[[WP:ENC]] has got completely forgotten in all this. Sidaway's civility, Wikipedia
Review, SlimVirgin's cabalistic tendencies, Lar's checkusers...who cares? Our job
as admins is to maintain the encyclopedicity of the site, not to play silly political
games. That seems to have been lost sight of. If you're not doing maintaining
encyclopedicity, then what good are you doing?
CM
I've been looking in at the Arbcom case on the
principals in the> pro/anti WR guerilla war going on on-wiki recently, thinking I
wanted> to make a statement but somewhat afraid that there was no good time> and
place. This comment of Matthew's is prompting me to do so.> > The situation
regarding a number of our external critics, a number of> our external threats, and how
wiki community members respond has> broken down rather badly and completely. There is
nothing more> dangerous for a community than two strong factions to form which have>
both become shades of grey and who both completely distrust the> motives of the other
one, and where civility breaks down.> > We have a pair of double-edged swords in
play. Both the investigation> of legitimate external threats to the Wiki's
stability and the> investigation of abuses within the community require
investigators> (editors, admins, checkusers, arbcom members) who are aware and>
engaged with problems, but who avoid falling into the dual traps of> either actually or
apparently acting as proxies for internal or> external troublemakers.> > The
situation has led to senior editors and administrators at each> other's throats in
an increasingly dangerous manner.> > Before we proceed, I should disclose that I
believe that I am somewhat> associated with one faction of this historically (both in
perception> and reality) and have made mistakes in judgement associated with that>
(a factual mistake that led to a questionable but rapidly reversed> block, for example,
and having defended someone for a long time who in> retrospect clearly was abusing a
lot of people's trusts).> > I think that "the center" needs to
reassert itself forcefully as to> what behavior is acceptable both in fighting
legitimate external> threats and in questioning whether those fights are subverting>
Wikipedia's goals and community.> > I'll put something up in the arbcom case
later, but let me posit this> - "the center" should look at everyone involved
(at least as far out> as me on "my side", probably as far out as Larry and
Allison, probably> as far out as Dan Tobias, Viridae, and certainly everyone more>
involved than we are). Determine whether the factions have become> sufficiently hostile
to Wikipedia's community and goals that this> needs to end now, and take forceful
action to end this.> > It may be appropriate to ban the primary actors in both
factions.> > It may be appropriate to remove all admin rights from everyone>
involved. Myself certainly included. I hope not Larry or Allison - I> personally have
high regard for their support for the project and> community and their good judgement
and use of the tools - but take an> honest look at everyone who's become wrapped up
in the factionalism.> > If you do not define a center and fight to hold it, this
will devolve> into whomever can more effectively fight a long term guerilla war
with> the resources at hand. I put forth that this is already in play,> though few
of us are fully aware of its scope or the roles that we've> been playing.> >
Arbcom and the Community have to put the stake in the ground and make> the center hold
on this.> > > -- > -george william herbert> george.herbert(a)gmail.com
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