Darkness Shines

Banned

Per the discussion at ANI, and I hate having to do this, but you are hereby subject to the following:

Darkness Shines (talk · contribs) is indefinitely banned from editing Wikipedia. They may appeal the ban either to the community or to ArbCom no sooner than after 6 months from the ban, or 6 months from their last sockpuppeting, whichever comes later.

Good luck.—CYBERPOWER (Chat) 00:37, 21 February 2018 (UTC)

Where was the socking? I didn’t see it posted in the discussion. Mr Ernie (talk) 01:48, 21 February 2018 (UTC)

@Mr Ernie: Although it wasn't mentioned in the discussion afaik, sockpuppetry was the reason for DS's first indef, per this admission. An SPI can be found here... not to mention this comment made about a month ago. (talk page stalker) SkyWarrior 03:18, 21 February 2018 (UTC)

No worries Darkness Shines (talk) 22:50, 21 February 2018 (UTC)

Do me a favour, DS. Don't sock from now on. Your style is very obvious and it won't do you or the project any favours. The sad thing is, you've usually been correct in what you've tried to do with articles but you react even worse than me when you get frustrated with the idiots etc. This can be a frustrating place because it is biassed in many systemic ways but you won't change anything if you can't take part.

Bide your time, perhaps spend it doing some research, and if/when you do decide to return perhaps start on some surely uncontroversial issues where the pov-pushers are unlikely to have an interest. I vaguely recall you helping me many years ago in trying to clean up a fairly marginal notability/promotional article about a herd of pedigree cows - surely even the SJWs or whatever cannot find harm in that sort of thing? - Sitush (talk) 00:36, 22 February 2018 (UTC)

Some sort of open sockpuppetry? A new trend on Wikipedia? -AsceticRosé 04:45, 22 February 2018 (UTC).

• +1 to what Sitush said. You've done good work here, and could continue to do, but only if you wait out the terms of this ban. Do some research, prepare some things you'd like to write, go on holiday, learn Spanish, whatever. Don't sock; you'll be discovered and blocked in no time, the appeal period will be reset, and anything you've written is likely to be reverted with no regard for its quality. To be clear, I'm not saying socking would be justified if it went undiscovered, not at all. I'm saying it won't do you any good to try. Vanamonde (talk) 06:46, 22 February 2018 (UTC)
• +2. I think I came up with a nice way to keep useful idiots like you within the system but it looks like we have a preference for polite POV pushers. C'est la vie. --regentspark (comment) 23:56, 23 February 2018 (UTC)

Asked Arbcom if there were any chance of being unblocked, they have said no and ask again in a year, as I can't see that happening this is the end, thanks to all. Darkness Shines (talk) 07:24, 24 August 2018 (UTC)

So long, DS. Future is future. Who knows what it will bring? Let us hope for better times! -- Kautilya3 (talk) 11:13, 24 August 2018 (UTC)

Farewell - we wish you the very best of luck of your future careers.

JG

Malmsimp (talk) 09:10, 6 December 2018 (UTC)

Precious anniversary

Precious

Seven years!

miss you ... today is the birthday of Claudio Monteverdi and Hans Herbert Jöris, did you know? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:20, 15 May 2020 (UTC)

miss you still --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:02, 15 May 2021 (UTC)

Checkuser

I noticed I have been accused of socking, I have not been and am logging in and posting so CU have recent date. Darkness Shines (talk) 14:29, 18 November 2021 (UTC)

Yeah, that was me, sorry. 17:04, 18 November 2021 (UTC) ( hillbillyholiday at gmail dot com ) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sharknɘss Dinɘs (talk • contribs)

I know, I saw your post on Wikipediocracy, please stop making up usernames which sound like mine. Darkness Shines (talk) 17:11, 18 November 2021 (UTC)

your situation

It is now three years since you applied to ArbCom for a release of your ban. As you know,Have you given thought to applying again? I have no authority to undo thr ban, (as you know), but i do recall a number of positive interactions between us, and would be hapy to support any application that you might choose to make. ----Anthony Bradbury^"talk" 20:03, 23 July 2021 (UTC)

Hi @Anthony Bradbury:, I requested a review of the ban in March which the arbitration committee has declined. They have said I must wait a further twelve months before another appeal can be made, I appreciate the support but the only options are Arbcom, who have refused twice, an appeal to the community who for the most part voted to ban me. Perhaps one day I will be allowed back to the project. Take care. Darkness Shines (talk) 17:52, 4 August 2021 (UTC)

Nice to hear you whatever you say. Arbcom ... - flowers and food if you like --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:44, 4 August 2021 (UTC)

