User:Maddie!/Don't start with a level 4im warning
 | This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
Wikipedia offers many useful user warnings. Some of these warnings have five levels: level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 4im. Level ones are general notices, level twos are general warnings, level threes are more stern, warning that they may be blocked, level fours are last warnings, and level 4ims are first and only warnings.
A level 4im warning should not be used as a warning for a user's first edit. This may be harsh, and may scare off what could have became a useful contributor. However a level 4im warning can be used for obvious sockpuppets of vandals, or a returning long term vandal.
If a user's first edit was obviously in bad faith, and is not an obvious sockpuppet or long term vandal, consider using a less harsh {{uw-vandalism2}}, {{uw-vandalism3}} or a {{uw-bv}}.