and kindly rework for the last two questions. Ping when it is done. <b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:26, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * I've made the correcrions to the last two questions. Sorry about that, I thought the question only called for examples of templates that has different levels. Although as for those that I corrected, I have not yet provided a diff because I have not yet come across someone who si persistent in maintaining their policy violation enough for me to slap the 2nd violation of BLP and 3rd violation of unsourced. To be fair the instructions did not state that I need to provide a diff, but I'll still be looking across Wikipedia for edits that fit the bill that warrants the  I'll be doing that while waiting for your reply. Warmest regards Gardo Versace (talk) 23:49, 11 June 2020 (UTC)


 * . thank you for the answers and reviewed. Best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:39, 12 June 2020 (UTC)

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Tools
Recent changes patrol includes a list of tools and resources for those who want to fight vandalism with a more systematic and efficient approach.

What you have been doing so far is named the old school approach. As well as manually going through Special:RecentChanges, it includes undos, "last clean version" restores, and manually warning users.

There are a large number of tool which assist users in the fight against vandalism. They range from tools which help filter and detect vandalism to tools which will revert, warn and report users.

Twinkle
Twinkle, as you know, is very useful. It provides three types of rollback functions (vandalism, normal and AGF) as well as an easy previous version restore function (for when there are a number of different editors vandalising in a row). Other functions include a full library of speedy deletion functions, and user warnings. It also has a function to propose and nominate pages for deletion, to request page protection to report users to WP:AIV, WP:UAA, WP:SPI, and other administrative noticeboards.

User creation log
In my early days of fighting vandalism on Wikipedia, one of the strategies I would use to find vandalism was to patrol the account creation log. This is located at Special:Log/newusers, and it logs every time a new user account is created on Wikipedia. You'll notice that new accounts with no contributions so far will have a red "contribs" links, whereas new accounts with some contributions will have blue "contribs" links. One great way not only to find vandalism, but welcome new users to Wikipedia is to check the blue contribs links that come in.

Rollback
See rollback, this user right introduces an easy rollback button (which with one click reverts an editor's contributions). I'll let you know when I think you're ready to apply for the rollback user right.

STiki
STiki is an application that you download to your computer, and it provides you with diffs which either it or User:ClueBot NG have scored on their possibility of being uncontructive, and you are given the option to revert it as vandalism, revert it assuming good faith, mark it as innocent, or abstain from making a judgment on the diff. In order to use STiki, you need one of the following: (1) the rollback permission, (2) at least 1000 article edits (in the article namespace, not talk/user pages), or (3) special permission via Wikipedia talk:STiki.

Huggle
Huggle is also an application you download to your computer which presents you diffs (orders them on the likelihood of being unconstructive edits and on the editor's recent history) from users not on its whitelist. It allows you to revert vandalism, warn and reports users in one click. The rollback permission is required to use Huggle.

Make sure you keep in mind that some edits that seem like vandalism can be test edits. This happens when a new user is experimenting and makes accidental unconstructive edits. Generally, these should be treated with good faith, especially if it is their first time, and warned gently. The following templates are used for test edits:, and.

I just wanted to make sure you know about Special:RecentChanges, if you use the diff link in a different window or tab you can check a number of revisions much more easily. If you enable Hovercards in the Hover section of your preferences, you can view the diff by just hovering over it. Alternately, you can press control-F or command-F and search for "tag:". some edits get tagged for possible vandalism or section blanking.


 * Find and revert some vandalism. Warn each user appropriately, using the correct kind of warning and level. Please include at least two test edits and at least two appropriate reports to AIV. For each revert and warning please fill in a line on the table below

--
 * Good day. If Twinkle does not show the template in the drop down list, then manually subst it. At the moment STiki is not working. I use both Twinkle and Huggle (a better tool and a preference which is a user right tool ) and you can apply at the when you have graduated from the program. Stay safe and best.10:45, 12 June 2020 (UTC)


 * I'm done with the third assignment, sorry it took a while. I was doing it manually given that Twinkle is not working on my phone even though it was enabled. Also, using Special:RecentChanges felt like a race as before I can even revert some edits it's already been reverted. Warmest regards Gardo Versace (talk) 02:08, 3 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Done with the third assignment. Ready to be reviewed and looking forward to the 4th assignment. Gardo Versace (talk) 10:22, 3 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Hi, pls see the comments. Please see additional questions and ping me when you have done. Pls provide hist diff for any report to AIV /RPP and etc and any hist diff which needed - see below for examples. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 03:14, 4 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Good day !


 * Was wondering about the BLP violation, the unsourced content and talking on the article diffs I reverted and provided.


 * (1) I had reverted a BLP violation before, about a year before I enrolled in CUVA, where I provided the reference and the IP user reverted the edits I made and deleted the references. I didn't template the editor but provided a personal message on its talkpage. Can I use that instead?


 * (2) Now about the unsourced content. The article was about a film and what was deleted was the plot. Plots are supposed to be original so as not to run afoul copyright violation. The plot was originally written and was not flagged for copyright violation. I marked it as unconstructive editing because given that it was an original content that wasn't an original research, it shouldn't have been removed. Also, the IP editor did not provide an edit summary which is a hallmark of unconstructive editing.


 * (3)As for talking on the article, I flagged it as such because I felt like talking about the actor's favorite food is WP:TRIVIAL.


