User:DumbBOT/Protection

One of the functions of DumbBOT is to remove protection templates from non-protected pages. Since this function is the one that leads to more questions and complaints, I have written a FAQ about it.

Q1: Why did you unprotect page X?

A1: I didn't; the bot is not an administrator, so it cannot protect or unprotect pages;

Q2: But the history says "removing a protection template etc."!

A2: A protection template is a colored box or a small lock image at the top of the article; it does not by itself make the page protected; protection and unprotection is done via a form that looks like this, and the edit summary looks like (Unprotected Wikipedia:New admin school/Protecting/Protect: NAS unprotect test).

Q3: Who did unprotect the page, then?

A3: Most likely, the page had an expiring protection (see the "expire" field in the form above), and the expiration date has passed; it could also be that an administrator unprotected the page but they forgot to remove the tag;

Q4: How can I have the page protected again?

A4: See Wikipedia:Requests for page protection; note, however, that pages are generally not protected just because they get a couple of vandal edits; see Wikipedia:Protection policy for details;

Q5: I know the page is unprotected, but I want the protection template back on it!

A5: While there is no specific policy against that, I believe this is generally considered wrong unless there is a good reason for doing that; anyway, if there is some reason for doing that, you can do it by yourself (as the page is unprotected and can therefore be edited); add <nowiki></nowiki> after the template, on the same line, and the bot won't remove the template again; some other editor, possibly me, may remove it nevertheless

Q6: I am one other editor who wants to remove such a template nevertheless; is there a list of pages where the bot didn't remove a template because of tags <nowiki></nowiki> on the same line?

A6: Sure: User:DumbBOT/NotRemoved; note that sometimes there is a reason for a protection template being included in a non-protected page, such as showing how the template looks.