2012 Arbitration Committee Elections
Status
The nomination statements of editors running in the 2012 Arbitration Committee elections appear below.
^ From the Wikimedia Foundation's Access to nonpublic data policy:
Any volunteer who is chosen by any community process to be granted access rights to restricted data shall not be granted that access until that volunteer has satisfactorily identified himself or herself to the Foundation, which may include proof that such user is at least 18 and explicitly over the age at which they are capable to act without the consent of their parent in the jurisdiction in which they reside.
^ The mandatory disclosure of alternate accounts and declaration of intent to comply with the WMF identification policy are exempt from the 400-word limit, although candidates are encouraged to be concise.
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Beeblebrox
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My user name is Carcharoth. I've been here since January 2005, editing regularly since January 2006. I became an administrator in October 2007 and was appointed to the arbitration committee following the elections in December 2008. I served a two-year term and chose not to stand again in December 2010 as I firmly believe that taking a break from intensive roles such as arbitration, and returning to other areas of the encyclopedia, is necessary to regain perspective.
I've spent the past 23 months focusing more on content and reviewing, including some very enjoyable volunteer outreach work at events held at the Geological Society of London and the British Library. When Newyorkbrad asked me in September of this year if I would consider running again my response at the time encapsulated my thoughts on the matter (including my initial reluctance). I have followed arbitration matters for the past two years and disagreed with some of the decisions made and how they were made. Being concerned at the relative lack of current and former arbitrators standing in this election, I've decided to stand myself to offer a degree of past experience and with the aim of bringing some stability to the committee.
Though some of my views have changed since I last stood for election four years ago, what you will get from me as an arbitrator is someone who has extensive familiarity with the site policies and guidelines, who has prior experience of the work involved in arbitration, and who is able to take the long view. More than six years of seeing editors come and go, and disputes rage and fade away (or become completely intractable and deadlocked), gives a more nuanced perspective on matters around here and how best to handle certain types of disputes.
Details of my article work and reviewing work are here and here. I will provide more details on my background, and my past arbitration work in my responses to the general questions over the coming days, aiming to have the questions answered before voting begins. Please ask if you have any specific questions.
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Carcharoth
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Why choose to run again? The first reason – and I suppose the most important one – is that I know I can do the job. I spent my year of "vacation" occupying myself mostly with SPI, normal administrative work, and implication at the Foundation level and find myself again with the energy I no longer had at the end of my previous terms.
Some people have described me as a "baseline candidate", and that's probably not far from the truth. I'm not the most flamboyant or revolutionary of candidates, but I have a solid track record of getting the job done. I think this is something the committee needs at this time: the past year has seen a bit too much shooting from the hip, and I think the more measured approach of 2010-2011 is desirable.
Finally, I think that this year has a regrettable paucity of candidates for the job (despite the impressively high quality of the selection). I'd be lying if I said the job was easy, or that I didn't understand why many would hesitate to step forward to so much scrutiny in order to get a seat that seems to bring so much aggravation. Nevertheless, I believe it's important that the voters have a meaningful choice between several good candidates in order to keep the committee healthy; it works best when it is diverse and representative.
I am already identified with the foundation[1] and have no undisclosed user accounts. I have a few bot accounts, only one of which is nominally active: CorenBlockMonBot, CorenANIBot, CorenSearchBot, CorenGoogleBot, and one doppelgänger that never edited to protect my real name. — Coren (talk) 23:44, 18 November 2012 (UTC)
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Coren
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I'm Count Iblis and I'm running together with YOLO Swag on behalf of the ArbCom Reform party. If my statement, my answers to the questions, and the ArbCom Reform Party's platform appeals to you, please vote for YOLO Swag and me.
Of all the candidates, I'm the most experienced Wikipedian, as I've been editing here since 2004. This is the only account I have ever had. While I've always opposed to identifying to the WMF, I'll make an exception should I be elected. It is a stupid policy anyway, because only physically presenting yourself to a WMF official, identifying yourself and demonstrating that you have control over your account would amount to a meaningful identification.
The problem with ArbCom is its flawed structure, not that the Arbs are so bad. If elected, I would push for a number of changes, the most important ones are:
Final remark. Parties will not cause factional behavior in ArbCom. There are already "hidden parties", this just makes things more explicit and one can then have more effective community discussions. If this idea were so bad that we shouldn't use it here on Wikipedia, then why on Earth do we have political parties in the real world where far more important decisions have to be made?
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Count Iblis
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: David Fuchs
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Hello, I'm Elen of the Roads, and I've been a member of the Arbitration Committee for the past two years. I'm not going to post a long statement - you'll probably have seen me around and maybe already formed a view. The project is going through interesting times (as in that old Chinese proverb) - although a relative newcomer myself, I very much get the sense that those who were here from the early days are struggling with what probably seems like a new world order, while those arriving fresh to the project are struggling to adapt to its ways. To my mind, it is very important to keep our established editors - as with churches and voluntary organisations, they are the backbone of the project. At the same time, we must welcome new editors who will go on to become the backbone of the project in the future.
