[WikiEN-l] HD DVD key and the spam blacklist

[Tim Starling]

Fred Bauder wrote:
>> -----Original Message----- From: The Cunctator
>> [mailto:cunctator at gmail.com] Sent:
>> Saturday, May 5, 2007 10:13 AM To: 'English Wikipedia' Subject: Re:
>> [WikiEN-l] HD DVD key and the spam blacklist
>> 
>> On 5/2/07, Anthony
>> <wikilegal at inbox.org> wrote:
>>> On 5/2/07, Angela <beesley at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>> This is a different type of blacklist. The spam blacklist which
>>>> can be edited by any meta admin only applies to URLs. The regex
>>>> blacklist applies to any text, whether in URL format or not. On
>>>> Wikimedia, I believe only people with server access could edit
>>>> that, but that doesn't mean it was an official Wikimedia
>>>> decision. The majority of people with server access are not
>>>> Wikimedia employees.
>>>> 
>>> So who are they accountable to, no one?  Isn't obviously
>>> problematic that people can unilaterally make such major decisions
>>> with neither the request of the foundation nor the community?
>> Yes.
> 
> There is a choice to make. Do you want people in positions of authority
> to take responsibility and do what needs to be done, or do you take the
> position that such actions cannot be taken until consensus is reached?
> 
> I'm for responsibility. Mistakes can be sorted out at leisure.

Accountability is not about delaying decisions, it's about review, and the
ability to correct or punish errors. From the Collaborative Dictionary of
English:

  Accountability \Ac*count`a*bil"i*ty\, n.
     The state of being accountable; liability to be called on to
     render an account; the obligation to bear the consequences
     for failure to perform as expected; accountableness.

Sysadmins are accountable, see my other post in this thread.

-- Tim Starling