[WikiEN-l] Request for Comments: User Conduct (no, really!)

[InkSplotch]

Good evening, folks!

I wouldn't normally post this sort of thing here, except for an MfD that
took place recently on "RfC:User Conduct"...because many of the people who
commented there regularly post here.  That, and I think people need a break
from draaaaaama.

Many seem to think the current RfC for User Conduct isn't really
helping...that it's just a stepping stone to arbitration you 'have' to go
through, not unlike the security lines in airports.  I would agree, and I
would say it's because the current RfC is all about talking past each other.

The people opening an RfC make their statements...some people go "ditto."
Someone posts a responses, more people go "ditto."  Then the outside views
begin, where people make impassioned speechs.....and more people go "ditto."

When things do get to ArbCom, there's begins a lot of furious activity on
the Workshop page where people armchair quarterback their way through a
case.  Arbitrators can draw from this, or ignore it, but oddly...on
ocassion...sometimes things get worked out before the case is closed. I've
even noticed a few cases closed without formal resolution, because "the
parties seem to have worked it out themselves."

The Workshop page serves two purposes: it lets people vent, like the current
RfC; and second, it's very format forces people to work with each other than
past each other.  On an RfC, people make their speechs which are "judged" by
the number of "dittos" they get, but on a Workshop page everyone just put's
their concepts out there.  They don't belong to anyone, and no one scores
points for having a better concept than another, they just go out there, and
then people discuss the concepts...not the contributor.

So, I created a new [[Template:RfC2]] to see if I could adapt the RfC to
something more like a workshop.  I reformatted the certified and response
areas to be more balanced, and feature a Q/A section so people could address
either side equally.  I renamed Outside views to Additional views, although
in the long run I'd like to excise that section entirely.  The biggest
change is a new section called "Proposed Solutions" that uses little
templates like a Workshop page, where people can make suggestions and than
discuss them.  I'd hope that would serve as a bigger focus to the page.

I'd considered adapting something even more like the
"Principles/Facts/Remedies" style of an arbcom case, but that middle one:
"Facts" seems the most hazardous one to have in an unmoderated forum like
RfC.  It still might not be a bad idea, and even if you think my idea is
doomed look at it this way:  at least RfC could be a more useful springboard
to an ArbCom case.

Tell me what you think at the template talk, or over on [[Wikipedia
talk:Requests for comment]].  Thanks.

InkSplotch

-- 
"Stercus, stercus, stercus, moritus sum!"