[Wikimedia-l] Editor retention (was Re: "Big data" benefits and limitations (relevance: WMF editor engagement, fundraising, and HR practices))

[Fred Bauder]

Socialization is usually best achieved through rewards rather than
through punishments. The principle reward is a sense of achievement when
good editing is done or good administrative work done. In the case of
editing the reward, absent trouble, is instantaneous as your work is
published.

Fred

> Yes, of course - why didn't we think of that?  Actually the lack of
> rules and lack of punishments means (meant) it was bloody hard to game
> the  system.  Now we have a calcified set of rules and an oligarchy,
> passive-aggressives have a field day.  Rules-lawyers abound, polite
> requests to the oligarchy are met with insults about "mind-set" and
> other newspeak comments. Meanwhile the 99% of editors that just want to
> edit and the 95% of admins that just want to help the project are
> stymied at every turn, scared to get involved in the processes.  A
> number of years ago the oligarchy destroyed hope (Esperanza) - now the
> Wikiquette noticeboard has gone.  Power is increasingly in fewer and
> fewer hands, a significant number of whom have, over the years, and
> indeed recently, abused that power.
>
> The solution for social problems is socialisation.  We have some great
> exponents of that art in Dennis Brown, Worm That Turned and several
> others.  For those that won't be socialised, the solution is ostracism -
> or blocking as it is known.  Provided this is used with caution on
> community members, and with no longer duration than necessary it is a
> good solution.
>
> On 04/01/2013 06:27, Tim Starling wrote:
>> The solution for social problems is to have rules and a means to
>> punish people who break them.
>
>
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