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class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Equal access subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Equal_access-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Some_animals_are_more_equal_than_others" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Some_animals_are_more_equal_than_others"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Some animals are more equal than others</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Some_animals_are_more_equal_than_others-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Conclusion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Conclusion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Conclusion</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Conclusion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-namespace">Wikipedia</span><span class="mw-page-title-separator">:</span><span class="mw-page-title-main">IP addresses are not people</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. 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class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Essay on editing Wikipedia</div><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238436933">.mw-parser-output .ombox{margin:4px 0;border-collapse:collapse;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;background-color:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);box-sizing:border-box;color:var(--color-base,#202122)}.mw-parser-output .ombox.mbox-small{font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{border:2px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ombox-delete{border:2px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ombox-content{border:1px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ombox-style{border:1px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ombox-move{border:1px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ombox-protection{border:2px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.9em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-invalid-type{text-align:center}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ombox{margin:4px 10%}.mw-parser-output .ombox.mbox-small{clear:right;float:right;margin:4px 0 4px 1em;width:238px}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output table.ombox img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{background-color:#310402}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{background-color:#310402}}</style><table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Essay.svg/30px-Essay.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="36" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Essay.svg/45px-Essay.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Essay.svg/60px-Essay.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="35" data-file-height="42"/></span></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><div style="padding-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><b>This is an <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Essays" title="Wikipedia:Essays">essay</a> on attitudes towards <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Unregistered_(IP_or_not_logged_in)_users" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">unregistered users</a>.</b><br/><div style="font-size: 90%;">It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Wikipedia's policies or guidelines</a>, as it has not been <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus#Levels_of_consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">thoroughly vetted by the community</a>. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.</div></div></td><td class="mbox-imageright"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1252059228">.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxplain{float:right;margin:0 0 0 1em;border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);background-color:var(--background-color-base,#fff);padding:0.3em 0.6em 0.2em 0.6em;text-align:center;font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxleft{float:left;margin:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutlist{display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);margin-bottom:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxplain ul{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutanchordiv{position:relative;top:-3em}.mw-parser-output li .module-shortcutanchordiv{float:right}.mw-parser-output .mbox-imageright .module-shortcutboxplain{padding:0.4em 1em 0.4em 1em;line-height:1.3;margin:0}</style><div class="module-shortcutanchordiv"><span id="WP:NOTHUMAN"></span><span id="WP:NOTPEOPLE"></span><span id="WP:NOTAPERSON"></span></div><div class="module-shortcutboxplain noprint" role="note"><div class="module-shortcutlist"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Shortcut" title="Wikipedia:Shortcut">Shortcuts</a></div><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:NOTHUMAN&redirect=no">WP:NOTHUMAN</a></span></li><li><span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:NOTPEOPLE&redirect=no">WP:NOTPEOPLE</a></span></li><li><span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:NOTAPERSON&redirect=no">WP:NOTAPERSON</a></span></li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238436933"><table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice nutshell" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/30px-Walnut.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/45px-Walnut.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/60px-Walnut.png 2x" data-file-width="192" data-file-height="192"/></span></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><b>This page in a nutshell:</b> With some exceptions, unregistered users can edit articles and participate on talk page, and their input helps build <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">consensus</a>, however, there are a great many disadvantages to not having a registered account, both in policy and in practice.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Unregistered users are those identified only by their IP address. The occasionally used term "anonymous editor" is misleading; in fact, the IP address provides a rough geographical location of the editor. While the people who use the IP address to edit are certainly <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:HUMAN" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:HUMAN">human</a> and often add value to Wikipedia, the IP address itself isn't an account, isn't the same as a single person, and can't be treated exactly the same as a registered account in a few key areas. </p><p>Studies in 2004 and 2007 found that most vandalism (80%) is generated by IP address editors. While 80% of edits by unregistered users were not vandalism, the fact that the vast majority of vandalism does come from unregistered users requires reasonable limitations to what IP address editors can do.