User:Cassiopeia/CVUA/P,TO 19104

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/P,TO 19104.

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.

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 inform if you have enabled Twinkle. Thank you. Cassiopeia(talk) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)


 * I have enabled Twinkle.

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.

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

Vandalism is the deliberate removal or addition of materal. If someone is doing test edits, incorrectly adding content, or boldy editing their edits are in good faith edit since they did not know what they were doing. In accordance with WP:IJME, if someone is not familiar with policy and makes an edit that is disruptive, their edit will still be in good faith. In addition, if someone makesan edit that seems to be accidental, their edit is also in good faith. A copyvio or harrassment is not a vandalism edit nor a GF edit, but should be treated differently


 * vandalism is more than just add or remote material. Pls read WP:V again to familiar yourself on the topic and let me know if you need any clearification.


 * The key here is intention. As long as a user intends to help Wikipedia, but the edits are might be disruptive, they are still considered a "good faith" editor and should be dealt with differently from a vandal. Vandalism is a deliberate attempt to harm Wikipedia. Just because an edit adds incorrect or unsourced information does not necessarily mean a user is a vandal; they key is their intention. A non constructive edit is a little different from disruptive. A disruptive edit could be adding info without source (place unsourced warning message on editor's talk page), bold phrases which not adhere to MOS:BOLD guidelines and etc. However, non-constructive would have the indication (not always though) of doing something once should not do. Looking into the editors' contribution log history is a good way to find out. 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) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)

Answer: (1) (Formatting issue was the problem)
 * 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
 * ✅. Cassiopeia(talk) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)

(2) (Wikitext error)
 * . Adding biop ,TH, Tee and Gag did not appear constructive to me with the edit summary "You". Cassiopeia(talk) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)

(3) (Wikitext error)
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)

Answer:
 * Vandalism

(1)
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)

(2)
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)

(3)
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 08:51, 2 July 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.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 00:37, 28 June 2020 (UTC)


 * I am now done. You can look it over! P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 00:05, 1 July 2020 (UTC)


 * See the review above and 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>) 08:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)


 * I think that may make sense, so I'll just summarize what I go wrong:
 * The difference between Vandalism and Disruptive editing is always the intention of the editor, and either one can take multiple forms. Vandalism is when someone's intention is to obstruct Wikipedia, while the opposite is not totally true in regards to
 * Vandalism is always disruptive, but disruptive editing is not always vandalism. Non-constructive editing may also not be vandalism either, the only thing that matters is the obvious intentions of the editor.
 * I've found a better G.F. non-constructive edit: Which is in good faith because the editor was obviously trying to add to Wikipedia, he just did not reference his source correctly and the source that he did use was not reliable. However, because he was still trying to add info to Wikipedia he was in G.F.
 * I've found a better G.F. non-constructive edit: Which is in good faith because the editor was obviously trying to add to Wikipedia, he just did not reference his source correctly and the source that he did use was not reliable. However, because he was still trying to add info to Wikipedia he was in G.F.


 * Does that sum up what I've got wrong? Is that right?


 * And just one more question: what is the difference between Disruptive editing and a Good Faith but Unconstructive Edit?


 * Thanks! (You can give me the next assignment). P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 14:01, 2 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Sorry that I missed your ping above. Good Faith but unconstructive edit is that the editor's intention is good but their edits are not constructive such as unsourced content for new user for the first time. Disruptive editing is editor creates long-term problems by persistently editing a page or  set of pages without adhere to edit warning rules, adding sources, changes against consensus to consensus agreement, 2 Failure or refusal to "get the point"  in a talk page, consistently not give undue weight and etc. Do note some disruptive editing are non intentional and d disruptive editing is not a vandalism edit but vandalism is an act of disruptive; however, persistent disruptive editing would results in a block. - see  Disruptive editing. Thank you .<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 09:54, 10 July 2020 (UTC)

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: To advise them of their actions and to dissuade them from performing the same action in the future.
 * ✅ 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>) 13:07, 14 July 2020 (UTC)


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


 * Answer: When an edit has made an extreme act of vandalism or has performed many acts of vandalism, and just hasn't been warned for them.
 * ✅, 4im is only for widespread and particularly egregious vandalism such as vandalism only account 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>) 13:07, 14 July 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, substitute the template by insering "subst:" in front of the warning. So the vandalism user warning would look like: subst:uw-vandalism1
 * ✅. We should "always" subst and not just a good idea to ensure that the message on the talk page will not change even if the template is changed.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 13:07, 14 July 2020 (UTC)


 * (4) What should you do if a user who has received a level 4 or 4im warning vandalises again?
 * Answer: Report them to AIAV.
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 13:07, 14 July 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.

