I remember this statement was issued when Wikipedia was briefly blocked last year. -- Saqib Qayyum
On Wed, Mar 20, 2024 at 7:54 AM James Heilman <jmh...@gmail.com> wrote: > Here is the press release from Feb 3, 2023 from the WMF urging Pakistan to > unblock Wikimedia Projects. > > > https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2023/02/03/wikimedia-foundation-urges-pakistan-telecommunications-authority-to-restore-access-to-wikipedia-in-pakistan/ > > Appears the reason has to do with religious content > > > https://netblocks.org/reports/wikipedia-restricted-in-pakistan-over-alleged-sacrilegious-content-nAg35pAp > > James > > On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 6:40 PM Neurodivergent Netizen < > idoh.idreamofhor...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> IP block exemption is already automatically granted to admins, at least >> on the English Wikipedia; it’s rarely needed enough that further automatic >> exemption doesn’t really make sense. VPNs, typically costing money, aren’t >> an accessible workaround, anyways. Let’s redirect attention back to getting >> Commons unblocked. >> >> From, >> I dream of horses >> She/her >> >> >> >> >> >> On Mar 19, 2024, at 2:40 PM, Alessandro Marchetti via Wikimedia-l < >> wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org> wrote: >> >> >> It's intriguing (to me) to contemplate how the notion of restricting IP >> editing in specific circumstances is often viewed as a violation of >> principle, even when supported by examples or data, yet a restriction like >> requiring long-standing users to jump through hoops just to use a VPN for >> privacy—something standard nowadays—is considered necessary and acceptable. >> Both policies aim to address issues while weighing the pros and cons and >> inevitably curbing some degree of freedom. >> >> Personally, I question the efficiency of the VPN restriction. I hold a >> different perspective: implementing a one or two-year, 100-500-edit >> registration threshold for automatic exemption of registered users seems >> reasonable. >> >> Nevertheless, it's important to recognize that nothing is inherently >> necessary; these are always political and not technical choices. >> >> It's not just vandals ruining it; it's also the approach taken. By >> granting trolls immense power to disrupt everyone's activities, you fuel >> their mischief. Thus, every time these extreme measures are enforced and >> standardized, they inevitably lead to wasted time and endless debates about >> the status quo, and regular users pay a price. Not hypothetically, for >> real.... we know. Whoever prioritizes the pursuit of trolls and vandals >> over the work of regular users, de facto feeds the troll. >> >> It's important to clarify: as seasoned users, many of us have kinda >> learned to navigate this "mess" and endure it... similar issues have >> been grappled with for years, Commons management shows little sign of >> improvement and we just don't care anymore. >> >> However, for those who haven't mastered it or are stuck in some >> nationwide quagmire as this one, suggesting VPNs as a solution is >> impractical—unless you anticipate tens of thousands of users from a country >> with millions of inhabitants to individually request IP exemptions. It's >> evident that the log of such a system would not be sustainable. >> >> I remain skeptical that an alternative solution will be implemented, >> given the likelihood that the approach will mirror that of the VPN case or >> other instances—utilizing massive and/or indefinite self-referential strict >> measures that are seldom evaluated on the long term with some metrics. >> >> >> >> Il martedì 19 marzo 2024 alle ore 20:24:15 CET, Neurodivergent Netizen < >> idoh.idreamofhor...@gmail.com> ha scritto: >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/5BTBH6H4PEHX7CCUBYKUDKDXDC3VOAX5/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> Unfortunately, there’s a history of an overwhelming amount of vandals >> using VPNs to, well, vandalize Wikipedia, hence the block on known VPN and >> the bureaucracy surrounding them. If the block is removed, it’ll quite >> likely become a problem again. It really is a situation of people behaving >> poorly ruining it for everyone. >> >> From, >> I dream of horses >> She/her >> >> >> >> >> >> On Mar 19, 2024, at 12:17 PM, Alessandro Marchetti via Wikimedia-l < >> wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org> wrote: >> >> >> >> That doesn't seem logical or fair. If a user is registered and not >> already blocked, the IPs they are using shouldn't matter at all. >> Personally, I've never used a VPN before I got it this way (even living >> in the PRC), but I understand that some people might need to do so for >> privacy reasons. So, this restriction should be removed. Registered users >> should have the freedom to access the platform how they want. If there's an >> issue with a specific user, it's more appropriate to block their username >> rather than restricting their access when logged in based on IP addresses. >> Adding more bureaucracy isn't the solution if there isn't a problem to >> begin with. >> >> In any case, nothing will probably change. But please don't say that VPN >> is a solution. People have already enough problems that adding more and >> more passages. >> >> Il martedì 19 marzo 2024 alle ore 19:51:42 CET, Neurodivergent Netizen < >> idoh.idreamofhor...