User:RxS/sponsorVfD

Sponsor VfD
Still thinking about this but I though I'd write it down for now....

The main problems as I see them are these:

Ever increasing volume of VfD nominations
 * Due to the increasing volume, voting/polling on each entry is taking more and more time. The fact is that the majority of nominated articles are deleted with little or no objection, I think it makes sense to delete articles if no one has voiced an objection after the period of review is over instead of making people vote on the obvious.

Conflict and an atmosphere that can be unpleasant
 * Civility, No personal attacks, and Wikiquette should be enforced to a greater degree.

Keep votes
 * Editors can sponsor nominated articles and pause the VfD process while they make changes that answer the objections.

When someone nominates an article for deletion it goes into the deletion page. It stays there for 7 days unless someone sponsors it. That editor is responsible for bringing it up to standards. Only editors with more than 250 edits can sponsor articles the original author included.

During this time the article will live in the sponsors user space. While it's in user space the editor should add content that would show notability more clearly, improve quality and be responsive to any comments other editors have about the page. When the sponsor is finished, s/he moves it into the article space where it's treated like any other new article, if it's marked again it goes through the process again.

If the article was sponsored by the original author, it has to return to VfD and the VfD tag can only be removed by someone not connected with the article.

If no one sponsors it in the four days it's deleted. There are no votes except speedy keep votes which an admin can call at any time. Editors that feel a merge or redirect is called for should treat it like any other article and if needed be bold and take the action s/he feels neccessary like any other edit.

All the regular speedy deletion reasons would still apply.

This would also take sockpuppets out of the equation, it would apply pressure to improve articles and would encourage people to take responsibility for the quality of articles