Wikipedia:Vandals versus Trolls

The distinction between vandals and trolls and the question as to what constitutes vandalism and trolling is an ongoing issue of concern for the Wikipedia community. Though the two terms are similar and are often used interchangeably, they are nevertheless different and distinct. For the most part, vandalism and trolling is most often exemplified by newcomers, and care must be taken to differentiate vandalism and trolling from new users simply making common mistakes. Blocks should only be made in cases of unambiguous vandalism and trolling after live interaction with the user has been attempted. Wikipedia relies on the contributions of newcomers and it is important to recognize the difference between merely misguided and intentionally disruptive edits.