Request to the community

It has now been four years since the community voted to ban me from Wikipedia. For the last two years I requested of the arbitration committee that I be allowed to edit again. However given it was Wikipedias editors who decided I had become a net negative, I believe it is those editors who I ought to need to appeal to. I fully admit to being short of temper, frequently drunk, and quite often profane to the extreme. But that was four years ago, and I have changed for the better. I no longer drink to excess . I am far calmer and not prone to losing my temper as I used to, perhaps because I drink far less, or maybe I've just gotten calmer with age. So I'm asking the community if they would allow me the privilege of editing again, should anyone have questions for me please feel free to post here. If someone would be so kind as to copy paste this to where a majority of editors will see it I'd be grateful. Thanks ¬¬¬¬

I have one, why is this so important to you? Slatersteven (talk) 18:02, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

I enjoy editing and creating articles, it's that simple really. Darkness Shines (talk) 18:04, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

To expand on that, creating something that anyone in the world can access for free, well who wouldn't want to be allowed to do that? Darkness Shines (talk) 18:07, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

(watching) It's certainly ironic, considering the number of editors we have whose very successful wiki-careers are built around everything but content creation. Hey ho. SN54129 19:54, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

Admittedly, I'm biased. But, assuming that there aren't any red flags (socks), I'd support allowing DS to edit again. Agree that DS is aggressive and often (apologies, DS) sloppy in their haste to add content. But they have added a lot of useful content to Wikipedia and I consider DS a net positive. I should also mention DS's ability to identify nangparbat socks is unparalleled. --RegentsPark (comment) 20:39, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

A Checkuser was recently run on my account, hilly Billy Holiday socked with a similar sounding username. I have no other accounts and have not edited since my ban. Darkness Shines (talk) 21:34, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

• Copied to WP:AN. --RegentsPark (comment) 22:26, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

@Future Perfect at Sunrise: FPaS, I have never been topic banned from Eastern Europe or US politics. My original account is banned from climate change articles, this one from India/Pakistan Darkness Shines (talk) 07:31, 7 March 2022 (UTC)

You were banned from EE in October 2011 under your "The Last Angry Man" sock account. (But yes, the other one was nominally "climate change", of course, "US politics" as such didn't exist as a discretionary sanctions area back in those days, but it was essentially the same thing anyway.) Fut.Perf. ☼ 08:34, 7 March 2022 (UTC)

I'd forgotten about that, but then it was in 2011 and only for three months, I had to search the archives to refresh my memory. I still don't recall ever being banned from editing American politics though, it's not usually my subject area. Darkness Shines (talk) 09:02, 7 March 2022 (UTC)

I've now closed the discussion as no consensus. It hadn't been edited in almost a week, and it was generally pretty split, sorry for the wait. Moneytrees^{Talk🏝️CCI guide} 18:30, 20 March 2022 (UTC)

Fair enough, I'll try again next year. Thanks to all those who took time out to voice their opinions. Darkness Shines (talk) 19:22, 20 March 2022 (UTC)

Precious

Eight years!

Precious anniversary

same, I think Wikipedia would be better with you than without --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:27, 15 May 2022 (UTC)

Thank you Gerda, perhaps next year I'll be allowed back. Darkness Shines (talk) 18:21, 17 May 2022 (UTC)

Unblock request

Well it's been four years since my last request to be allowed to edit again. So again I ask the community if they feel I should be allowed to edit again. Darkness Shines (talk) 14:23, 14 April 2026 (UTC)

You should follow the procedure at WP:UNBAN by writing a request to be unbanned and asking for it to be copied to WP:AN. Or, if this is your unban request, I can copy it to AN for you. SuperPianoMan9167 (talk) 14:26, 14 April 2026 (UTC)

I'd appreciate that thanks, Darkness Shines (talk) 18:35, 14 April 2026 (UTC)

I would urge you to write more than just that. Such an unblock request is unlikely to be accepted. You may wish to read the guide to unblocks. 45dogs (they/them) (talk page) (contributions) 19:09, 14 April 2026 (UTC)

Looking through the archives of WP:AN to see other people's unban requests (both successful and not) may also be helpful. 45dogs (they/them) (talk page) (contributions) 19:28, 14 April 2026 (UTC)

Other than I no longer drink and am far less temperamental there's not really much to say. I suppose a promise to not edit war, something like a 0 revert on any edits I make which are challenged and reverted. In such a situation then I have to take it to the talk page. Darkness Shines (talk) 06:40, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

• DS, you should craft a statement that clearly acknowledges the reasons why you were banned and also contains actionable means by which you will avoid the kind of behavior that got you banned. I, personally, would like to see you back here but I don't think a rough, almost throwaway, request for unbanning is likely to work. RegentsPark (comment) 13:50, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

