CZ:Leaving the project

A users may leave the project at any moment by simply ceasing the activities. No special action or declaration is necessary on his part. Constables --representing the project for the purpose of this policy-- take no action either.

In some cases, however, additional issues may arise. This document covers typical situations and describes the relevant procedures.

General principles

Users who contributed to the project are reminded that any work is released under a free license (Creative Commons or GFDL). Once freed, it is "irreversible" and one may not require drawing back his contributions.

One type of contribution is however special -- the user page. Although it bears personal data, its purpose is to support the project. It plays a role of a real-life "signature" to the work done on the wiki as opposed to pseudonym or an anonymous "handle" in a virtual world. As such should be treated with consideration.

Leaving users are often tempted to write a parting essays to explain their motives or express criticism of the project. While it's considered good to let all of that be aired if necessary, one may not require free use of project's resources to act contrary to its ends or undermine its reputation.

Below goes a description how CZ handles these issues in practice.

User pages

Unless the user has done no contribution to the project, the user page may not be deleted. As mentioned on the beginning, by default the user page is simply left intact. The user is not supposed to blank it. However, on motivated user's request (sent to constables {at} citizendium.org) the page may be shortly summarized.

In this case the summary is proposed by the user. For authors it should contain at least some degree (or student status, if applicable) and the period of activity. For editors who did not approved any article a similar rule may be applied -- but more details concerning degrees/expertise and a recent affiliation are expected. Recall that these were roots of editorial authority the user applied for. Editors who approved an article are expected to leave his userpage intact, at least until the article is re-approved by another editor.

Parting essays

User may want to leave an information to the end that he is no longer active in the project. A short note with no further comments may be put on the user page. More elaborated essay is allowed on the talk page. Even if in reality some parting essays turn out to be well-meaning for the project, we adopt a general rule that it should be written at least one week after the leaving declaration. Just to cool off if necessary...

Needles to say that normal rules regarding talk pages apply. Objectionable language, personal complaints, uncivil remarks may be replaced by the usual constabulary templates. In addition the essay may be judged by the constabulary to be rant as a whole and entirely replaced by the {{NoRants}} template. The text generated by the template reads

Essay here was removed by the Constabulary on grounds that it constitutes a rant. (The author may replace this template with an edited version of the original remarks.

If the user fails to replace the template with an edited version of the text, his essay will be completely removed from the wiki (no longer accessible through revision history).

Since in typical situation a parting essay is not neutral (written just from the user's perspective), the project's perspective may be added below by a constable (or collaborating constables). In this case the acting constables do not sign the text personally but in behalf of the Constabulary. Important: this is not meant to start a discussion. User and constables may rework its statement if really necessary for better presentation, but essentially each side is given voice just once -- to make possibly controversial situation presented neutrally. Any further dispute will be suppressed.