Help:User warnings

User warnings are standardised messages which can be used by administrators — and in some cases, others — to gently advise other users how they can bring their editing practices into harmony with this wiki's policies. They are also designed to reduce the work-load of admin by making it possible to leave a detailed message with only a few keystrokes.

Origins
The idea for this system arose from a forum discussion designed to improve retention of new and IP users. There, it was decided that brief, specific template messages placed on user pages would be a better way of instructing users about the rules of the wiki. The current "system" of individualised messages pointing generally to, for example, the manual of style, was deemed too time-consuming for the person leaving the message, and too vague for the person reading it.

The final form of this thing arises mainly from an idea supplied by sulfur as an example of things going on at Memory Alpha, as well as the current state of Wikipedia's user warning project. The basic idea of the system is to create a lot of little messages that point to specific parts of the MOS and other policy pages. Language in the messages should remain friendly and objective, thereby eliminating unintentional harshness of tone. Furthermore, since the message is standardised, there will hopefully be fewer case of perceived personal bias.

Though the basic idea of the system is not terribly new, is execution retains a good deal of "TARDIS flair". The actual form of the messages has been wholly created at this wiki and doesn't exist anywhere else on the web — at least, not until it's shared under the beauty that is the CC-BY-SA copyleft license.

How it works
to be added

Examples of each level
There are four different levels of message, as can be seen here.

Level 1
Here's a tip on how to improve your editing. The sky is falling. Lots of other things are happening. Like this. And this. And that over there. There are many balls in the air, many plates spinning. I wish I could make you understand how much is going on. 02:52: Sat 15 Oct 2011 Just some friendly advice

Level 2
Maybe you didn't understand the earlier message. The sky is falling. Lots of other things are happening. Like this. And this. And that over there. There are many balls in the air, many plates spinning. I wish I could make you understand how much is going on. 00:24: Sat 15 Oct 2011

Level 3
Please stop doing what you're doing. The sky is falling. Lots of other things are happening. Like this. And this. And that over there. There are many balls in the air, many plates spinning. I wish I could make you understand how much is going on. 02:52: Sat 15 Oct 2011

Level 4
Unfortunately, you must now be prevented from further editing. The sky is falling. Lots of other things are happening. Like this. And this. And that over there. There are many balls in the air, many plates spinning. I wish I could make you understand how much is going on. 00:24: Sat 15 Oct 2011

Rules for use
Any user may send out a level 1 or 2 message to another user. However, level 3 and 4 warnings can only be sent by an admin. If you're not an admin, and you post a level 3 or 4 warning on another user's page, you will become subject to blocking without warning.

Similarly, users shall not place these messages on an administrator's talk page out of spite. If you've had a message placed on your page by an administrator, don't turn around and place one on his or hers just to "get back at them". That said, so long as your intentions are positive rather than retributive, it's not forbidden for a user to put a level 1 message on an administrator's page. We all sometimes forget the rules and need a gentle reminder — which is precisely what the level 1 messages are for.

Be aware, though, that if you're wondering why an admin is appearing to break the rules, it's probably more effective to just post a simple question on his or her page.