[Foundation-l] breaking English Wikipedia apart

[SlimVirgin]

On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 05:35, FT2 <ft2.wiki at gmail.com> wrote:
> The other thing we thought was that there is benefit in recognizing editors
> whom the community agrees are competent, edit well sourced neutral good
> quality material, and act well, across the board. ... If there were some way to communally recognize such users (call
> them "proven editors" lacking a better term) it would have some immense
> advantages. ...
>
> The aim is to make recognition of this kind very widespread within the
> community and to actively coach and encourage uptake and success -- a
> recognition routinely won by many editors who have been active for over a
> year or so.

This is a good idea, but your first and second paragraphs contradict
themselves somewhat. If "proven editor" were a status people had to
strive for, and really didn't want to lose, it couldn't be something
awarded routinely to anyone active for over a year. We have lots of
people active for over a year who are very poor editors. They
currently have no reason to improve themselves, because so long as
they don't engage in behavioral problems their status continues
uninterrupted.

If we could create a carrot -- "proven editor" or whatever we call it
-- that required the acquisition of editorial skills that were within
the reach of just about anyone who applied herself, it would give
people something to aim for other than adminship. But there would have
to be a real improvement in their editing, not just "you've shown that
you're not a complete idiot," otherwise it's patronizing and
worthless.

Sarah