IMHO, etc...
The fundamental problem is the difficulty in *removing* SysOp, which *makes* it a big
deal.
If it really was no big deal, RfA wouldn't need to be such an ordeal; if a user is
competent, reasonably experienced and no DRAMA, we should +SysOp them (AGF). If they fuck
up, remove it (No big deal).
We block our precious new users at the drop of a hat, but an admin has to do something
pretty damned horrific to even consider removing their status, and even then it takes
months.
Imagine if it worked more like blocking - if an admin fucks up, remove their SysOp and
have a chat about it. "Hi, I noticed that you speedy-deleted some files that do not
appear to meet the CSD criteria; your SysOp staus has been removed _while we discuss
it_". No big deal, the admins shouldn't mind.
If that were the case, there would be no need for the depth of analysis and horrible trial
that is our current RfA.
Sadly, AGF is missing from RfA.
Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 15:38:09 -0700
From: Matt Jacobs
Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] declining numbers of EN wiki admins
To: wikien-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 20:04:43 -0400
From: Gwern Branwen
Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] declining numbers of EN wiki admins
To: English Wikipedia
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 7:34 PM, David Goodman
wrote:
Are you saying that a _declining_ number of
administrators means a
_growth_ in bureaucracy? ?It would normally mean the opposite, either
a loss of control, or that the ordinary members were taking the
function upon themselves. ?What I see is a greater degree of control
and uniformity, not driven by those in formal positions of authority.
If you assume that administrators are identical to the bureaucracy or
some non-shrinking proportion thereof, then that does look like a
falsehood.
If you assume that administrators reflect rather the number of
committed long-term contributors, and their numbers wax and wane
pretty independently of the need for administrators, then that makes
sense. Little kills enthusiasm and participation as surely as
bureaucracy. Why are so few even trying for adminship?
My guess is that it's because the bureaucracy has become too intimidating.
I suspect many editors do not want to commit the time and effort to learning
it all.
------------------------------
_________________________________________________________________
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/197222280/direct/01/
We want to hear all your funny, exciting and crazy Hotmail stories. Tell us now