Hello, I'm P,TO 19104. I wanted to let you know that one or more of your recent contributions have been undone because they did not appear constructive. If you would like to experiment, please use the sandbox. If you have any questions, you can ask for assistance at the Teahouse. Thanks. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 13:55, 10 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Answer i:
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 13:07, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

This warning would be used a user has performed obvious actions of vandalism and is being warned for the first time. Please do not remove content or templates from pages on Wikipedia without giving a valid reason for the removal in the edit summary. Your content removal does not appear to be constructive and has been reverted. If you only meant to make a test edit, please use the sandbox for that. Thank you. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 13:55, 10 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Answer ii:
 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 13:07, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

This warning should be used when a user has removed content or blanked a page with no reason and is being warned for the second time. You may be blocked from editing without further warning the next time you violate Wikipedia's neutral point of view policy by inserting commentary or your personal analysis into an article. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 13:55, 10 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Answer iii:

This warning should be used when a used is not adhereing to a neutral point of view and has been warned three prior times.


 * ✅.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 13:07, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

-

See assignment 2 above. <b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 09:57, 10 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Done. Ready for you to check it over. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 13:57, 10 July 2020 (UTC)


 * See comments. Let me know if you have a questions or you are ready to move on to next assignment. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 13:07, 14 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Sorry for bugging you on your talk page. Ready for assigment 3. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 13:26, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

-

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. 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. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 13:20, 14 July 2020 (UTC)


 * , pls see example 1 and example 2 above and pls provide the same (reasons of your revert and why the warning is justifiable) and all the hist diffs. Thank you.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 09:00, 16 July 2020 (UTC)


 * In regards to User:Cassiopeia/CVUA/P,TO 19104, is it okay if I give an example of a couple older ANI reports that I made a little while ago? Users who vandalise after the Level 4 warning are sometimes hard to come by. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 15:00, 21 July 2020 (UTC)


 * , The first assignment we do except of such request, but assignment 3 onwards, participants need to do the practical work after all this is counter vandalism program. You need to look for editors who repeatedly vandalized the pages (within the same month) and report the editor to AIV. Take your time. Do note, Friday and Saturday night (US time) would have the most vandalism in Wikipedia. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:44, 22 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Ok. Well, thank you for your advice regarding when vandalism is most prevalent. I did not know that Fridays and Saturdays have more Vandalism than usual. Thanks for responding. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 21:41, 22 July 2020 (UTC)


 * , Good day. Have you furnished your assignment yet? If so, pls let me know so I may review it. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 04:14, 28 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Almost done! Thank you! P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 13:12, 28 July 2020 (UTC) (see below)
 * Done with the assignment, ready for you to look it over. P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 16:04, 28 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Ok, give me a day or two to review it. thank you for informing.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 09:42, 2 August 2020 (UTC)


 * , See above review. Pls complete addition Q15 and Q16. Pls read the notes below. Ping me when you have finished the additional questions.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 03:17, 12 August 2020 (UTC)


 * , See above comment. Pls complete addition Q16 to Q18. Thank you.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 10:29, 13 August 2020 (UTC)

I think one of the problems that I orginially had with this assignment was finding test edits and spam (which could be reverted). Where could I find persistent spam or test edits? I tried checking the edit filter, but all these spam edits are from hours ago... I think I'm going to need some time to find these (in fact these spam and tests were the hardest to find) now that I'm not Wikibonked. Thanks, P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 19:54, 14 August 2020 (UTC).
 * , Most participant just look up the recent edit logs and check the edit one by one. Traffic on Friday and Saturday night (U.S Time) are particularly high and we could find many test / vandalism / spam edits.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 06:59, 15 August 2020 (UTC)
 * , Good day, havent heard from you for some months and hope all is going well with you.  Not sure are you still interested in continuing and completing the assignment, if you still do and need help, pls let me know. Stay safe and best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 22:25, 2 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Hello, and thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately I am no longer interested in the CVUA. Feel free to nominate this page under WP:U1, if you feel it is necessary. Thanks, P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 22:49, 2 January 2021 (UTC)
 * , Thank you for your quick reply. I will keep this page and when you are interested and would like to complete the program, then do write to me. Happy new year and stay safe. Best.<b style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:105%;color:#FA0"> Cassiopeia</b>(<b style="#0000FF">talk</b>) 23:00, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

-- Notes (1) Test edit means "the editor trying to make an edit to make sure they could actually make an edit in Wikipedia. However, since this is the editor first edit, we could place test edit message to educate and lead the editor to their sandbox to practice their edits. Sometimes an editor makes a test edit, say remove or adding an alphabet to a word in the page, or putting "hi/hello" on the page on their first edit and then revert their own edit on their second edit - see example for self revert test edit - here user self revert their edit after testing on the first edit.

(2) If an editor remove unsouced content, leave it and do nothing as content should support by source(s) - see WP:PROVEIT.

(3) Even thought vandalism message and tool in English Wikipedia is considered a "flexible system" where we would place the level as we see vandal fighters see fix, for vandal that is not that serious and not prolific, we still use level 1 first and increase the level on subsequent vandal edit of the same nature. Some admin will not block editors if warning messages are not enough.