User talk:172.56.22.179

You're blocking a T-Mobile dynamic IP address that is used by a variety of people
I was just going to make a slight change to the references in an article (the actual source for "ALCo vs EMD" is actually Business History Review, not UtahRails.net, which is only where the article has been reproduced).

However, this IP has been blocked. I cannot even contact the blocker, or anyone else.

I am using a T-Mobile G4 broadband hotspot device, and this IP address is not permanently assigned to anyone.

This user page does not even provide an explanation for the blocking. It looks like several times since 2016, maybe every eight months or so, a user who has been assigned this IP has done something to offend the sensitive overseers of Wikipedia, which is becoming less and less decentralized as per its original philosophy, and more and more controlling.

This is not one user who you can reasonably block, but probably just several different people being allocated this IP by sheer chance. So blocking the IP is sort of like ticketing a driver who happens to be in the same place as an accident that occurred eight months ago. It's just silly.

Wikipedia has gotten stricter and stricter about who can edit articles and how, which is to the great detriment of the site and counter to the original idea and philosophy of it. And it's one good reason to think twice about donating to Wikipedia, in my opinion.

It would be nice if Wikipedia would at least apply its own rules consistently, and had a sensible plan in place to use for how to handle dynamic IPs. If you want to turn into a site that is for members only, then you can do that. It will change what Wikipedia is or has been about. And maybe it's too late already to save the original vision.

But if you want to allow anyone to contribute, then I hope that you can consistently apply a policy about blocking IPs that are not permanently assigned to anyone. It accomplishes very little to do this, anyway, as generally someone can simply disconnect for a time and then reconnect -- even to the same ISP -- and will be reassigned a new IP. So all you are doing is punishing people who have nothing to do with any abuse.

I have successfully made some edits, but several times have encountered resistance from Wikipedia -- either automated or from staff -- that is counter to Wikipedia's goal of providing better information. So at this point, I am getting tired of trying to assist the Wikipedia cause. This is how you alienate the people who are trying to help. While you are still a very valuable resource, I think that you may be gradually losing your way.

I hope that people over there who have power can remember that it's not about them: it's about providing good information to the world. Power and control can be addictive, and people who have it might want to tend it wisely.

It is unclear whether anyone will read this. This is the only place that this IP connection is actually allowed to express anything at all.

--172.56.22.179 (talk) 13:43, 12 December 2018 (UTC)
 * Sad.. but true... 182.58.166.175 (talk) 10:06, 13 January 2019 (UTC)