 * Hoping for some clarifications on these. Thank you for your patience with me. Warmest regards. Gardo Versace (talk) 05:59, 4 July 2020 (UTC)


 * See below
 * (1) Personal message - Option (i) You can just use the standard warning template (ii) You could always add personal messages along site with the warning message (there is a box/field in Twincle to add personal message which the message will be placed at the end of the warning message.) (iii) You can also place the warning message first then add another personal message separately for the reason sometimes the editor does not read the whole message especially there are a few warning messages already in the editor's talk page. (iv) you can just use personal message alone if you want; however, this doesnt not sure which warning level you are indicating. For only personal message without the warning level in the talk page would be best use for informing the editor of certain way/guidelines/policies/etc (not serious vandalism) which the editor might not aware of especially the editor's edit is a good faith edit.


 * (2) WP:FILMPLOT - As per WP:FILMPLOT, "Since films are primary sources in their articles, basic descriptions of their plots are acceptable without reference to an outside source." If you know the plot of the film and deem the changes are incorrect, you can revert it. (I havent seen the movie, so I would not know). However, to edit without leave an edit summary is not an nonconstructive, but it would be not nothing it has to be done especially the editor has only 2 edits in total. What we could do (if only edit summary is the issue) then we place a Template:ES template on the editor talk page. If the editor change the plot which is not as per the film (which you can find the source to support it) then that would be consider a disruptive edit or vandalism if the edit fits the criteria.


 * (3) Talking in the article - the question is it is talk in the "article page" but not in the article talk page. WP:TRIVIAL sourced content could be removed especially if the content has not significant impact on the subject. Do leave a edit summary (ES) and guideline links on he ES.


 * (4) Counter vandalism in English Wikipedia - It is a flexible system. Normally we place level one warning and increase the level on subsequent vandalism edits leads up to a block. However, we could place level 2,3,4 or only warning depending on the seriousness vandalism edits, prolific of the vandalism edits (especially in a short range of time) or previous warnings (a large amount of warnings in the editors talk page in the past) to decide which warning level to be placed (for at time it is a judgmental call of the vandalism fighter).  For such experience on many (min 5000) counter vandalism edits would be help as the vandal fighter would encounter many different type of vandalism edit.  To say all that, we always assume good faith if we are not sure and send link via personal messages to the editors would be the good way especially to good faith editor so we could educate them. If we are not sure what the edit, due to we do not have the background of the subject, cant find source to support the edit and etc then leave the edit alone to a more experience vandal fighter or editors who are familiar with the subject to action.


 * Thank you.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:35, 4 July 2020 (UTC)
 * This was enlightening. Now I have a clear grasp of where I went wrong, especially with talking on the article. When I read the template it said talking on the article's talkpage but I failed to consider that it's talking on the article itself. I'll be looking for an example of it too but where shpuld I put it? Can I just add another cell to the table to accomodate my answer for talking in the article? Best regards Gardo Versace (talk) 09:13, 4 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I had added - see Q22. Thank you.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 09:42, 4 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I've just finished the extra questions. Am ready for the review of it and hopefully move on to the next part of the program. Warmest regards Gardo Versace (talk) 12:13, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

See comments above and pls answer additional 2 test edit question. See explanation and examples below. Let me know if you need further assistance. <b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 12:32, 13 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Talking on the article - Usually the editor would literary use the word I and you as if they are in a chat room. See example - Talking on the article
 * Test edit - Usually is the first edit the editor makes for their intention is to see if they could make an edit in Wikipedia. Editor usually remove/add an alphabet or space or place "hi/hello" and sometime they revert their first edit after.  Example  test edit example.


 * I actually do have a problem looking for a test edit. Have been patrolling recent changes round the clock from Friday through Sunday, suffice to say I didn't have much luck with test edits in the example given above. For one, most of the new editors weren't just trying to change numbers or letters at all. They are even smart enough to leave edit summaries that's why I turned to How to identify a test edit, but I guess I identified the wrong edits that would fall under it. I've already provided a new diff for talking on the article, which was what I should hace submitted yesterday. I'll be looking for new diffs for test edits. Warmest regards. Gardo Versace (talk) 13:17, 13 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Havent seen you working on the test edit for almost 10 days. - Here are 3 more examples here-a, here-b and here-c. Try on Friday and Saturday night (US time) as there will be a lot of vandalism and test edits make in Wikipedia. Stay safe.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 11:49, 21 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks for checkinh up on me. I'll try on the weekends again. It's been tough looking test edits. I'm also starting to get busy on the job I took. But rest assured I'll finish the program. My resolve to finish it has never waned. Warmest regards. Gardo Versace (talk) 14:16, 21 July 2020 (UTC)


 * OK thanks for the reply. In the future, if you need to take at least a week to 2 weeks to work on the assignment due to personal life or work, you just ping and inform me, so I may know. Thank you and stay safe.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:34, 22 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Will do just that, thank you. Be safe. Warmest regards. Gardo Versace (talk) 12:29, 22 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Would it be ok if I asked for a little more time? I've been spending less and less time editing because my job and on the weekends when I edit, I haven't found much luck witb test edits. I'm still on the lookout, but because my edits have been few and far between, I might as well inform you about it. Thank you for your patience with me. Warmest regards Gardo Versace (talk) 15:56, 27 July 2020 (UTC)


 * No problems. do note that the most vandalism as well as test edits happens at night (U.S) time on Friday and Saturday.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 04:16, 28 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the heads up! Will be patrollinf on Fridays too. I don't have much luck on Sundays. Saturdays is a mixed bag. Hopefully I'll hit the jackpot one of these Fridays or Saturdays. Gardo Versace (talk) 13:17, 28 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Hi have you have a chance to sport test edits last weekend?<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:54, 5 August 2020 (UTC)


 * Sadly, I haven't yet. Been almost off Wikipedia for the past few weeks because there's days when I have to report on Saturdays for my work. Sigh. Gardo Versace (talk) 23:25, 5 August 2020 (UTC)