I don't think the committee is working as well as it might. Its role too is changing - the community is better at solving many issues, and the need for arbitration has reduced: at the same time, the disputes that are arbitrated on have become very complex, sometimes extend outside Wikipedia, and are not easily solved just with blocks and bans. Suggestions I have seen range from replacing the committee with a couple of psychotherapists to tripling the size of Arbcom and creating 'lower courts' so I don't think a consensus solution has presented itself yet.
Since civility seems to be something of a trope in this election, people might be interested in User:Elen of the Roads/On editing in a collaborative project
Add: non tooled-up alt account User:Elen on the Roads. No other accounts and I don't think I've ever edited as an IP.
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Elen of the Roads
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Guerillero
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Jc37
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Jclemens
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Keilana
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Ks0stm
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Kww
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I submit myself as a candidate for reelection to the Arbitration Committee.
It is hard to believe that it has now been five years since I was first elected as an arbitrator. The community was extraordinarily kind to me in both the 2007 and 2010 elections. I have done my best to live up to the trust that was placed in me.
For better or worse, I'm pretty much a well-known quantity by now. I've written 15 or 20 of the Committee's decisions since 2008, voted on several dozen others, participated actively on our noticeboards and mailing list, and served since the fall of 2011 as the Committee's liaison to the Wikimedia Foundation office. I do my best to work toward an outcome in every case, and every other matter that comes before the Committee, that promotes the best interests of the encyclopedia, of the community that creates and maintains that encyclopedia, and of the millions of people who read and rely upon our content every day.
I hesitated about running again this year, because there's certainly a plausible argument to be made that four and one-half years (a three-year term and a two-year term, minus a couple of wikibreaks) is long enough for any one person to serve as an arbitrator. Certainly I agree that new blood should enter the Committee following each election. On the other hand, a degree of experience and continuity among the arbitrators is also desirable. With eight of the 15 ArbCom seats to be filled in this year's election, it appears that most of the incumbents have decided not to run again; and several of the seven arbitrators whose terms carry over to next year are in their first year of service.
My views on the issues that will face the Arbitration Committee over the next two years, and my thoughts looking back on my service during my prior and current terms, will almost certainly come through much more clearly in responding to questions than in any statement I could prepare in advance. I look forward to answering your questions, both on the official questions page and in any other forums that may arise. Thank you for your consideration.
Finally, I commit myself to more mainspace efforts in the next two years, whether I'm reelected or not.
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Newyorkbrad
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I have certainly not been a perfect editor, and I have made my fair share of mistakes as well as taken actions that other editors have reasonably disagreed with. I imagine the same will continue to be the case if I am elected to the Committee. But I will also endeavor to always listen to and comprehend other editors' thoughts and only then take the actions that I feel is best supported by our core policies as I understand them.
I am by no means the most eloquent of people, so I would prefer to keep this fairly short. Please feel free to ask me questions if you have any.
I have already identified to the WMF and disclosed all alternate accounts to both the community and the Arbitration Committee.
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: NuclearWarfare
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Pgallert
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In my opinion, Wikipedia is, at its core, an encyclopedia and the success of our project is measured by the quality of our content (largely how accurate and complete our information is) each time a user types a search term and peruses the Wikipedia article that pops up. The impact of a decision or action on content should therefore be the prime consideration for any editor who cares about Wikipedia. But content does not appear magically, it is created by a vast network of editors through a process of collaboration and conflict, both of which are important in assuring the accuracy and completeness of the information we provide. Arbitration is not therefore merely a process of discovering who is right or wrong or good or bad or what's fair or unfair, but rather it is an act of intervention in the collaboration and conflict process in a way that helps us perform our content mission better. It is an important role because open issues and conflicts need to be resolved so that the project can move forward but it is also a limited one since consensus is primarily decided by the community (based on our policies and guidelines which, too, are decided through a collaborative consensus building process).
I am, by nature, a deliberative person with a minimalist bent and believe that one should act decisively, but only when necessary. I am not easily upset. When I make a mistake, I'm more than willing to recognize it, to apologize if that is necessary, and to do my best to move things along. Other than a dislike for tendentious editing and the belief that dealing with these sorts of editors is where we're doing a poor job, I don't have an antipathy toward any sort of editor whether they be content producing mavens, agenda driven pov producers (as long as they're not overly tendentious), wikispace focused editors, or just regular editors (and that's where I place myself) trying to add the little they know to Wikipedia. I believe all of these types of editors are necessary elements of our microenvironment and, properly managed, add value to the encyclopedia.
These are the perspectives and qualities that I offer to you when you make your choices amongst the various candidates. Because of the holiday week where I live, I may be a bit slow in responding, but I will try to answer every question put to me.
