"Thomas Dalton" wrote
Who would appoint them? Jimbo has been steadily reducing his direct involvement with the English Wikipedia, I can't see him wanting to increase it again.
Well, why not ask? Jimbo is actually doing what he has adverted to over the years, getting out of the operational matters. Doesn't mean he's out of circulation. I actually mentioned appointments after the summer to him, earlier in the year. The whole slowdown business is entirely predictable to those who grok the AC's work.
Charles
----------------------------------------- Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam
On 14/10/2007, charles.r.matthews@ntlworld.com charles.r.matthews@ntlworld.com wrote:
"Thomas Dalton" wrote
Who would appoint them? Jimbo has been steadily reducing his direct involvement with the English Wikipedia, I can't see him wanting to increase it again.
Well, why not ask? Jimbo is actually doing what he has adverted to over the years, getting out of the operational matters. Doesn't mean he's out of circulation. I actually mentioned appointments after the summer to him, earlier in the year. The whole slowdown business is entirely predictable to those who grok the AC's work.
By all means ask him, but I really can't see him making unilateral appointments to ArbCom. I'm not sure he would keep his special position within the English Wikipedia hierarchy long if he tried to, either - he only has power because the community gives it to him. (Well, he's on the board, but that's just gives him a vote on board resolutions, it doesn't give him unilateral power over anything.)
You seem to be talking as though AC not working is perfectly acceptable just because it's predictable and has happened before. That's complete nonsense. If it's predictable, it means there is no excuse for not fixing it.
On 14/10/2007, Thomas Dalton thomas.dalton@gmail.com wrote:
By all means ask him, but I really can't see him making unilateral appointments to ArbCom. I'm not sure he would keep his special position within the English Wikipedia hierarchy long if he tried to, either - he only has power because the community gives it to him. (Well, he's on the board, but that's just gives him a vote on board resolutions, it doesn't give him unilateral power over anything.)
Unilaterally appointed essjay to arbcom not that long ago.
On 14/10/2007, geni geniice@gmail.com wrote:
On 14/10/2007, Thomas Dalton thomas.dalton@gmail.com wrote:
By all means ask him, but I really can't see him making unilateral appointments to ArbCom. I'm not sure he would keep his special position within the English Wikipedia hierarchy long if he tried to, either - he only has power because the community gives it to him. (Well, he's on the board, but that's just gives him a vote on board resolutions, it doesn't give him unilateral power over anything.)
Unilaterally appointed essjay to arbcom not that long ago.
Remind me, how did that work out? ;)
Thomas Dalton wrote:
By all means ask him, but I really can't see him making unilateral appointments to ArbCom. I'm not sure he would keep his special position within the English Wikipedia hierarchy long if he tried to, either - he only has power because the community gives it to him. (Well, he's on the board, but that's just gives him a vote on board resolutions, it doesn't give him unilateral power over anything.)
Yes, it is unlikely that I would be appointing anyone other than tested previous members to the ArbCom without broad community input, because two of the times that I have done so with only the consultation of the ArbCom itself have not turned out very well at all.
The normal time period for ArbCom elections is December. Perhaps it would be sensible to accelerate that a bit, or to have a quick snap election to expand/fill idle seats.
--Jimbo
On 18/10/2007, Jimmy Wales jwales@wikia.com wrote:
The normal time period for ArbCom elections is December. Perhaps it would be sensible to accelerate that a bit, or to have a quick snap election to expand/fill idle seats.
--Jimbo
Can't really be done since it takes about a month to get the candidates together. Candidates are expected to start putting themselves forward for the December election in just over 2 weeks time.
A quick way to fill a gap of <n> arbitrators, might be to ask the <n+2> runners-up at the last Arbcom election whether they'd be willing to serve, then present these names publicly and ask if there is any new and substantive objection to any of them, within the community.
The rationale being (if 2006 is anything to go by) that Arbcom runners-up are editors who have already fairly recently (within the last year) gained around 80-85% approval by the community for the job, so their communal support for the role is fairly likely - we probably don't need to retest this. The main question to ask is whether any strong reason * not * to appoint them has emerged since that time.
That could be a lot quicker and simpler than another election, if Arbcom needs topping up during the year.
</thought>
FT2
-----Original Message----- On Behalf Of Jimmy Wales Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:31 AM Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] Arbcom
The normal time period for ArbCom elections is December. Perhaps it would be sensible to accelerate that a bit, or to have a quick snap election to expand/fill idle seats.
--Jimbo
FT2 wrote:
A quick way to fill a gap of <n> arbitrators, might be to ask the <n+2> runners-up at the last Arbcom election whether they'd be willing to serve, then present these names publicly and ask if there is any new and substantive objection to any of them, within the community.
The rationale being (if 2006 is anything to go by) that Arbcom runners-up are editors who have already fairly recently (within the last year) gained around 80-85% approval by the community for the job, so their communal support for the role is fairly likely - we probably don't need to retest this. The main question to ask is whether any strong reason * not * to appoint them has emerged since that time.
That could be a lot quicker and simpler than another election, if Arbcom needs topping up during the year.
</thought>
FT2
-----Original Message----- On Behalf Of Jimmy Wales Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:31 AM Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] Arbcom
The normal time period for ArbCom elections is December. Perhaps it would be sensible to accelerate that a bit, or to have a quick snap election to expand/fill idle seats.
--Jimbo
WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
Actually, I really like that idea, and perhaps at the next election it could be expanded, to where the runners-up who receive a reasonable amount of support are selected as reserve arbitrators who can be asked to fill in for those who resign, go inactive, or just need a break. An objection process could easily enough be set up, perhaps allowing those with an objection to file it during the first week or two after the reserve arbitrator is asked to fill an active role, and if substantial enough objection is raised someone else could be asked to fill in instead. Except in the case of complete resignation, the main arbitrator can then return to his/her role when ready, and the substitute put back on reserve.
It's also possible that some of those selected as reserve arbitrators could be set up with checkuser and/or oversight permissions, taking some of the burden for these tasks off of the active arbitrators.