On 10/16/07, Thatcher131 Wikipedia thatcher131@gmail.com wrote:
I wonder how the community would react if an Arbitrator said, I want to take a 6 month break but not give up my seat entirely; and would Jimbo appoint a replacement for that 6 month period.
Very similar (practically identical in fact) to the idea for deputies which I suggested a few days ago. I think this would be the least bureaucratic system, and very simple to implement, to give arbitrators a break. It has to be left up to the overloaded arbitrator to say how long they are taking leave of absence, and they needn't specify a time beforehand; they would continue to be subscribed to the arbitrators' mailing list.
The key point as I see it is that the replacements must be people in whom the community has confidence.
In the end it's up to the arbitrators themselves to come up with a system they feel happy with.