Revision 481750 of "Wikipedia:Misuse of the sandbox" on testwiki

{{infopage|WP:BADSAND}}
{{Pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{not a sandbox}}
{{nutshell|Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Sandbox|sandbox]] is intended for relatively free experimentation, but certain rules still apply to it.}}
The [[Wikipedia:Sandbox|sandbox]] is a page where users can make test edits and preview them. Users have more freedom when editing the sandbox; users can post content there that would normally violate policies. However, there is still a lesser degree of editing restrictions in the sandbox; for example, users may not post [[Wikipedia:Libel|libelous]] or [[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons|defamatory]] material. Such content may be considered [[wp:vandalism|vandalism]] and removed at any time, and repeated infractions can lead to a [[wp:block|block]].

== Unacceptable use of the sandbox==
=== Removal of the header ===
{{shortcut|WP:RMHEAD}}
The following lines that make up the sandbox header should not be removed.

<tt><nowiki>{{Please leave this line alone (sandbox heading)}}</nowiki></tt>

The header contains important information. Without the header, new users may not know some of the stuff that is and isn't acceptable. Without it, they may not know that their changes will not be permanent, and it may deter new users when they discover that their edits are missing.

The removal of the sandbox header is still considered unhelpful, even though it is automatically replaced by a bot, often within seconds.

=== Copyrighted content ===
{{shortcut|WP:NOCOPYRIGHT}}
{{see also|Wikipedia:Copyrights}}

Posting copyrighted content without permission in the sandbox, or anywhere else, is unacceptable, and may even lead to a [[Wikipedia:Blocking policy|block]].

=== Personal attacks and harassment ===
{{shortcut|WP:NPASAND}}
{{see also|Wikipedia:No personal attacks|Wikipedia:Harassment}}

Personal attacks of a user, a person, or anything are unacceptable in the sandbox, or anywhere else. An uncivil comment on the sandbox could easily deter new users, who could have become useful contributors. The sandbox should not be used to harass users or people either (i.e. by posting personal information about someone you know, or another Wikipedia user).

Such edits will most likely be reverted by someone, or get overwritten by other experimenting users. Repeated posting of personal attacks and/or harassment on the sandbox, or anywhere else may lead to a [[Wikipedia:Blocking policy|block]] or even [[Wikipedia:Banning policy|ban]].

=== Redirecting the sandbox ===
{{shortcut|WP:REDIRSAND}}
The sandbox should not be [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirected]], as it may cause confusion for experimenting users and may lead new users to make test edits on the page the sandbox is redirected to.

=== User warnings and block notices ===
{{shortcut|WP:WARNSAND}}
[[Wikipedia:Template messages/User talk namespace|User warnings and block notices]] should not be added to the sandbox, as they may lead new users to believe they have done something wrong, or they have been blocked.

If you need to test a [[:Category:User warning templates|warning]] or [[:Category:User block templates|block]] template, please consider using one of the [[Help:Template|template]] sandboxes: [[Template:X1|X1]], [[Template:X2|X2]], [[Template:X3|X3]], [[Template:X4|X4]], [[Template:X5|X5]], [[Template:X6|X6]], [[Template:X7|X7]], [[Template:X8|X8]], [[Template:X9|X9]], [[Template:X10|X10]], [[Template:X11|X11]], [[Template:X12|X12]], [[Template:X13|X13]], [[Template:X14|X14]], [[Template:X15|X15]], [[Template:X16|X16]], [[Template:X17|X17]], [[Template:X18|X18]], [[Template:X19|X19]], [[Template:X20|X20]], the [[Template:Template sandbox|Template sandbox]], or alternatively [[User talk:Sandbox for user warnings]] for user warning or block templates. You may also consider creating [[Special:Mypage/sandbox|your own personal sandbox]] if you have an account, however, it may not be used to post vandalism to, otherwise, it may be deleted at any time in accordance with [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|Wikipedia's criteria for speedy deletion]], particularly, [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#G3|the criterion governing pure vandalism and hoaxes]]. It is also important to note that it may not be used as an [[Wikipedia:Attack page|attack page]] either, or it may be deleted at any time in accordance with [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#G10|speedy deletion criterion G10]]. Continued disruptive editing or disruptive (sandbox) page creation, whether vandalism, attacks, or any other behaviors considered by [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines|Wikipedia policies]] to be disruptive will result in a [[Wikipedia:Blocking policy|block]].

== Creating your personal sandbox ==
Some of the above do not apply if you create your own personal sandbox at [[Special:MyPage/sandbox|User:(''your username'')/sandbox]]. However, in your own personal sandbox, you still shouldn't post nonfree copyrighted material, personal attacks/harassment, or [[WP:NOTWEBHOST|writings, information, discussions, and/or activities not closely related to Wikipedia's goals]]. The addition of [[WP:NOTADVERTISING|promotional]] material is not acceptable either; use [[Template:Db-spam]] to deal with such cases. In your own personal sandbox, you are most likely not going to get into edit conflicts since you are most likely the only user editing it.

'''Note:''' If you do not have an account, you can [[Special:Mytalk/sandbox|create a sandbox in your user talk space]] instead of your user space.

== See also ==
*[[Wikipedia:Sandbox]]
*[[Wikipedia:About the sandbox]]
*[[Wikipedia:Introduction]]