<sup id="cite_ref-opabinia_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-opabinia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The risk of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:SOCK" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:SOCK">sockpuppetry</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:VANDAL" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:VANDAL">vandalism</a> is high enough that unregistered users are not allowed to create any article (a decision that followed the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia_Seigenthaler_biography_incident" title="Wikipedia Seigenthaler biography incident">Seigenthaler incident</a>), nor participate in <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:RfA" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:RfA">Request for Adminship</a> voting, many <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:ArbCom" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:ArbCom">Arbitration</a> discussions, any article that is semi-protected, and other venues. While every edit should stand on its own merits, there are important and valid reasons for having some restrictions on unregistered users, primarily centering around the idea of accountability. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc"/> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="You_are_not_a_number" data-mw-thread-id="h-You_are_not_a_number"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-You_are_not_a_number"></span>You are not a number<span data-mw-comment-end="h-You_are_not_a_number"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: You are not a number"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg/200px-King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="132" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg/300px-King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg/400px-King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1089" data-file-height="720"/></a><figcaption>IP addresses are like masks, you never know who is behind them, or even how many people.</figcaption></figure> <p>IP addresses are just that, addresses, not humans. Due to the shortage of available IPv4 addresses and the way that ISPs manage their networks, most IP addresses change often. For residential Internet access, this means that the IP address typically changes every few days to few weeks.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (November 2024)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Corporate static IP addresses seldom change, but still can any time the business changes service type or ISP, as each ISP has a limited number of addresses that they can use.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (November 2024)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> This makes it impossible for anyone to reliably track the contribution history of any unregistered user beyond a period of a few days to a few weeks. This is one reason why unregistered users are unaccountable for their previous edits. </p><p>In short, registered accounts are required to be controlled by a single person, by policy. IP addresses, however, may be controlled by 12 different people in one year, or hundreds of different people in one day. This is because the IP address isn't a human, it is simply a routing address, similar in some ways to your phone number. Unlike a phone number, most IP addresses aren't assigned to individual humans, but on an "as needed" basis. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Accountability" data-mw-thread-id="h-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Accountability"></span>Accountability<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Accountability"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Accountability"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Mobile_IP_addresses" data-mw-thread-id="h-Mobile_IP_addresses-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Mobile_IP_addresses-Accountability"></span>Mobile IP addresses<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Mobile_IP_addresses-Accountability"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Mobile IP addresses"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Another issue that compounds this is the recent rise in mobile internet access. Typically, a cellular carrier will have a very large bank of static IP addresses available when a customer wants to go online. These IP addresses are valid for that connection only, so an editor can literally create 12 edits on Wikipedia using 12 different IP addresses, within an hour's time. There is no practical way to tie these edits together since some carriers also use different IP address ranges, leading to the edits having radically different addresses.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (November 2024)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Continuity" data-mw-thread-id="h-Continuity-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Continuity-Accountability"></span>Continuity<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Continuity-Accountability"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Continuity"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Accountability is virtually impossible for most unregistered users, because once your IP address changes and you are now signing comments under a different address, you lose the ability to change any previous comment that had the previous IP address, and you can't prove you are the same person that had previously contributed in a discussion. While this doesn't affect simple changes to articles, it can make detailed discussions that take days or weeks to complete difficult, as there is no way to prove you are the same person that had previously posted under a different IP address, and anyone living in the same geographical area can come in and claim that you are lying, and that THEY are really that prior IP address. This is very easy to abuse. </p><p>In addition, some templates which bring editor's attention to talk pages, such as <span class="nowrap">{{</span><a href="/wiki/Template:Talkback" title="Template:Talkback">talkback</a><span class="nowrap">}}</span>, e.g., to notify about a response, are useless for hopping IP editors. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Network_address_translation" data-mw-thread-id="h-Network_address_translation-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Network_address_translation-Accountability"></span>Network address translation<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Network_address_translation-Accountability"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Network address translation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Network_address_translation" title="Network address translation">Network address translation</a> (NAT) is another problem for unregistered users. Some ISPs use NAT to reduce the number of IP addresses needed to serve a large number of clients. This means that you and perhaps dozens or hundreds of people are using the exact same IP address. The ISPs router will properly send and route the web client requests of you and others, so you don't get each other's requests, but to the outside world, it appears as one, single address. This is even done at most companies, libraries, and public WiFi spots, where many are behind a firewall/router, so to the outside world, it appears to be "one person" when it is in fact, a group of people. When someone in your NAT vandalizes Wikipedia, the result is that the IP address may be blocked, preventing you from participating. It also means that the talk page may be filled up with warnings and block templates for the actions of someone else. There is no way to differentiate the different humans or even know how many are sharing that one IP address, so the address must be blocked, effectively shutting down everyone using that NAT address. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sockpuppetry" data-mw-thread-id="h-Sockpuppetry-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Sockpuppetry-Accountability"></span>Sockpuppetry<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Sockpuppetry-Accountability"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Sockpuppetry"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Carlb-sockpuppet-02.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Carlb-sockpuppet-02.jpg/200px-Carlb-sockpuppet-02.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="210" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Carlb-sockpuppet-02.jpg/300px-Carlb-sockpuppet-02.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Carlb-sockpuppet-02.jpg 2x" data-file-width="332" data-file-height="349"/></a><figcaption>Not all sockpuppets are fun.</figcaption></figure> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main page: <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Dealing_with_sock_puppets" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:Dealing with sock puppets">Wikipedia:Dealing with sock puppets</a></div> <p>Sockpuppetry is defined as the use of multiple accounts or addresses to appear to be multiple editors, for the purpose of abuse at Wikipedia. This includes trying to vote more than once in a poll, participating multiple times to give the appearance of stronger support for an idea than really exists, and evading blocks or other sanctions. Multiple account abuse is a serious and time-consuming problem at Wikipedia, and one of the most common methods used is for an editor to simply log out, then edit as if they were an unregistered user in the same <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:AFD" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:AFD">AFD</a>, talk page discussion or other venue for the purpose of deceiving others into thinking they are more than one person. This is so easy to do and difficult to fight that many venues simply do not allow voting or even discussion by unregistered users. </p><p>If an unregistered editor attempts to edit in good faith at a school, where all computers will typically resolve to the same IP address externally, they can easily be blocked for vandalism that a fellow pupil commits. Appealing the block is typically unsuccessful as there is no technical way to prove the good faith and vandalism edits were not from the same person. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Semi-protection" data-mw-thread-id="h-Semi-protection-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Semi-protection-Accountability"></span>Semi-protection<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Semi-protection-Accountability"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Semi-protection"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Semi-protection is when an article has the state changed so that only registered users with several edits are allowed to make changes. This is usually for a limited period of time, but some pages are protected in this fashion for an indefinite period of time. Most policy pages are permanently semi-protected so that unregistered users are not able to make any modification to them. The same is true for most administrative or heavily used templates. Several administrative board pages, such as <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:SPI" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:SPI">WP:SPI</a>, either disallow IP addresses to file reports or bar participation altogether. Unregistered users are not allowed to participate in these areas because the potential for abuse outweighs the potential benefit of their participation. </p><p>IP address editors can ask for changes be made to articles by requesting changes on the corresponding talk page using the template: <b>{{edit semi-protected}}</b>. Response time depends on how many editors frequent that talk page and their willingness to assist others, so may vary from a few hours to a couple of weeks. It is somewhat inconvenient, but functional. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sanctions" data-mw-thread-id="h-Sanctions-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Sanctions-Accountability"></span>Sanctions<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Sanctions-Accountability"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Sanctions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Another clear way that IP addresses are not human relates to sanctions. When an IP address is blocked, the purpose isn't to stop the edits coming from that address, it is to stop a single individual from editing. If they change their IP address by cycling their cable modem or editing from a different location, they should be blocked for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:EVASION" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:EVASION">block evasion</a>. This is a form of sockpuppetry. The purpose of the block is to deal with the human(s) involved. Blocking the IP address itself (or a range of IP addresses when necessary) is just a necessary step that sometimes has collateral damage. In contrast, when blocking registered users, the administrator has the option of <i>also</i> blocking the IP address that the registered user is currently on, demonstrating how the IP address is differentiated from the user. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Participation" data-mw-thread-id="h-Participation-Accountability"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Participation-Accountability"></span>Participation<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Participation-Accountability"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Participation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There are several other areas that IP addresses (unregistered editors) are either prevented from participating in, or strongly discouraged. Unregistered editors can't run for adminship or vote in the RfA process. They can't participate in most Arbitration events. They shouldn't close <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:AFD" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:AFD">AfDs</a>, RfCs or other discussions. They usually can't get articles <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Userfication" title="Wikipedia:Userfication">userfied</a>, but they can get articles moved to draftspace. When there is a problem with sockpuppetry at an AfD or other venue, the first reaction is to semi-protect the page, so even innocent new and unregistered editors are barred from participating: necessary but collateral damage. Unregistered editors are not seen as <i>de facto</i> members of the community, as all communities are based on accountability. This is why we encourage every editor to register an account, so they can fully participate and help in virtually every venue they choose. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Equal_access" data-mw-thread-id="h-Equal_access"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Equal_access"></span>Equal access<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Equal_access"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Equal access"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>All unregistered users have full read access to Wikipedia, and are allowed to edit most articles and participate in most talk page discussions. This is the core of Wikipedia, being the encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Where it is practical to do so, this policy is carried out. This is why most articles are open to editing by anyone, and most discussions welcome input from everyone, regardless of registration status. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Some_animals_are_more_equal_than_others" data-mw-thread-id="h-Some_animals_are_more_equal_than_others-Equal_access"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Some_animals_are_more_equal_than_others-Equal_access"></span><a href="/wiki/Animal_Farm#Animalism" title="Animal Farm">Some animals are more equal than others</a><span data-mw-comment-end="h-Some_animals_are_more_equal_than_others-Equal_access"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Some animals are more equal than others"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>At the first glance, the value of any edit or comment should be judged upon its own merits rather than whether or not the editor is registered. However, in practice this is not always so. Normally, a logical <i>argument</i> will be judged on its own merits, whereas the weight of the contributor's <i>opinion</i> often depends on the <i>demonstrated</i> expertise of the contributor. Many users will discount the opinions of unregistered editors simply because there is no history of contributions that can be examined, no history of previous participation that can be judged against. This is not entirely unreasonable. While policy may dictate that all edits and comments are equal, no policy can force any individual to consider any opinion any more or less than another. It is human nature to trust the opinions of those we have seen before, those we are familiar with. Typically unregistered users have either short or non-existing histories to judge by, therefore others are never sure if they have seen you before or not, so might be inclined to give those statements less weight or simply ignore them. It might not be fair, but it is human nature. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Conclusion" data-mw-thread-id="h-Conclusion"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Conclusion"></span>Conclusion<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Conclusion"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Conclusion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>While we strive to make Wikipedia as equal as possible for registered and unregistered users, and while this is true in most circumstances, the realities of managing one of the largest websites on the globe dictate that certain restrictions be put in place. At the root of this is the understanding that IP addresses are not the same as registered users, they are simply addresses that may be one person or many. They are typically temporary and offer no accountability to the greater community. </p><p>Editing without a registered account is fine for many purposes, but the unregistered user should understand that others who have spent a great deal of time with a registered account, who have been shown to be reliable in their edits and opinions, and who have a track record that can be freely examined by anyone, will almost always be taken more seriously in a discussion than someone who decides not to or is unable to register, regardless of their reason. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="See_also" data-mw-thread-id="h-See_also"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-See_also"></span>See also<span data-mw-comment-end="h-See_also"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IPs_are_human_too" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:IPs are human too">Wikipedia:IPs are human too</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Perennial_proposals#Prohibit_anonymous_users_from_editing" title="Wikipedia:Perennial proposals">Perennial proposals: Prohibit anonymous users from editing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Not_every_IP_is_a_vandal" title="Wikipedia:Not every IP is a vandal">Wikipedia:Not every IP is a vandal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_is_anonymous" title="Wikipedia:Wikipedia is anonymous">Wikipedia:Wikipedia is anonymous</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Vandalism_studies" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Vandalism studies">Wikipedia:WikiProject Vandalism studies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Why_create_an_account%3F" title="Wikipedia:Why create an account?">Wikipedia:Why create an account?</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="References" data-mw-thread-id="h-References"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-References"></span>References<span data-mw-comment-end="h-References"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-opabinia-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-opabinia_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">See: <a href="/wiki/User:Opabinia_regalis/Article_statistics#Recent_mainspace_changes_survey" title="User:Opabinia regalis/Article statistics">Opabinia regalis' studies</a>, Feb 2007</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="External_links" data-mw-thread-id="h-External_links"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-External_links"></span>External links<span data-mw-comment-end="h-External_links"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://whatismyipaddress.com/">whatismyipaddress.com</a> - Geographically locate any IPv4 address (same tool used in Wikipedia's geolocate links)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://whatismyip.live/">whatismyip.live</a> - Another tool to geographically locate any IPv4 or IPv6 address.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://whatismyip.com/">whatismyip.com</a> - Most used website to locate geo location of any public IPv4 and IPv6 address.