@gmail.com> ha scritto: >> >> >> A few years ago, I acquired a VPN as part of an antivirus package. >> However, when I tried to use it for other services, I encountered an >> unexpected issue switching on wiki platforms: despite being there as a >> registered user, I found myself unable to edit them. >> >> So how can VPN be a solution? >> >> >> Right, you would’ve had to use IP block exemption, which would require >> some level of trust from the community that you aren’t a vandal or other >> blocked user trying to circumspect said block. >> >> From, >> I dream of horses >> She/her >> >> >> >> >> >> On Mar 19, 2024, at 11:23 AM, Alessandro Marchetti via Wikimedia-l < >> wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org> wrote: >> >> Why is there so much discussion about using VPNs as a solution? A few >> years ago, I acquired a VPN as part of an antivirus package. However, when >> I tried to use it for other services, I encountered an unexpected issue >> switching on wiki platforms: despite being there as a registered user, I >> found myself unable to edit them. >> >> So how can VPN be a solution? >> >> A. >> >> Il martedì 19 marzo 2024 alle ore 18:17:52 CET, Saqib Qayyum < >> saqibqayy...@gmail.com> ha scritto: >> >> >> Hello Mr James >> >> Certainly, using a VPN is a workaround, but it's worth noting that >> obtaining an IP block exemption is still necessary to edit Commons, and >> this is not always feasible for all users. Many may not even be aware of >> its existence. For instance, I couldn't edit Commons since October 2020 >> until I discovered the option for IP ban exemption. . >> >> And because of this, contributions to Commons from Pakistan have >> significantly dwindled. For instance, I recall organizing Wiki Loves >> Monuments Pakistan from 2014, where we used to receive thousands of images >> annually. However, in recent years, the number of uploads has drastically >> declined, with only a maximum of 100 photos being uploaded each year. This >> trend underscores the challenges Pakistani users face in accessing and >> contributing to the site. >> -- >> Saqib Qayyum >> >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 9:55 PM James Heilman <jmh...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Can you not just use a VPN? >> >> James >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 9:29 PM Saqib Qayyum <saqibqayy...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: >> >> I am writing to you as a concerned volunteer from Pakistan regarding a >> critical issue that has been persisting for several years now. Despite >> multiple attempts to communicate this matter to members of the WMF's >> communication team, there has been a disappointing lack of response or >> acknowledgment. >> >> For the past several years, Commons has been blocked in Pakistan. While >> Wikipedia was briefly blocked last year, the swift response from both >> Pakistani and international news media led to its unblocking. However, the >> blockade of Commons, being a less prominent site in comparison, has gone >> largely unnoticed. >> >> Furthermore, several journalists I have spoken to have also expressed >> frustration over their attempts to reach out to WMF staff regarding this >> issue, only to receive no response. >> >> I urge the WMF to prioritize this matter and take immediate action to >> address the ongoing blockage of Commons in Pakistan. >> >> Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. >> -- >> Saqib Qayyum >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Saqib >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/H5SMMTKRTUI5QLDKOCLZNWCABGDK3UHL/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> >> >> >> -- >> James Heilman >> MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/53DBHAHGEAWIH5VI2X7YMEWYSWDHCBXM/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/SPUJHE3YFDHS2OBQT6KTJOFK7WOSGDZF/ >> >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/RPS6LSQ7DFBOI2FVML4F2TYTKEUVPSFQ/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/CMD6ZMRBLVEYSLR7A5OREASGAJPPTB6T/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/RWXA44WQNH2K4PVXLSDHCTBGQ3PR4JF7/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/EJI2VJIUIR2NGW7IDPL3GR6DOUQHEG7S/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/DQLOG7SVBJAOXKG67FGAYJOM5MYBXSCG/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > -- > James Heilman > MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines > at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l > Public archives at > https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/D4SZTUNQ3LKSP7OPLKXXLRSXZMO2YJKB/ > To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org
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