User:Lenticel/Admin coaching

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Are you ready to wield the mop?

Since admin coaching often consists of asking questions and what-if scenarios, we'll just start with the traditional RFA questions.

Traditional RFA questions[edit]

  • What admin areas do you intend to work in?

I would like to work in approving DYK's and hopefully other aspects of the Main page. I might also contribute in speedy deletion on copyright infringements and spam. My work in the main page would encourage editors to be more productive while my work with CSD will discourage editors from messing around. I would also try to work in WP:PROD and delete or list in WP:AFD depending on the reasons stated and the quality the article itself.

  • What conflicts have caused you stress and how have you dealt with them? How have you learned from them?

I believe the most stressful conflict would be Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Gavin.collins where I was more drama than logical. I think I unfairly attacked User:SolidPlaid back there and made amends. This episode is my inspiration for User:Lenticel/Deletion_isn't_Evil. I thought before that if you are a deletionist then you must be evil since you remove useful articles and prevent me from enjoying those readings. The episode made me realize that these editors (the responsible ones) are here to help fix the Wikipedia and fan articles are better off in Wikias

  • What do you believe are your best contributions?

I think my first DYK is one of my best contributions as it was constructed from books I found in the library rather than online materials. I cannot duplicate that feat due to my work schedule (I do not have the luxury or time to go to the library anymore as I'm not a student anymore). Aside from the DYK, I think raising the Tamaraw article to GA Status is also one of my best contributions. The task of finding an online free image for an endangered animal is very hard and sourcing the article as internet archiving is unheard of in the Philippines until early to mid-2000's.

Could you elaborate? It would be best if you were a little more articulate. bibliomaniac15 Midway upon life's journey... 22:11, 23 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

This will do for now, I have to go to work. --Lenticel (talk) 22:45, 23 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Done --Lenticel (talk) 23:53, 23 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Checklist[edit]

Here's a checklist. Please indicate which actions you have or haven't done. If you haven't done something on the list, maybe you should consider trying it out.

  • !voted in an RFA?
    • Yes
  • Listed a vandal at WP:AIV?
    • Yes but failed
  • Requested page protection at WP:RPP?
    • Yes but failed
  • Tagged an article for speedy deletion, PROD, AFD?
    • Csd, prod, and Afd but mostly afd
  • Critiqued another user at WP:ER?
  • Received the Signpost or otherwise read it?
    • Read but does not subscribe
  • Used automated tools (TWINKLE, popups, VandalProof, .js tools, etc.)?
    • Pop-ups but I prefer oldschool editing
  • What XFD's have you participated in?
    • Afd, Rfd, Cfd, Ifd, Mfd
  • Posted or answered a question at the Reference Desk or the Help Desk?
  • Uploaded an image?
    • A few
  • Welcomed a user?
    • Yes I believe I have welcomed a couple of new users in the past
  • Mediated or otherwise acted as a neutral party in a dispute?
    • I believe I did so once in when an editor mass nominated Philippine related articles in the afd. I think we got to a good conclusion as he now only nominate single articles.
  • Participated in discussion at WP:AN or WP:ANI?
    • Notified stuff about Afd's and defended the edits of a Pinoy Wikipedian
  • Taken a look at Wikipedia philosophies? Which philosophies do you hold to?
    • Moderate Eventualist, WikiPacifism, Adminship is an important duty,
  • Joined a WikiProject?
  • Written a DYK, GA, or FA?
    • 15 DYK's, 3 GA's, 0 FA's
  • Expanded a stub or otherwise cleaned up an article?

Okay sensei, I'm finished. --Lenticel (talk) 09:09, 26 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Common questions[edit]

