The verdict in this case was rendered on August 23, 2004.
summarised, as the evidence is now elsewhere.
User:Lir has been a chronic "problem user" falling into the category of difficult users who seem to constantly try to push the limits of the rules and cause maximal disruption to Wikipedia without being banned. These include:
All of this is compounded by Lir’s clear desire to disrupt the current function of Wikipedia, due to its supposedly being run by a "cabal," and due to its being, in his own words, "uberghey". The latest instance of this attempted disruption is shown by Wikipedia:Sysop Accountability Policy.
Mediation has not been attempted with this user to my knowledge, though I do not think this is a case where mediation would be helpful, since the issue here rather transcends any particular pair of users. There has been a lengthy RfC on the matter at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Lir, however.
In the end, though, I do not think the issue is one where attempts at compromise would be fruitful. Lir is a user who is clearly seeking to work within the rules of Wikipedia to disrupt it – much as one would expect from how he was classified by one of his Red Faction allies, User:JRR Trollkien in the listing of WikiHeirarchy, or by his endorsement of trolling. Personal attacks, I think, are personal attacks even if they happen on the (official) Wikipedia IRC channel, and he generally is in violation of the principles set up at Wikipedia:Wikiquette. More to the point, however, I think that Lir’s actions amount to a mildly subtle form of vandalism: his edits are mostly in bad faith, and are attempts to compromise the integrity of the encyclopedia. It could be argued that he falls under the category of “Trolls." However, on the vandalism page, a troll defined as one who is trying to attract flames. Lir is not trying to do that - he is trying to disrupt Wikipedia and waste users time fixing his edits and responding to his accusations. He fits the criteria of a vandal - he is seeking to compromise the integrity of Wikipedia.
To summarize, I am asking for an arbitration ruling not on the elusive question of the acceptability of banning trolls, but rather on the specific question of whether a pattern of bad-faith edits seemingly designed to damage the Wikipedia without specifically violating any policies (and thus making one a candidate for an easy sysop ban) constitutes vandalism, and is thus problematic. And, of course, on whether or not Lir’s behavior qualifies as such a pattern of behavior. -- Snowspinner (IIRC - sig got lost)
Other users have also claimed that Lir has attempted to encourage them to commit vandalism, as in this exchange from IRC:
Snowspinner 04:20, Jul 6, 2004 (UTC)
On July 6, 2004, Lir vandalized a subpage of User:Tim Starling to try to remove evidence Tim had collected for the arbitration committee - see [1]. Snowspinner 14:52, Jul 6, 2004 (UTC)
On July 4, 2004, when User:TheCustomOfLife let User:Theresa knott know that I was working on the request for arbitration, Lir posted an abusive message to her talk page: [2]. Snowspinner 15:33, Jul 6, 2004 (UTC)
These are all accounts that there is a chance of being Lir sockpuppets - a developer will need to check them, at which point I'll be happy to provide specific evidence of problem edits and vandalism on any of their parts. Snowspinner 00:35, Jul 6, 2004 (UTC)
The rules are quite clear that, prior to arbitration, a plaintiff must attempt to resolve the issue via the mediation committee -- as Snowspinner has not done this, I expect the committee to follow its own rules and insist that Snowspinner attempt to resolve his personal issues with me, by discussing with me in a mediated fashion.
I am happy to accept mediation and believe that mediation, on this issue, is long overdue. Lirath Q. Pynnor
For the duration of this proceeding Lir shall edit only under the account Lir.
Lir is required to declare all Wikipedia accounts that he has ever used. Where allegations of his use of specific accounts have been made, such as the list provided by Tim Starling, Lir is required to state which of these accounts he has ever used. Lir stated on IRC, log User:Anthere/Guanaco and Lir "Lir i have three sysop accounts". These must also be identified. Lir has one week from the passing of this temporary order to make these declarations.
If Lir does not comply with a temporary order then, for the duration of this proceeding, he shall be restricted to editing pages related to his arbitration, and his user and user talk pages.
A Wikipedia user may create an account under an alias. A few additional accounts may also be created.
Any Wikipedia user may create a page such as Wikipedia:Sysop Accountability Policy proposing a change in Wikipedia policy requesting discussion and feedback from other users.
The Wiki software and Wikipedia policy anticipates that disputes may arise regarding the wording and content of Wikipedia articles. Should disputes arise editors are expected to engage in research, discussion with other users, and make reasonable compromises regarding the wording and content of Wikipedia articles.
Creation by a Wikipedia user of more than a few accounts is not acceptable and may be grounds for negative sanctions. See Mailing list comment by Jimbo Wales
Making personal attacks on other users is not permitted.
