Erik Moeller wrote:
Jimmy-
Part of the reason wiki works so well is that it isn't a process of "o.k., you've earned trust, now here's your privileges", but rather a process of "here's your privileges, now earn trust".
What about people who have violated the trust which they have earned before they requested sysop access? What about people who have violated our rules? Would you grant sysop status to a suspected Lir incarnation, even if dozens of people protested against doing so? I don't think we can ignore a user's track record when handing out sysop access.
As usual, you do make a very good point here.
I suppose one way to look at it is this: I've pushed for us to have more and more sysops, so as to demystify the job, and to ensure that it's treated as a merely technical matter rather than membership in an elite cabal. I want it to be uncontroversial and boring.
But to keep it uncontroversial and boring and to avoid it being used as a tool of cabal-ism, it does matter if a person has already caused controversy (whether I think they were right or wrong on the content merits, of course!).
--Jimbo