I've been editing here since late 2007 and became an admin in February 2009. I'm well (really well!) over 18 and will willingly disclose my identity to WMF if elected. I haven't edited under any other names. Thank you.
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: RegentsPark
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![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Richwales
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There is not really that much to add here: I consider myself to be an experienced and dedicated metapedian and I deem it my responsibility as a sysop to always try to assist as much as I can in making things run smoothly on Wikipedia for those who create content, who are the lifeblood of Wikipedia. And in this spirit I would approach my role as a member of the Arbitration Committee, if I were elected. I feel I need to point out I acknowledge that, lately, due to health issues, my participation to Wikipedia has decreased and that there have been short periods of time where I have not been able to edit; while I realise this may give some voters pause, this should only be a temporary impediment and, furthermore, I think that, despite my illness, I would still be a good addition to the ArbCom team.
Finally, being a checkuser and an oversighter, I am already identified to the Foundation. And the following are my alternative accounts: Salvio's not home (talk · contribs) and Salvio Giuliano (talk · contribs).
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Salvio giuliano
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Hello, I'm Timotheus Canens. Occasional editor since late 2005, started editing in earnest in 2009, admin since March 2010. I'm a clerk at sockpuppet investigations. I've worked at articles for creation, articles for deletion, deletion review, RC and new page patrol. Much of my current work is at arbitration enforcement.
I'm running because I believe it is useful and important to have more arbitrators who are previously AE administrators, especially after a few very disappointing recent episodes that nearly destroyed my willingness to continue to work at AE. I believe that it is important that the committee get a better understanding of how its decisions will be interpreted and enforced at AE, and how their actions and inactions can affect the work of AE admins. As the number of topic areas under discretionary sanctions continues to grow, I think it will greatly benefit both admins and editors working in those areas alike to have a fair, effective, and efficient enforcement system, but that can't happen without support from the arbitration committee.
I'm over 18, and willing to identify to the foundation if elected. All my currently used alternate accounts are listed on my user page. User:Tim Song is my previous username; User:Tim song was created by an impersonator that I then usurped and used as a doppelganger.
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Timotheus Canens
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I believe I would make a good arbitrator as I am a "listener" (although on Wikipedia, that makes me more of a "reader"), who can generally see every side of a debate. On top of that, I am an introspective person, which helps me to spot my own biases and remain objective. I'll be the first to admit that this skillset has meant that I'm not the most prolific administrator, as I spend time reviewing situations in depth before making any judgement and taking any action.
If you didn't notice, I ran last year, where I came 9th with only 8 spots available. I hold two alternative accounts on WP, User:WormTT which was created to ensure that there was no confusion over my signature and User:Wormbot, an account I've created to play around with statistical analysis and possibly for bot editing in the future. Finally, as an oversighting admin, I have already identified to the foundation. WormTT(talk)
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: Worm That Turned
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When I started this journey more than six years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know the politics or the policies. I didn’t know how to make a difference or how to make this site a more harmonious, welcoming editing environment.
All I had was this youthful idealism as well as a bit of a rebellious recklessness. I was drawn in by the concept of this encyclopedia as the sum of all the world’s knowledge. It seemed like a project with limitless possibilities.
I appreciated the freedom to edit and the diversity of editors’ background that made collaboration that much more fulfilling. There was also a faint sense of community, of being able to relate to each other despite all our individual differences and eccentricities. The implicit acknowledgement that hate me or love me, we were all in this together. We all strived to build and expand this project, to educate the masses, to prove the doubters and naysayers who said this could not be done wrong.
Six years later, I am older and wiser. While I still value authenticity, brashness, and the mantra of “keeping it real”, the youthful idealism is in the rearview mirror. I suspect the aforementioned naive idealism was the reason most of us signed up to contribute to this project in the first place. Then we all had our disillusioned coming-of-age moment that hardened us. I am world-wearied and cynical beyond my years. Yet the passion to make this community a better place still burns.
If elected, I promise to the bring the passion (shoutout to Giano/Malleus), 100% transparency except privacy concern (open ArbCom balloting, no secret mailing list/IRC), efficiency, integrity (Malleus’ civility enforcement case problematic), accountability, and the sense of community back (editor retention, userpage freedom, joke banner, satire, humor, shoutout to ‘zilla). I still firmly believe that we have more common grounds than we think, that consensus-building is not impossible. As part of the Wikipedia:WikiProject ArbCom Reform Party, me and my running mate Count Iblis are offering fresh ideas and bold solutions. I truly believe together we can change Wikipedia for the better.
Last but not least, I have to give a shoutout to Bishonen for all her kind words and encouragement. I would not have lasted half as long here without you.
Wikipedians deserve better! We can do better!--YOLO Swag (talk) 01:55, 15 November 2012 (UTC)
![]() | Arbitration Committee Election 2012 candidate: YOLO Swag
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