A Wikipedia user is not permitted to portray themselves as another user in editing any page, especially not during a vote.
A Wikipedia user may revert an article a maximum of 3 times during any 24 hour period
While a user may have more than one account and edit without logging in they may not use a combination of their accounts to evade the three revert rule.
The community has made it abundantly clear, over the course of many discussions that they do not feel it is appropriate to "troll" on Wikipedia, or to engage in disruptive behaviour. While there is some dissent over method of enforcement, and over whether individual Wikipedians are or are not engaging in "trolling", there is little or no dissent over this underlying principle.
Lir has repeatedly been discovered to have lied to other Wikipedia users, and cannot be trusted to tell the truth in either trivial or serious matters. Some examples of this tendency are:
The term vandalism is a term of art in Wikipedia discourse, with a narrow definition that does not extend to every bad faith edit, nor to every edit we might prefer had not taken place. Users that engage in vandalism, in this technical sense, are subject to sysop blocks. On the evidence presented thus far, Lir has not engaged in vandalism, though he may have made edits in bad faith, and we might prefer that some of his edits had not taken place.
Lir has edited Wikipedia under a large number of user accounts. The list that has been developed may contain some inaccuracies but there is credible evidence available to the Wikipedia developers supporting this conclusion. Lir has repeatedly lied about his use of multiple user accounts in the past, while he was under a ban from Jimbo. As such, his denials in this case are not credible.
Lir created the article Wikipedia:Sysop Accountability Policy which was grossly ineffective due to poor wording and Lir's reputation.
Lir regularly engages in editing disputes regarding minor matters and despite extensive discussion of the matters in dispute declines to accept reasonable compromises, for example, regarding the proper name to use in references to Saddam Hussein, See Talk:Saddam Hussein/naming and page history and Talk:DNA and its archives including Talk:DNA/vote
During the course of debate on Votes for Deletion, (see Talk:Dan Waniek) regarding deletion of Dan Waniek Lir engaged in personal attacks, see [3], [4], and [5]
Lir during vote regarding deletion of the article, Dan Waniek. voted as the banned user Irismeister, claiming that, although banned, Irismeister had a right to a vote and that Lir had the right to act as his proxy, see [6]
On June 3, 2004, using a combination of his IP address, 63.230.159.235, and the sockpuppet, Editing Saddam Hussein, Lir broke the 3 revert rule, reverting the article Saddam Hussein 4 times, see [7], [8], [9], [10]
Lir may edit under the user name Lir and up to three other accounts which shall be clearly identified by him on User:Lir and the user pages of the other accounts he edits under.
Lir's attempts to influence Wikipedia policy, however ineffective, are permitted under accepted Wikipedia policy and are not grounds for negative sanctions.
Lir is banned from editing on Wikipedia for one week for making personal attacks. Lir has claimed that un-named people have made attacks against him, but has refused to provide any evidence. Accordingly the arbitration committee cannot take any action regarding this allegation.
Lir is admonished not to vote for or otherwise "proxy" on behalf of banned users.
Lir is banned for 1 day for violating the 3 revert rule on June 3, 2004 while editing the article Saddam Hussein.
Lir is banned for one week for using the sockpuppet Editing Saddam Hussein to evade the 3 revert rule on June 3, 2004 while editing the article Saddam Hussein.
Lir is admonished to avoid edit wars and to seek compromise with other users, giving full weight to the opinions and expertise of other users.
The bans imposed on Lir shall run consecutively, not concurrently.
The first instance of Lir editing under an unauthorized account shall result in a ban of one month for all his accounts. Each successive instance shall result in a ban of a duration of twice the previous ban, i.e. 2, 4, 8, 16 months and so on.
Due to the longstanding nature of Lir's violations, a Standing order will be issued, putting Lir on parole: If Lir should make a provocative edit or series of edits (that is, edit wars or other edits which are "disruptive" or in violation of Wikipedia policy, as interpreted by an administrator) those edits may be reverted by an adminstrator who shall post the url of Lir's edits on page Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Lir/Parole violations together with a brief explanation. Lir may be banned for 24 hours should he revert such a reversion. If Lir should attempt to evade this parole through the use of sockpuppets, a ban of up to one week may be imposed. Any bans made under the terms of this parole should also be listed on Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Lir/Parole violations The Arbitration Committee shall monitor this matter and may reconsider it at anytime upon 4 Arbitrators agreeing to a motion for reconsideration at Wikipedia:Requests for Arbitration. Lir may make such a motion only after 6 months; any other user, including Arbitrators, may at any time.