Theresa Knott wrote:
I think bureaucrats should disregard stupid oppose votes when deciding consensus and should say so.
Bureaucrat candidates who have ever indicated that they would act as something other than votecounters have been strongly opposed; some barely scraped through (e.g. Essjay) and even this was after they gave in and agreed to avoid exercising discretion unless the percentage of support votes was between 75% and 80% (>80% is automatic support; <75% is automatic fail, or a relist at best). In short, "RfA regulars" or the "community" are uncomfortable with such discretionary powers; to them, bureaucrats are just for deciding the sticky 75% to 80% decisions, and discounting socks. Then again, this does seem to work for the most part. Barring a major controversy, I think Herostratus will pass comfortably.
John