We could use some more clarity in how we talk about "sanctions" and editing restrictions.
Currently, we refer to three distinct things as "sanctions":
- Restrictions that apply to individual editors (such as site-bans, topic bans, and editing restrictions) are called sanctions. We say that a user has been sanctioned, or that sanctions apply to a user.
- Restrictions on how all editors may edit on particular pages or sets of pages (such as 1RR for particular pages or 500/30 requirements for a particular topic area) are also called sanctions. Here, we say that sanctions apply to a topic area or that a topic area has been sanctioned. We might also say that sanctions apply to all users who edit within the topic area.
- An authorization for administrators to apply sanctions within a topic area (such as ArbCom-authorized discretionary sanctions or community-authorized "general sanctions") is also, itself, sometimes called a sanction. We might say that sanctions apply to the topic area, or that discretionary sanctions apply, or that the area is subject to sanctions or the topic area has been sanctioned.
Items #2 and #3 are confusing for people who haven't had years of experience on Wikipedia. The word "sanction" indicates a penalty or some finding of misconduct; editors who are told that "sanctions apply when editing a topic area" can be naturally confused. #3 is even more confusing than #2: in #3, no actual restrictions might apply when editing a particular article, but editors might still be told that, e.g., "the page is under discretionary sanctions".
Thus, I suggest that we be more precise in referring to these three distinct concepts. Here are my recommended best practices:
- Restrictions that apply to individual editors may be referred to as "sanctions" without limitation.
- Restrictions of general application on the editing of specific pages or topics should be referred to as "page restrictions", "topic restrictions", "restrictions on the editing of a particular [page|topic]", or (discouraged) "editing restrictions". The word "restriction" avoids the connotation of a finding of misconduct, or a discouragement to engage with the particular topic, that typically attaches to "sanctions".
- An authorization for sysops to apply sanctions in a defined topic area is a concept that should be explained in full sentences, and never by saying that "discretionary sanctions apply to you when editing this topic" or similar structures. "Administrators have been authorized by [the community|the Arbitration Committee] to impose certain additional sanctions on editors within [a given topic area] for misconduct, disruption, or failure to strictly abide by policy." <-- is an example of a longer explanation on discretionary sanctions.