**WIKI VANDALISM**

[huyoucallinghu]

It seems like there is an especially tenacious vandal tearing through the academe wiki site. Almost every discipline has been hit, and some have given up entirely and tried to move elsewhere.

Is this a regular occurrence, and if so, does anybody have any advice on how to handle it?

I don't remember it being a problem at all last year, but that is as far as my own wiki memory goes. What is the deal with this year in particular? Any thoughts, reactions or suggestions?

Thanks!

[twanda]

How mean. I don't remember anything this happening before. Our luck its some random wanker who gets a kick out of screwing with other peoples lives.

[elevate_me_later]

What format is this vandalism taking?

[larryc]

Is there some uber-wiki control person who could engage in a little IP address blocking?

[huyoucallinghu]

What format is this vandalism taking?

Deletion of pages primarily. But also changing info, deletion of updates, etc. etc. etc.

Is there some uber-wiki control person who could engage in a little IP address blocking?

I don't think so. Or, I assume not given that so many others have been afflicted, and no steps have been taken.

[trabb]

This did happen last year.  The solution was to repeatedly go back in the history and load the most recent page before any vandalism.

[forcryingoutloud]

This did happen last year.  The solution was to repeatedly go back in the history and load the most recent page before any vandalism.

That is one solution....but what a pain.  The wiki could be so useful.  Too bad some have proved over and over that they are unable to cope with having job-search stress and anonymity at the same time.  Of course I think that in this electronic age a department could have an official job search web site for people to check.  The chair could just update it as the search progressed--"Invitations for campus interviews extended 12/5."  Seeing that timely email is beyond most committees, I don't see this happening anytime soon.

[minidonut]

Of course I think that in this electronic age a department could have an official job search web site for people to check.  The chair could just update it as the search progressed--"Invitations for campus interviews extended 12/5."  Seeing that timely email is beyond most committees, I don't see this happening anytime soon.

I totally agree with you.  If an SC can't have the organizational skills to type in a couple of sentences to their departmental webpage (where many of the job listings are initially posted), there's something wrong - not only as regards organizational skills, but simple courtesy.

[tristram]

A quick FYI:

For those tempted to check the box that prevents anonymous users from editing the wiki - forget about it. First, it discourages posting (defeating the whole point of the wiki); second, there is no true validation of login identities (the login id and email I use when resetting my discipline's page to anonymous editing is completely fake - not a dummy email address but a non-existent one).

There is already IP logging - which is no less effective (read: completely ineffective).

[zhimbo]

It only takes a single misanthrope in Reston, VA, to wreak havoc.

[present_mirth]

I grew up in Reston, VA.  It would turn anybody into a misanthrope.

[nanoo]

Yeah, what's the deal with wiki vandalism? (used my best Seinfeld voice just then).

I simply do not understand. If you don't want to see the wiki, do not look at the wiki. And the cross-discipline wikibashing is even weirder. I didn't realize the vandalism extended to false information and deleting updates. There is strange, possibly sick person among us.

I won't be visiting Reston, VA anytime soon.

[tristram]

Regarding the Reston, Va. references: I don't have any particular attachment to the place, but bear in mind before vilifying that location that just because an IP appears to originate in a particular city doesn't mean the individual accessing the internet from that IP lives there - I would suspect, given Reston's proximity to DC, that the anonymous Reston vandal actually lives in Washington DC and simply uses an ISP that routes through Reston.

[nanoo]

Very fair point, tristram. Thanks.

[zhimbo]

Regarding the Reston, Va. references: I don't have any particular attachment to the place, but bear in mind before vilifying that location that just because an IP appears to originate in a particular city doesn't mean the individual accessing the internet from that IP lives there - I would suspect, given Reston's proximity to DC, that the anonymous Reston vandal actually lives in Washington DC and simply uses an ISP that routes through Reston.

Yeah, but vilifying Washington D.C. has been done to death, already.