Feature summary:
When blocking IP addresses, the option to block the creation of user accounts in enabled by default. Apparently making this option default or not, is not configurable : https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Topic:Y1c3ky3328rd0p25
- Idea #1: This option should be disabled by default
- Idea #2: (preferred) This option should be configurable per wiki
- Idea #3 : (best) do not allow the option to block the creation of accounts to be enabled, if the block period is for an indefinite period of time
Use case(s):
Sometimes users on a wiki will block an IP-address for an indefinite period of time. I don't have a problem with this, but if that block is combined with the option to not allow that IP to create a user account, some people might be permanently blocked from creating an account. Because of NAT, there could be multiple people using the same IP, and this unfairly affects them.
When I check the block logs on my wiki, I try to find these kinds of blocks, and edit them to at least allow the person to create an account. If they create an account and continue to misbehave, then the account can be blocked, but other people behind the IP can still create an account and edit constructively if they want.
The problem is that this occurrence is often missed, so having this "dangerous" option enabled by default is not a good idea. Many people performing blocks don't think about this, or don't even check all the options that are enabled/disabled.
Benefits (why should this be implemented?):
- More likely to allow people behind a shared IP address to still create accounts.
- Gives wiki's more control over the configuration of their block pages.