User:Dfrg.msc/Admin coaching
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[edit] Edit count
Just as a reference, see where you're most active! As at 11:00, 26 February 2007 (UTC) using Interiots wannabe Kate tool:
Category talk: 1 Category: 83 Image talk: 6 Image: 170 Mainspace 3484 Portal talk: 1 Portal: 3 Talk: 194 Template talk: 2 Template: 26 User talk: 2736 User: 828 Wikipedia talk: 108 Wikipedia: 537 av edit/article 1.79 earliest 08:51, 27 May 2006 unique articles 4574 total 8179
[edit] RfA stock questions
I'll get you to answer these, not for practise but rather so I can see where you feel your strengths are (and subsequent weaknesses - if any :)
Dear candidate, thank you for offering to serve Wikipedia in this capacity. Please take the time to answer a few generic questions to provide guidance for voters:
- 1. What sysop chores, if any, would you anticipate helping with? Please check out Category:Wikipedia backlog, and read the page about administrators and the administrators' reading list.
- A: A primary use of Admin tools would be to combat vandalism. I regularly do RCP and vandalism patrolling. WP:AIAV always seems to be backlogged, and I look forward to helping there. The use of the blocking function and being able to protect pages that are under attack for what ever reason, would be of great advantage to my vandal fighting efforts.I have been participating more and more in *fD debates, and would like to be able to help to close them. Wikipedia backlog is an absolute mess, and sysop tools would help me to more effectively cut though it. A few users have come to me under the impression that I was an admin, and it's situation like those that Admin tools would show their value. This said, all Admin tools are useful and I'm sure given the situation, could find use for every one of them.
- 2. Of your articles or contributions to Wikipedia, are there any about which you are particularly pleased, and why?
- A: A specific one? Though I'm not really a Wikignome, I find I'm addicted to improving what ever is on the other side of the "Random Article" button. I've worked extensively with images like Image:Wikipedia Editor Review.png and Image:DFRAMA.png. I have worked on articles like Rone, created and worked hard on every page in the Melbourne graffiti artists category, become coordinator and breathed life into Wikipedia:WikiProject Graffiti and have finished Portal:Graffiti.
- I'm quite proud of Alphabet Spaghetti, which I started ;) Dfrg.msc 07:43, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
- 3. Have you been in any conflicts over editing in the past or do you feel other users have caused you stress? How have you dealt with it and how will you deal with it in the future?
- A:
Oh, yes. Wikipedia is full of conflict and I've been caught up in it a few times. The most major conflict I was involved in was some time ago User:Culverin, who was, and still is, my good friend. These, diffs will give you the story; [1], [2], [3], [4],[5], [6],[7], [8], [9], [10], and User talk:Culverin/Archive1. Culverin is now a much better editor than he ever was before, he is to be congratulated on the progress he has made. Aside from trouble when I was new, I'm a member of the AMA and at the moment working though a case, with two closed so far.I have gained experience though adversity and I know how to deal with, and better, avoid conflict. I have, and will apply these skills where necessary.
[edit] Optional questions
- In your opinion, what attributes make someone a good admin?
- A: Approachability, friendliness, dedication, experience, good knowledge of policy, respect and a good sense of humor.
- Why do you want to be an admin? (Personally, as opposed to the technical aspects in required question 1)
- A: Admin powers will help me more effectively make this Encyclopedia better and better. With Wikipedia growing in popularity, vandalism, backlog and *fD is becoming a greater issue. Over time, the amount of Admins has become disproportionate to the number of users and work that needs to be done by Admins. More good people, not laxer standards.
- You find out that an editor, who's well-known and liked in the community, has been using sockpuppets abusively. What would you do?
- A: Assume good faith. There needs to be representation from more than two users, and the person in question needs to be given a chance to redeem themselves. Before any further action gets taken, all information needs to be presented and there needs to be a calm rational discussion as to their action and future.
- If you could change any one thing about Wikipedia what would it be?
- A: Unfortunately, Wikipedia is not a democracy. Who better to decide the fate of Wikipedia than the users themselves? A democratic Wikipedia would no doubt be a better Wikipedia.
- Under what circumstances would you indefinitely block a user without any prior direction from Arb Com?
- A: Obvious Sockpuppet, or an aggressive vandal past 4th warning. I'd give a "cooling off (7 hour)" block without Arb com.
- Suppose you are closing an AfD where it would be keep if one counted certain comments / discussions that you suspect are sockpuppets/meatpuppets and would be delete otherwise. The RCU returns inconclusive, what do you do? Is your answer any different if the two possibilities are between no consensus and delete?
