Wikipedia talk:Administrators' reading list

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This belongs on the meta. --Dante Alighieri 21:41, 24 Aug 2003 (UTC)

Not if we agree that every sysop should read this stuff. By all means, remove what you think isn't essential to dealing with the challenges sysops face around here. A more exhaustive reading list can always go on the meta later. EofT
Well, as sysops are not required to deal with trolls and whatnot, and as every sysop approaches the Wikipedia in a different way and has different interests and priorities, I don't see how any of it (even the Wikipedia pages) is essential. So I agree this is better on meta. --Camembert

Belongs on Meta, too subjective.—Eloquence 23:58, Aug 24, 2003 (UTC)

I agree it probably belongs on meta (restored with EoT's original list), but it shouldndn't be called "sysop reading list". Firstly becasue they are properly called "administrators", not "sysops". Secondly because the very real "challenges" EoT mentions are challenges to everybody here. Or at least to everybody who participates in good faith. GrahamN

Yes, that is true. So is there a Wikipedia:conscientious contributors reading list? That might also include consensus, consensus decision making, open content, troll, and various things on the meta. As for the name, many of them call themselves sysops, and it's a nice short name. And it implies technical responsibilities, as opposed to admin-istrative, so it's probably better, if you don't want them to over-reach their authority. EofT
I agree, let us make two different lists. They have little similarities anyway. The current Wikipedia:Sysop reading list is currently a bit boring, but perhaps better over time. In its list, it should include the Wikipedia:conscientious contributors reading list and this one should be a redirect to the meta list. But "conscientious contributors reading list" is too long imho, and could raise spelling mistakes.
I would like also to see things about Wikipedia:groupthink, Wikipedia:NPOV perceptions, Wikipedia:Devil's advocate, Wikipedia:flame wars, and such.

I'm not a big fan of discussion by edit summary, so I'm continuing here. I said:

"rm libel -- sysops play no special role in disputes relating to libel"

And 142.177.79.8 said:

"must respectfully disagree - they must spot it and raise issues with it same as copyvio - they don't decide what it is, just note potential for liability in extreme or obvious cases"

Since when? I've never seen anything about this in any of the policy documents. What is a sysop to do, pray tell, when they discover a case of libel? Delete it without delay? Protect the page? Run a database query? -- Tim Starling 01:01, 25 Aug 2003 (UTC)

Probably just, when they see some unusual reputation-searing quote or claim attributed to someone, sysops can go to that extra effort to validate it, say on Google, as they do for copyvios, weird titles, and if they can't, raise a flag just the same as copyvio. When Wikiquote is working perfectly, maybe quotes can be auto-validated so checking will not be the sysop's problem. But it's not like one can just ignore this stuff. Certainly not in "1.0". A good solution is usually to replace "Z claims A" with "Y describes Z's claim as A". This can be done by anyone but if sysops are doing checks for copyright they might as well do it for liability-inducing quotes and claims.

It would seem to me that some case studies of past matters where the charge has dissipated would be helpful in articulating the precedents set and choices made. Kat 15:28, 25 Aug 2003 (UTC)

Both of those terms need to be defined. Care to do the honors?
You're not from around here, are you? -- Tim Starling 02:21, 26 Aug 2003 (UTC)
Replying to Kat: yes, definitely. There are lots of interesting precedents -- the deletion precedents Daniel C. Boyer, Albertanism, Reciprocal System of Theory and Slogan 'AIDS Kills Fags Dead' are a few that I've been involved with. There are banning precedents, say User talk:Michael/ban. As for page protection: what was that debate Ed Poor was involved in where he made an apology at the mailing list for inappropriate page protection? Can anyone think of some good NPOV dispute precedents? -- Tim Starling 02:17, 26 Aug 2003 (UTC)
  • See Open Directory Project for recent NPOV issues that are now seemingly resolved. Angela 02:40, Aug 26, 2003
    • Change of plan - unresolved again. See Talk:Open_Directory_Project/Temp for the discussion. Angela 16:03, Aug 26, 2003


Why is selected articles on the main page listed here? Tannin 14:10, 12 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Because sysops edit the main page, and they often edit it wrongly without paying any attention to these guidelines. Angela. 22:01, Feb 14, 2004 (UTC)

I've removed the link to "Become familiar with meta". I don't think that is something we should expect sysops to have to do. I recommend people read the things linked to from this page when I make them sysops, but I don't want to be recommending they read the whole of meta, as I don't think that is relevant to being a sysop. Also, "Main Page Neutral" that was linked to isn't as up to date as other index pages there like the m:Wikipedia one. Angela. 15:46, Mar 14, 2004 (UTC)

Whoops. I added that because several people advised me to become familiar with meta after I was nominated, but when I asked if there was a good page to start from, they all said no.  :) I've added your link to my bookmarks instead. fabiform | talk 17:01, 14 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] confidential information?

I just became an administrator! However, I have a quick question. Are there any information that should be kept confidential (between administrators only), or are all such information public? I know that on many sites, certain administration information are kept confidential, and I'd like to know if Wikipedia has any such policies.

Thanks in advance. --Ixfd64 17:00, 21 September 2005 (UTC)

Danny, I'd say that's call based on your own gut feeling. There's a lot of things that obviously should be kept private (e.g., personal contact information) unless a user otherwise says so. And if you get an email where the sender says something akin to "this is private". However, for the most part everything here on Wikipedia is usually done in the open, for one & all to see. While this can be a bad thing (e.g., were I to rant about User:X merely to vent my frustration on one talk page, it can easily be read by User:X), I think this is a good thing because it forces all of us to be thoughtful in how we act here, & to speak in a respectful manner to each other. (Although many of us fail to do this all of the time.) -- llywrch 23:18, 21 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Historical pages

The first item on this list, namely 'account suspensions' is a historical page now and I don't see why it should remain on this list if it is no longer being used. Yes, perhaps potential administrators should know what used to happen, but I'm not sure it should be required reading material. I also suspect that there may well be other pages in the same situation as the list hasn't really been updated for quite some time. What do people think? It would seem sensible to me to remove it from the list. Thanks. —Xyrael / 16:16, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

I've removed it from the list. It's not been used for ages, and is clearly historical, so no point in reading all about it. Links to AN and ANI are fine (as that's where that sort of this is noted and discussed. Petros471 20:45, 27 August 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Should already know

Everyone should really already know the five pillars and the foundation issues, but some people miss them on the way I've discovered, so it might be wise to mention them anyway.

Kim Bruning 03:07, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Request for help

Hi, since I'm not too familiar with :en-Wikipedia's procedures I'm posting here, hoping for some help. I'm trying to regain my initial account User:Nemissimo on the :en. I'm not able to recall the pw (didn't make a notice RL ;-( ) It would be great if anyone could help me to access it again. Since the account is clearly stating that it is mine (interwikilink) it should be possible. If there should any doubt about my identity... I'm a administrator on the German project, the other admins should be able to confirm this easily...

I highly appreciate any help with this. Kind regards from Germany. My Userpage on the German Wikipedia --Nemissimo II 18:53, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] added

I have added WP:LOP which I believe should be in the reading list. If you disagree, comment below and we can see if we should remove it. Archtransit (talk) 17:38, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' reading list

I propose we create and develop Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' reading list. Kingturtle (talk) 18:39, 24 January 2008 (UTC)