Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Wareware

Case closed on 7 June, 2005

Please do not edit this page directly unless you wish to become a participant in this request. (All participants are subject to Arbitration Committee decisions, and the ArbCom will consider each participant's role in the dispute.) Comments are very welcome on the Talk page, and will be read, in full. Evidence, no matter who can provide it, is very welcome at /Evidence. Evidence is more useful than comments.

Arbitrators will be working on a proposed decision at /Proposed decision.

Involved parties

 * deeceevoice
 * Wareware

Statement by party 1
User:Wareware has displayed a pattern of repeated animosity toward, and disrespect for, me&mdash; and African people, in general&mdash; in a series of racist verbal assaults riddled with just about every anti-black cliché one might imagine, stalking me from one article to another. During this time, not one Wikipedian ever took him to task for his behavior, preferring to overlook it. Others chose to criticize me, instead. This silence on the part of others, IMO, sent a tacit signal to Wareware that such conduct is acceptable on Wikipedia. I've taken this action, because I think it is important that a different message come from the Wiki community about such comportment: racist verbal assaults will not be tolerated, and silence in the face of such behavior is unacceptable, as well.

Wikipedia is a noble effort, but the obvious paucity of black participants in the project adversely affects both the quality and quantity of information available about Africa and the African diaspora. While some nonblack contributions have been relatively well informed and reasoned, all too often, articles are, if not outright insulting and racist themselves, they evidence an ignorance and naivete that is frustrating, sometimes even laughable. (For the latest, appalling example of such an article, see the now expunged and redirected "African-American culture.") And the discussion pages are often even worse. It has been my experience that Wikipedia is a generally uninviting, all too often hostile, environment for blacks when the subject matter at hand is related to black ethnicity. Wareware's conduct, and the silence of others in the face of it, only contributed to an atmosphere that discourages ongoing, enthusiastic black participation in the project&mdash; and to the project's detriment. This is not an indictment singling out Wikipedia; in this regard, the web site is merely a virtual reflection of the real word.

Had the kind of responses prompted by the RfC in this matter been made in reaction to Wareware's earlier conduct, I believe he would have been discouraged from subsequent verbal assaults. But those who knew of it were silent to a man, and the vast majority of respondents to the RfC appear to have been previously unaware the situation.

IMO, Wareware's conduct is an insult to the entire Wiki community and should be answered with the harshest of sanctions. A clear message should be sent that there is zero tolerance for racist vitriol on Wikipedia. deeceevoice 09:57, 10 May 2005 (UTC)

Statement by party 2
Please limit your statement to 500 words

Arbitrators' opinions on hearing this matter (5/0/0/0)

 * I'm not sure whether to accept, only because Wareware appears to be gone. But other than that, I'd accept like a shot based on the content of the RFC - Wareware's behaviour was unacceptable - David Gerard 17:41, 10 May 2005 (UTC) Accept - David Gerard 21:59, 13 May 2005 (UTC)
 * Accept Fred Bauder 21:10, May 10, 2005 (UTC)
 * Accept &#10149;the Epopt 13:28, 12 May 2005 (UTC)
 * Accept; conduct is appalling. Will also be willing to rule in the absence of a defendant. -- Grunt 🇪🇺 15:24, 2005 May 12 (UTC)
 * Accept. Ambi 02:06, 14 May 2005 (UTC)

Temporary injunction (none)
=Final decision = Case closed following Wareware's departure from Wikipedia.