On 6/29/05, JAY JG jayjg@hotmail.com wrote:
From: Michael Turley michael.turley@gmail.com Back to the subject: exactly why are you so strongly opposed to separating the tools, especially along these lines? It seems to me that this tool exerts exactly NO control over other users, while all the other admin tools that I am aware of do exert a degree of dominance over other users. Why shouldn't this be available individually to those who aren't interested in the powers that include domination?
Interesting that you would use the highly emotive word "domination"; if others share your understanding of what adminship involved, then Rebecca would be entirely warranted in her view that there is an "anti-admin" group out there for that reason alone. Regarding the rollback feature, it makes edit wars considerably easier, which is not a good thing.
Jay.
The blocking feature makes newbie biting much easier, which is not a good thing.
Page locking makes enforcing a single POV easier, which is not a good thing.
*All tools have a proper use, and all tools can be used abusively.*
Ignoring the proper use of a tool in favor of it's potential abusive use is a specious argument, in my opinion. It still doesn't address the reason why ambi thinks (and perhaps you agree) that they belong in an unseparable package. If that's the case, why not give admins all the powers of bureaucrats? And stewards? And arbitrators? And all the powers of Jimbo Wales, while we're at it? It would certainly more convenient to have all the powers in one single package.
Regarding "domination". I chose the word to best express why *I* am uninterested in a particular subset of admin tools. I prefer persuasion to force. I have no current interest in tools of force here at Wikipedia; I intend to test the boundaries of wikilove, good reason, and persuasion.
I believe my understanding of what adminship involves is very similar to your own. However, my preferences regarding implementation are obviously different. I prefer that you and others have those domination tools. However, I think you're being disingenuous if you don't admit that that is what they are. I support the existence of "overwhelming force" being available to those who are interested, capable, and willing to use it judiciously.
Finally, the rollback feature, as far as I can tell, is unique, in that it is a very valuable editing enhancement, but is the only one that doesn't have any powers of enforcement behind it. That's why I think it should be available separately to those who are interested.