</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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.navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Wikipedia_accounts_and_governance" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Wikipedia_accounts" title="Template:Wikipedia accounts"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Wikipedia_accounts" title="Template talk:Wikipedia accounts"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Wikipedia_accounts" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Wikipedia accounts"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Wikipedia_accounts_and_governance" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Wikipedia <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">accounts</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administration#Human_and_legal_administration" title="Wikipedia:Administration">governance</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Unregistered_users" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">Unregistered (IP) users</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Why_create_an_account%3F" title="Wikipedia:Why create an account?">Why create an account?</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Special:CreateAccount" title="Special:CreateAccount">Create an account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Request_an_account" title="Wikipedia:Request an account">Request an account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_editors_are_human_too" title="Wikipedia:IP editors are human too">IPs are human too</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">IP addresses are not people</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_hopper" title="Wikipedia:IP hopper">IP hopper</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Registered users</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:New_account" title="Wikipedia:New account">New account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Help:Logging_in" title="Help:Logging in">Logging in</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Help:Reset_password" title="Help:Reset password">Reset passwords</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Username_policy" title="Wikipedia:Username policy">Username policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Changing_username" title="Wikipedia:Changing username">Changing username</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Usernames_for_administrator_attention" title="Wikipedia:Usernames for administrator attention">Usernames for administrator attention</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Unified_login" title="Wikipedia:Unified login">Unified login or SUL</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry#Legit" title="Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry">Alternate account</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Account security</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Password_strength_requirements" title="Wikipedia:Password strength requirements">Password strength requirements</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_account_security" title="Wikipedia:User account security">User account security</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices" title="Wikipedia:Personal security practices">Personal security practices</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Help:Two-factor_authentication" title="Help:Two-factor authentication">Two-factor authentication</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Using_AWB_with_2FA" title="Wikipedia:Using AWB with 2FA">2FA for AWB</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Committed_identity" title="Template:Committed identity">Committed identity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:On_privacy,_confidentiality_and_discretion" title="Wikipedia:On privacy, confidentiality and discretion">On privacy, confidentiality and discretion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Compromised_accounts" title="Wikipedia:Compromised accounts">Compromised accounts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_not_get_outed_on_Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia:How to not get outed on Wikipedia">How to not get outed</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Blocks, bans, sanctions,<br/>global actions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy" title="Wikipedia:Blocking policy">Blocking policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:FAQ/Blocks" title="Wikipedia:FAQ/Blocks">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_guide/Blocking" title="Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Blocking">Admin's guide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_guide/Blocking/Tools" title="Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Blocking/Tools">Tools</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Autoblock" title="Wikipedia:Autoblock">Autoblock</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Appealing_a_block" title="Wikipedia:Appealing a block">Appealing a block</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Guide_to_appealing_blocks" title="Wikipedia:Guide to appealing blocks">Guide to appealing blocks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Unblock_Ticket_Request_System" title="Wikipedia:Unblock Ticket Request System">UTRS Unblock Ticket Request System</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_IP_addresses" title="Wikipedia:Blocking IP addresses">Blocking IP addresses</a> <ul><li><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Range_blocks" class="extiw" title="mw:Help:Range blocks">Range blocks</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Range_blocks/IPv6" class="extiw" title="mw:Help:Range blocks/IPv6">IPv6</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_proxies" title="Wikipedia:Open proxies">Open proxies</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Banning_policy" title="Wikipedia:Banning policy">Banning policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee/Ban_appeals" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Ban appeals">ArbCom appeals</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sanctions" title="Wikipedia:Sanctions">Sanctions</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Editing_restrictions" title="Wikipedia:Editing restrictions">Personal sanctions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_sanctions" title="Wikipedia:General sanctions">General sanctions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contentious_topics" title="Wikipedia:Contentious topics">Contentious topics</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_enforcement_log" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration enforcement log">Log</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sanctions_(essay)" title="Wikipedia:Sanctions (essay)">Essay</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Indefinite_is_not_infinite" title="Wikipedia:Indefinite is not infinite">Indef ≠ infinite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Long-term_abuse" title="Wikipedia:Long-term