  • What is your view on administrative recall? If you were made an admin, would you offer yourself for potential recall?
    • I will add myself in WP:RECALL with User:Lars conditions. Although adminship is not suppose to be a big deal, it still gives tools that one can assume as power. As power corrupts, I believe that it is better to keep me in check by holding me accountable on what I do.
  • Let's say an administrator removes a chunk of information from an article you've been working on, citing BLP concerns, but you feel that it doesn't violate BLP policy. What would you do?
    • First of all I'll strengthen my position first, gather all the reliable refs that I could to cement my position. IF I fail this then I will not pursue the matter anymore. Secondly, I'll try to talk to that user in his/her talk page or the article's talk page that I have sources to back up the edits that I've made. Talking to a neutral party from a related Wikiproject is also beneficial. Should we still fail to come up with a consensus then we'll go to WP:RFC
  • What is your opinion on IAR? How do or would you apply IAR to your contributions? How would you if you were made an administrator?
    • IAR should only be used if the consequences of following established rules exceeds that of following it. I don't see where I could apply IAR as an editor as I prefer to cite evidence for my actions rather than use IAR as a trump card. However, as an admin I think I might use it in T:TDYK. There might be good articles there that are worth including but can't be formally included because the five-day limit has expired.
      • As a follow-up question, would you use it in something like, say, an AFD?
        • No I think not. Articles should be judged by three guiding principles: WP:N, WP:V and WP:RS. If there are 52 delete votes but one keep that has satisfied the three principles then I'll close as keep. If there are 52 keeps that hasn't satisfied the three principles then I'll delete it. --Lenticel (talk) 04:32, 29 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Your answers are short but hit at the heart of the issue. I would suggest you keep a more open mind when it comes to IAR. As an editor, I always wondered how to use IAR. Turns out, the whole admin bit centers around IAR a lot in issues such as blocking and deleting. I do agree with you when it comes to DYK. I've been frustrated a few times when my article wasn't long enough and was rejected.

Thanks for the advice, sensei. I think I'll learn more about the IAR when I become an admin.--Lenticel (talk) 04:32, 29 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Rarer questions[edit]

  • You find out that an editor, who's well-known and liked in the community, has been using sockpuppets abusively. What would you do?
    • This is a very difficult question. I suggest blocking the sockpuppets as they are disruptive. And give the user a very stern warning regarding sockpuppetry. If the user backs off then all is well since the main account isn't disruptive. If not then consider going through WP:RFC or WP:ANI, hopefully the user learns his lesson before his main account gets blocked.
  • If you could change any one thing about Wikipedia without any opposition, what would it be?
    • That Afd nominators must be required to submit their findings in Google, Google books, Google News, and Google scholar before they submit an Afd nom. I've gotten tired of all these Afd's for cleanup
  • Do you believe there is a minimum number of people who need to express their opinions in order to reasonably close an AfD? If so, what is that number? What about RfDs and CfDs?
    • I think a minimum of 3-4 people with the same opinions can validate any Xfd's as long as the reasons are good and cites policy or guidelines (I'm okay with "per noms" if the nom's rationale is very impressive). Otherwise we have to relist until we get consensus
  • At times, administrators have experienced, or have been close to burnout due to a mixture of stress and conflict inherent in a collaborative web site of this nature. Do you feel able to justify yourself under pressure, and to not permit stress to become overwhelming and cause undesirable or confused behavior?
    • If my stress meter is in a very dangerous level then I will take a wikibreak for a couple of days to cool off. It is better to avoid rampaging all over the wiki rather than to justify your behavior later. If one user really irks me but I really need to work on the wiki then this would be a very good stress reliever. Slug it out with the bag, come back to the keyboard with a clearer mind and then do the appropriate measures to deal with the offending party. (note: I haven't esperimented with taping the offender's user name to the punching bag, but I think that might help a little).

Ok sensei, done! --Lenticel (talk) 08:05, 31 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Before we go on[edit]

Do you have any questions about Wikipedia that you would like to ask me, or do you want to know my opinion on something? I'll answer as many queries and questions as you have. bibliomaniac15 Hey you! Stop lazing around and help fix this article instead! 22:40, 31 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, these are my questions

  • People seems to like rollback too much. Is it really an informal position of authority or just plain overrated?
    • I would say that rollback has been way overblown, but it's a really useful tool that should be made accessible to contributive users. It's just a counter-vandalism tool like undoing edits or TWINKLE. Besides, if abused, it can be taken away very easily. Position of authority? If adminship is no big deal, then rollback is nothing.
  • Who are the sacred cows (Users that are rude but avoid blocks because they are either good contributors or have friends in high places) here in the wiki? I read ANI and I know some of them but I think I need to know more so I can act as necessary should the time come.
    • I don't think it would be fitting to name people. ANI is probably the best place to look for examples, as well as RFC.
  • Hey sensei, are you Sith or Jedi?
    • Neither. Rouge is too diabolical and Eguor is too stiff and humorless. I'm more of a bounty hunter
  • Who are the DYK specialist or main page specialist admins here?

