[WikiEN-l] Quitting Wikipedia and wanted you to know why.

[Jimmy Wales]

charles.r.matthews at ntlworld.com wrote:
>> Why doesn't ArbCom come down on admins who fail to respect
>> contributors?  Why isn't that a high priority?
> 
> Why don't we get the cases brought that mean we could do that? We
> have a clear policy on civility. Some people do reckon that long
> service gives them some rights in how they talk to others. They are
> certainly wrong about that, and should note well that ArbCom doesn't
> have binding precedents, and may well up the tariff of punishment for
> shooting off your mouth. As far as I can see, this causes a large
> outcry when it is proposed, but it may well happen.

I back Charles 100% on this.

I am on the ArbCom mailing list, and take an active part in it.  I can 
assure everyone that the ArbCom takes a very dim view of admins behaving 
badly.  The thing is, unless cases are brought, then the ArbCom doesn't 
see it.

It's pretty easy to say "thuggish admins going wild"... but what is 
needed are specific examples and cases.

There is no doubt in my mind that some of what has been raised in this 
thread is valid.  As the community has grown, it has become harder to 
maintain the distinction between the kindness and love of Wikipedia and 
the hostility you find in most of the Internet.

But, I think we still do a pretty good job, even though as humans of 
course we could always do better.

--Jimbo