User:Reaper Eternal/ACE2020

My thoughts on the 2020 arbitration committee election (candidate list).

What do I look for?
I do not want editors who cause drama. The level of dramatics at ArbCom cases tends towards the absurd, so we do not need an arbitrator fanning the flames. I look for cases of dispute resolution, especially where the disputes were successfully resolved. While I'm no civility cop, I do consider incivility and profanity to be generally unhelpful in the dispute resolution process. While a regular editor or admin can get away with occasionally blowing up and venting, an arbitrator needs to be a shining example of calmness, since arbitrators will have to deal with many angry and upset editors on a regular basis.

I also look for article content creation. Content creation indicates that the aspiring arbitrator understands Wikipedia's policies, and he or she will know what articles mean to the writers. Content creators on ArbCom will have sympathy towards productive editors being baited and less likely, in my opinion, to simply slap symptoms without treating the cause. Furthermore, involvement in the featured article and good article creation process, either as a reviewer or a nominator, will result in occasional disputes over whether something is an improvement. Successful resolution of these minor disputes demonstrates that someone can likely resolve larger disputes that end up before ArbCom.

How many people should I support?
I personally will only support up to as many people as there are seats available (7 for this election) to maximize the chances of my preferred candidates getting elected. Other people who I would have supported get ruled down to neutral.

Revocation of CheckUser access for Bbb23
The Arbitration Committee has resolved by motion that:
 * In April, the Arbitration Committee privately warned that his use of the CheckUser tool had been contrary to local and global policies prohibiting checking accounts where there is insufficient evidence to suspect abusive sockpuppetry ("fishing"). The committee additionally imposed specific restrictions on Bbb23's use of the CheckUser tool in ambiguous cases otherwise considered to be within the discretion of individual CheckUsers. Bbb23 has subsequently communicated to the committee that he is unwilling to comply with these restrictions, continued to run similar questionable checks, and refused to explain these checks on request. Accordingly, Bbb23's CheckUser access is revoked.


 * Support: Joe Roe, Bradv, Beeblebrox, Maxim, David Fuchs, xeno, Worm That Turned, SoWhy, Casliber, Newyorkbrad, DGG
 * Oppose:
 * Recuse: KrakatoaKatie
 * Inactive: GorillaWarfare, Mkdw

For the Arbitration Committee, –&#8239;Joe (talk) 06:23, 18 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Archived discussion at: Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee/Noticeboard/Archive 46

In contrast to many examples of motions I have given in past thoughts, I agree with ArbCom on this motion and respect their willingness to make difficult decisions.

Full disclosure: I have complained about Bbb23's inappropriate checkuser use.

Inappropriate signpost article
Wikipedia Signpost/2019-02-28/Humour

This was authored (see history) by the candidate SMcCandlish. He has since retracted and apologized for it, mentioning that it was not intended to insult anybody; rather, it was intended to draw attention to unnecessary demands for specific capitalization or other grammatical constructs by article subjects.

A bigger concern of mine is that no other SignPost editor read it and thought that it shouldn't be published.

Hawkeye7 desysopped
An arbitration case regarding Civility enforcement has now closed and the final decision is viewable at the link above. The following remedies have been enacted:

[...]
 * 1)  is desysopped for wheel warring and conduct unbecoming of an administrator, in the face of previous admonishments regarding administrative conduct from the Arbitration Committee. Hawkeye7 may re-apply for the administrator permissions at RFA at any time.

For the Arbitration Committee: Mlpearc ( powwow ) 02:30, 21 February 2012 (UTC)


 * Archived discussion

On civility
Allow me to quote Ealdgyth:

I think Arbitration/Requests/Case/Portals/Proposed decision was insane. To be utterly frank - I think comparing this decision to the Arbitration/Requests/Case/Jytdog/Proposed decision or Arbitration/Requests/Case/Kudpung/Proposed decision I can not escape the impression that BrownHairedGirl was held to a higher standard of civility than male admins are held to.

That said, some of the difference is due to the current ArbCom being far more willing to hold administrators to account&mdash;something that should happen (see Bbb23 above).

Candidate summary
A table for easy reference! This table is sorted alphabetically and not in any order of preference.