Thanks sensei. I think you answered all the questions that I could think about. Should we go on to the next phase? --Lenticel (talk) 07:06, 1 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Moving along[edit]

  • What is your area of expertise? What subjects do you feel you could contribute the most to? Have you ever joined a WikiProject based on your area of expertise?
    • Biology and Philippine-based articles. I believe I contributed most in Philippine-based articles. Yes I did, in WP:SPI and WP:PINOY.
  • Do you believe that "fun" and humorous items belong in Wikipedia? Do you believe that editors matter? How should a balance be struck between "fun" and "serious" activities?
    • Yes people need to have fun once in a while as they say "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Yes editors matter, Wikipedia would not be possible without their efforts. Simple really, if "fun stuff" is hampering your mainspace edits or is alienating productive users then you should avoid those stuff for a while.

Ok done sensei. -Lenticel (talk) 08:59, 2 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Following the second question, I'd like you to take a look at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Cabals. What opinion do you have on these user "cabals"? bibliomaniac15 Hey you! Stop lazing around and help fix this article instead! 00:13, 3 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
My opinion is a mix of both MoP and Uga Man's opinions. I'll endorse their views.--Lenticel (talk) 00:57, 3 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Next set[edit]

  • What is your opinion on WP:IAR? How do you apply it to your contributions? How would you apply it if you were made an admin?
    • Uh, sensei I already answered this question above.
  • Suppose that you were made an admin, and then desysopped later due to some controversial event. Would such an impact like this lead you to leave Wikipedia, or would you continue editing? How would you go about regaining the community's trust?
    • Hmm... first thing to do is to get a wikibreak. Chances are that everybody is still hurting or angry so a little time off would be necessary to cool down and engage in personal reflections. I would not leave Wikipedia permanently as this will mark me as a defeated and dishonorable editor. I would restore the community's trust, one non-controversial good faith at a time, no matter how many edits it will take. The only way that I would know that I gained the community's trust is when they restore me as an admin in a successful RfA.

Ok sensei done.--Lenticel (talk) 08:02, 7 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

What-if scenarios[edit]

Sorry about that repeated question.

  • How would you deal with an extreme POV-pusher who has not committed any vandalism?
    • I won't deal with him alone. Perhaps it is better to get the opinions of others in a WP:RFC on how to solve the problem. However, should the user persists in his POV-pushing even after the RFC then I would indef block him or ask the community to consider giving him a topic ban.
  • An administrator speedy deleted an article under G11. Later, you notice that an anonymous user has recreated the article. Should you delete the article under G1, G4, both, or do something else?
    • I can't use G1 since it is technically not nonsense and I can't use G4 since db-repost can only be applied for articles that are not speedy deleted. Perhaps the best way to speedy delete it would be under G11 again.
  • Do you think banned editors should be given a chance at a different language Wikipedia or sister project to redeem themselves?
    • I believe in second chances and bans in en.wikipedia can't be enforced to other versions. However it would be very hard for the user to redeem himself but I think it could be possible. I know because there was an indef blocked Filipino user here that became very productive at the Tagalog Wikipedia. There is also a chance that his behaviour here in en would carry over to the other Wikipedias and cause him to be banned there as well.
  • When should you decline a request at WP:AIV?
    • If the vandal in question has already stopped after being warned then I would decline the request. I'll keep an eye though, should the vandal in question resumed his activities then I would block him.
  • A user requests semi-protection of an article, but you fully protect it. Why?
    • Because established users are still edit warring or sleeper sockpuppets were activated and started vandalizing the article.

Ok sensei done. --Lenticel (talk) 04:46, 8 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

More thoughts[edit]

  • Have you or do you use alternate accounts?
    • No I haven't.
  • How is biting the newcomers a bad thing, and how can you avoid it?
    • It is a very baad thing because you might be scaring off potential productive editors and it will also make you look bad in the eyes of experienced editors. Two words: "Be nice". WP:WARN have some friendly templates that can be used to avoid biting. Rather than accuse, you might try mentoring those users.
  • Where do you see Wikipedia in the next 3 years?
    • Hopefully the bias in en.wikipedia is lessened by then as more people around the world have access to the internet. Sourcing is a lot easier as Internet archiving becomes more popular. Policies and guidelines are more refined and editing will be less strenous as more tools become available to the user.

Okay Sensei, done--Lenticel (talk) 05:07, 10 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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