[WikiEN-l] Proposal for simplified credentials model

[Erik Moeller]

On 3/8/07, Florence Devouard <Anthere9 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Many editors of huge quality are not willing to provide their real name.
> Why would they consider sending this information to a totally anonymous
> email address handled by volunteers, who are not necessarily identified
> under their real name and have signed no confidentiality agreement them ?

I think it's clear that we're evolving towards a completely voluntary
system here. That is fine, but in return, I think it is reasonable
that such a system will operate using all available tools, including
OTRS. There can be no reasonable argument, in my view, that it would
be improper or a "drain on volunteer resources" for us to set up an
OTRS queue to help with credentials verification. If people want to
join the queue, they will; if they don't, they will not -- the system
is voluntary and optional in the first place, and if it does not
scale, it will simply not be adopted. OTRS is just a tool here, it
does not imply any official role of the Wikimedia Foundation.

I think we can come up with a guideline that involves user templates,
OTRS-based verification, and possibly even web of trust style
mechanisms, and then we'll figure out if users adopt it or not. IMHO
the very fact that a subset of users would follow such a guideline
would help to instill a healthy sense of skepticism towards statements
of credentials.
-- 
Peace & Love,
Erik

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