  I have to say, given they know what they have to do (SuperPianoMan9167 told them) and they have not done so, does not fill me with confidence that they can obey any rules. Slatersteven (talk) 13:53, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

RP, I am currently using my phone, it's going to be a few days before I will access my laptop. Work is manic at the moment. Slater, I'm quite sure I can follow the rules. Darkness Shines (talk) 17:00, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

• I am well aware of your contributions to WP:ARBIPA (now WP:CT/SA) and will fully welcome your return not just to Wiki but also to the said area. Orientls (talk) 17:02, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

Unblock appeal

This user's unblock request has been reviewed by an administrator, who declined the request. Other administrators may also review this block, but should not override the decision without good reason (see the blocking policy).

Darkness Shines (block log • active blocks • global blocks • contribs • deleted contribs • filter log • creation log • change block settings • unblock • checkuser (log) • SI)

---

Request reason:

Hello to the community, it has been four years since I asked for the community to consider lifting the ban given back in 2018. I fully understand the reason's behind the ban. excessive edit warring and my lack of patience when trying to gain consensus, especially in the more contentious topic area's in WP. some of this was caused by heavy drinking which lead to a short fuse, other times just a short fuse. I have calmed considerably over the lase eight years, and no longer drink excessively, I can give my word that there will be no edit warring and should any additions I make be reverted I will take it to the talk page for discussion which essentially puts me on a 0RR restriction. I would obviously consider obvious vandalism/copyvios to be exempt from that per policy. I throw myself on the goodwill of the community and would appreciate the ability to edit again. Thanks to those who may take the time to read, and consider this request. Darkness Shines (talk) 17:39, 17 April 2026 (UTC)

Decline reason:

Procedural decline due to the community ban restriction which has now been successfully appealed. You have been unblocked procedurally. --qedk (t 愛 c) 16:38, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

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If you want to make any further unblock requests, please read the guide to appealing blocks first, then use the {{unblock}} template again. If you make too many unconvincing or disruptive unblock requests, you may be prevented from editing this page until your block has expired. Do not remove this unblock review while you are blocked.

@45dogs:

FYI, pinging needs both a ping and signing with the same edit. This looks pretty good to my (non-admin) eyes. I've added {{unblock}} to the appeal, meaning it will be added to Category:Requests for unblock so that an admin can review it. 45dogs (they/them) (talk page) (contributions) 20:56, 17 April 2026 (UTC)

• As you are considered to be community banned, no admin may unilaterally lift the block; I will transfer this statement to WP:AN for a discussion. 331dot (talk) 08:57, 18 April 2026 (UTC)

Thanks Darkness Shines (talk) 11:38, 18 April 2026 (UTC)

Notice of unban

Pursuant to community consensus at WP:AN, you are unbanned. Please read up on the latest policies and guidelines since they might have changed since you last contributed. Welcome back to the English Wikipedia. qedk (t 愛 c) 16:33, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank you, and thanks to everyone for allowing me to return Darkness Shines (talk) 16:48, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

story · music · places

Welcome back, - please shine! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:40, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

Today's story is about one of three bios I brought to today's main page: look and listen, an extraordinary woman in many respects. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:33, 30 April 2026 (UTC)

Welcome!

Welcome!

Hello, Darkness Shines, and welcome to Wikipedia! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Below are some pages you might find helpful. For a user-friendly interactive help forum, see the Wikipedia Teahouse.

• Introduction
• The five pillars of Wikipedia
• How to edit a page
• How to write a great article
• Simplified Manual of Style
• Your first article
• Discover what's going on in the Wikimedia community
• Feel free to make test edits in the sandbox
• and check out the Task Center, for ideas about what to work on.

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your name on talk pages using four tildes (~~~~); this will automatically produce your name and the date. If you need help, please see our help pages, and if you can't find what you are looking for there, please feel free to ask me on my talk page or place {{Help me}} on this page and someone will drop by to help. Again, welcome! ~ŤheŴubṂachine-840≈ 23:35, 22 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm welcoming you because of your recent Unbanning. Also, since you started editing, you are an autoconfirmed user, and since you can request all of your rights back after unblocking, which can be viewed in the log. Just ask an administrator to grant back these permissions. But again, welcome back! ~ŤheŴubṂachine-840≈ 23:35, 22 April 2026 (UTC)

A Barnstar for you

		What a Brilliant Idea Barnstar
		A user that was sitting just returning 8 years after the recent unblock. The community ban might be over but the contributions live on and hope it will be the place to stay. ~ŤheŴubṂachine-840≈ 23:57, 22 April 2026 (UTC)