- A: Difficult question, too nonspecific. When in doubt, keep, and re-nominate later. If a user felt so strongly about the article, then they could take steps to improve it, given the extra time. However, violations to article requirements should be deleted. Difficult question.
- In your view, do administrators hold a technical or political position?
- A: Political plays a part, but an Admin's role should be largely technical.
- We all know that good-faith edits, while not being vandalism per se, sometimes reduce the quality of an article, and should be reverted or amended. In your opinion, however, is it possible for an article to be improved by edits made in bad faith? What course of action would you take if such a scenario arose?
- A: It's so much easier to delete than create. Of course it is possible for an article to be improved by edits made in bad faith. I've seen it done! An improvement is an improvement, no matter who it's done by. I'd let the imporvemt stay, or make appropriate modifycation to make a better article.
- What part of Wikipedia do you dislike the most or feel most frustrated with in your time here thus far (this can be a user, type of user, policy, restriction etc.)? Have you tried to overcome these and would adminship make life any easier for you?
- A: I very much dislike hardcore deletionists, and the bizarre attitude towards *fD's. If the same effort being expended to reach a consensus on whether they should be deleted or not, went into improving the articles, then they wouldn't be there at all. Seems some are just addicted to the drama. I very much doubt that becoming an admin would change any of this though. Although I don't like the hardcore deletionists, I feel they are necessary to balance things out, and deserve respect. I'm also on a mission to make sure Wikipedia doesn't get too serious. That would be a huge shame.
- Above you can see a number of statistics about your edits. Do you consider any of these important? Which do you consider most important?
- A: I dislike that User's are judged sometimes solely by the number of edits they have. However, they can serve to give and indication of how much editing experience and editor has, and where their contributions lie. Whilst mainspace edits are important, Wikipedia edits like AIAV and XfD debates are probably more important than the others.
- Lastly, do you have any criteria when voting in RFAs? If so please present them, if not then it doesn't matter.
- A: Yes. I have a few standards.
- 2500+ edits
- A need for admin tools.
- 6 months minimum.
- Nominated by someone else.
- Bonus Question Three parts; a) If successful, will you consider the admin recall category? b) Take a look at Category:Rouge admins - would you see yourself there? c) What is WP:IAR and what situations do you feel its application is warranted?
- A: Probably not. Once you have become a an admin it is your responsibility to stay sharp, effective, and not fall into complacency. I would under go a re-nomination if it was generally felt that it is necessary, but it would be better if someone just told me to pick up my act.
- B: Difficult. There are users I know and respect, like Guy (talk • contribs) and Tijuana Brass (talk • contribs) are Rouge. However, users like you, Riana, Husond (talk • contribs), Daniel.Bryant (talk • contribs) ect aren't. I agree that while a 72 year block may sometimes be in order, it's not acceptable practice to behave that way all the time.
- C:Good policy that one. Simply, if rules and policy prevent you from improving or maintaining Wikipedia, ignore them. Use it whenever rules and policy prevent you from improving or maintaining Wikipedia.
[edit] The candidate may make an optional statement here
[edit] Vandalism test
Vandalism or not??? Yay or nay and why:
- [11] Difficult to discern. Check user, user history, previous warnings. When in doubt, leave it in, but I'd ask for sources or references.
- [12] Vandalism. Out of place, and irrelevant.
- [13] Vandalism. Obvious and unoriginal.
- [14] Not Vandalism. Reversion by Highway Cello, a user I know.
- [15] Test, borderline vandalism and an unhelpful edit. Test 1 and Welcome.
- [16] Difficult to discern. Check user, user history, previous warnings. When in doubt, leave it in, but I'd ask for sources or references.
[edit] Speedy delete or not?
The following are examples of pages tagged by users and are sitting in the speedy deletion category. As an admin, can you tell me a) if the article should be deleted and b) under what criteria;
- CSD1 Delete, CSD A7 and A1. Not notable enough, no real search hits.
- CSD2 Keep blank page, then re-direct and/or merge. Subject is notable, page looks like an accident, should have serched first.
- CSD3 Delete, CSD A1 and CSD G11. Looks shoddy, smells like Ad.
- CSD4 Delete, CSD G1. Rubbish, not even original.
- CSD5 Delete, CSD A7. At a glance, too many spelling mistakes and poor article quality. Externals' are Myspace ect. I'd check Google for notability.