abuse">Long-term abuse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Standard_offer" title="Wikipedia:Standard offer">Standard offer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Global_actions" title="Wikipedia:Global actions">Global actions</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related to accounts</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry" title="Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry">Sockpuppetry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Single-purpose_account" title="Wikipedia:Single-purpose account">Single-purpose account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sleeper_account" title="Wikipedia:Sleeper account">Sleeper account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Vandalism-only_account" title="Wikipedia:Vandalism-only account">Vandalism-only account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikibreak" title="Wikipedia:Wikibreak">Wikibreak</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_User_scripts/Scripts/WikiBreak_Enforcer" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject User scripts/Scripts/WikiBreak Enforcer">Enforcer</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Retiring" title="Wikipedia:Retiring">Retiring</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Courtesy_vanishing" title="Wikipedia:Courtesy vanishing">Courtesy vanishing</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Clean_start" title="Wikipedia:Clean start">Clean start</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/User:Worm_That_Turned/Quiet_return" title="User:Worm That Turned/Quiet return">Quiet return</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">User groups</a><br/> and <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_groups#Global_user_groups" class="extiw" title="m:User groups">global user groups</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions">Requests for permissions</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Administrator_instructions" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Administrator instructions">Admin instructions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_guide/Granting_and_revoking_user_rights" title="Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Granting and revoking user rights">Admin guide</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Account_creator" title="Wikipedia:Account creator">Account creator</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Account_creator" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Account creator">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Confirmed_users" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">(Auto) confirmed</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Confirmed" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Confirmed">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Autopatrolled" title="Wikipedia:Autopatrolled">Autopatrolled</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Autopatrolled" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Autopatrolled">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:AutoWikiBrowser" title="Wikipedia:AutoWikiBrowser">AutoWikiBrowser</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/AutoWikiBrowser" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/AutoWikiBrowser">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bot_policy" title="Wikipedia:Bot policy">Bot</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bots/Requests_for_approval" title="Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Edit_filter_helper" title="Wikipedia:Edit filter helper">Edit filter helper</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Edit_filter_noticeboard" title="Wikipedia:Edit filter noticeboard">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Event_coordinator" title="Wikipedia:Event coordinator">Event coordinator</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Event_coordinator" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Event coordinator">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Extendedconfirmed" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">Extended confirmed</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Extended_confirmed" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Extended confirmed">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_mover" title="Wikipedia:File mover">File mover</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/File_mover" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/File mover">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_block_exemption" title="Wikipedia:IP block exemption">IP block exempt</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Unblock_Ticket_Request_System" title="Wikipedia:Unblock Ticket Request System">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Mass_message_senders" title="Wikipedia:Mass message senders">Mass message sender</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Mass_message_sender" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Mass message sender">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:New_pages_patrol/Reviewers" title="Wikipedia:New pages patrol/Reviewers">New page reviewer</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/New_page_reviewer" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/New page reviewer">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Page_mover" title="Wikipedia:Page mover">Page mover</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Page_mover" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Page mover">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Reviewing_pending_changes" title="Wikipedia:Reviewing pending changes">Pending changes reviewer</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Pending_changes_reviewer" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Pending changes reviewer">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Rollback" title="Wikipedia:Rollback">Rollback</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Rollback" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Rollback">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Template_editor" title="Wikipedia:Template editor">Template editor</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Template_editor" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Template editor">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Global_rights_policy" title="Wikipedia:Global rights policy">Global rights policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Volunteer_Response_Team" title="Wikipedia:Volunteer Response Team">Volunteer Response Team</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Advanced user groups</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators" title="Wikipedia:Administrators">Administrator</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_adminship" title="Wikipedia:Requests for adminship">RfA</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bureaucrats" 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