Last modified: 2014-09-26 18:18:32 UTC
On Englih Wikipedia, we some times have the following situations, where things would be easier and better if we could allow specific users to edit specific pages despite being blocked: * Arbitration Committee (ArbCom) cases - these frequently involve problematic users, who will some times be blocked for some or all of the time the case is open; they should still be allowed to comment on their case. * Users getting a {{2nd chance}} - if a user blocked as a vandalism-only account requests an unblock, then we some times give the user a {{2nd chance}}: Show us that you can help improve one article, and we will unblock you. Unofrtunately, the only place the user can do this is on his/her own talk page. It would make this process easier if we could give the user a subpage on which they can do it. * Discussions about unblocking - some times, we have such discussions at places outside of the user's own talk page, such as the Administrators' noticeboard. It would make things easier if the user could respond there directly. * At times, admins decide that a blocked user is essential for an on-going discussion, and copy comments the ser makes on his/her talk page to the discussion in general. In such cases, it would be easier if the user could respond there directly. In all these cases, things would b e easier if admions could allow a given user to edit a given page despite being blocked. Thos should be held in a publicly visible way, and be revokable by anty admin either when the need is cearly no longer there, or in case of abuse.
Cf bug 674 and bug 15821. I'm going to repeat part of Andrew's comment on the latter: "We need to have a unified approach to access control, rather than just tacking on extra hacks when we need them. At least some portion of the access control system needs a rewrite." On that note, cf bug 14636.
We could add a MediaWiki: message which additional pages that can still be edited when you are blocked but allowed to edit your talk page. Such approach would affect everyone blocked, allowing them to edit the arbcom case or the noticeboard, not just the affected user (unless perhaps the user name was used inside the title). Would that fulfill your needs ? (you could of course remove the edit-talk flag to blocked users abusing that)
