I read again the description by James. And realise I got confused by the
"warrant" term. So, there was nothing wrong in what is written. I
apology for not having understood well.
This said, I stand up to my opinion that mentions of stewards or
arbitrators of the english AC has basically nothing to do here. These
positions do not exist in the real world. They mean nothing to those
outside wikipedia. They are unrelated to the Foundation itself. And they
are only part of the status existing on the projects.
Ant
First, there is no mention of local chapters at all. I
regret this.
Second, you suggest that the following positions might get a card
* Arbitrator (en)
Member, English Wikipedia Arbitration Committee
I strongly disagree with this.
I do not think being a arbitrator on one project grant in any sense an
official position in the Foundation.
If there is need of a card, this card should have Wikipedia logo only,
and should not mention the Foundation itself.
I think there is a big confusion here between being active and trusted
on a projet, and having an official position on the Foundation.
If any card was distributed to an arbitrator, please ask him not to use
it. I think it is embarassing because it would give an authority to a
person on Foundation matters, where there is not I think.
* MediaWiki Developer
Member, MediaWiki Developer Committee
Same comment. MediaWiki is different from WikiMedia. And developers are
first to say it.
The only one who could have one right now is the Developer liaison.
Now, if MediaWiki developer need a card, by all means, let's do it, but
with the MediaWiki logo on it.
* Wikimedia Steward
Wikimedia Steward
I would tend to say that again, being a wikimedia steward does not in
any sense give an authority on Wikimedia matters. Plus, to be honest, no
one aside from us, knows what it encompasses :-)
[Snip]
Yours,
I am sorry if what I say above upset any one. I am perfectly aware that
a card could help some people get some doors opened, and if we can do
something, such as giving an official title, fine. If we can make other
types of cards, fine as well.
But frankly, our internal kitchen is no one business. Being an
arbitrator is internal business. Sure enough, arbitrators are people we
generally like and trust. But if we trust them to take some decisions
for us, that does not mean they should appear as Wikimedia official
people. There is an arbitration committee on en now, elected with
certain rules. There will be soon one on fr, elected with other rules.
And maybe there is one on de ? And maybe in one year, we will have 100
arbitrators in all projects. Does that grant them the right to appear as
officials in negociations, say for hosting servers ? I do not think so.
I would hope to say that from now on, I would prefer that only those on
board of Foundation and local chapters, plus officials, have a card.
I do not know Ang position on this, but I trust that Jimbo agrees. What
do you think Ang ?