User talk:FT2/Article supervision/Info

Hi!

This is the info/FAQ page for the proposed Article supervision process. It's collated from the talk pages, emails, and various feedback/comments over the months this proposal has been discussed before mainspacing for wider views.

The proposal itself grew organically from the experience of editors who undertake a lot of serious dispute work, by asking "how could such disputes and wars be resolved more routinely without arbcom intervention, and at an earlier stage?" The answer was, that formal stricter enforcement of good conduct in an article or dispute (and short term removal of bad conduct sooner) was often all that was needed.

As a serious proposal, significant support has been noted for the concept (possibly with minor modifications), and has been examined from many perspectives. A 6 month trial is now requested to see if it works in practice.

About the article supervision process
Article supervision is a proposed addition to dispute resolution. It fills a significant and untouched gap in present day dispute resolution. Unusually, it is designed to be helpful in exactly the kinds of truculent long-standing cases where usual DR options don't seem to cope well "in the field". It's also the only DR process (short of arbitration) that's deliberately robust and unaffected by gaming and abuse (including puppeteering) if these happen to be going on.

Article supervision is a neutral proposal - that is, it removes or impedes edit wars and unhelpful conduct without disrupting constructive or positive conduct. It is also neutral as to content. It avoids excessive harshness and makes edit warring very difficult, whilst simultaneously encouraging and nurturing constructive conduct by all. An editor can at any time edit well, and supervision will then be almost unnoticed by them. As such, the supervision process is believed to potentially be highly effective at restoring a good editing environment on the worst stalled articles, at an earlier stage, before arbitration, without needing to blame, accuse, or highlight, any specific editor, and without any judicial-style analysis of the dispute to date.

The hope of the proponents of this proposal is that the community will allow this proposal to be trialled for a period of 6 months, possibly extensible by a further 3 if warranted, to test whether it is a useful addition to the dispute resolution system.

This page provides the background, discussion, and comments to date. We have tried to anticipate most major observations. The finer detail of the proposal still needs finalizing (although we have a good idea what's needed), so the question we're hoping to get feedback on is:


 * {| style="border:1px black solid"


 * style="background-color:#d8ffd8" | In broad, and setting aside the finest detail to be decided, would the community broadly agree this proposal merits some kind of trial?

If so, what questions, and what thoughts on fine tuning it, arise here, or during its trial? And what conditions are applicable?
 * }

Information/FAQs

 * This section will be updated from time to time, with points arising in discussion (See ).

Background

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What gap is Article supervision supposed to cover?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What kinds of disputes is article supervision expected to help with?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What existing processes might already help?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Why do we need another?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What is supervision doing differently to help?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Supervision regime

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | In simple terms, what does supervision mean?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How does it help?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How would you anticipate supervision working in practice?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How many supervisors are appointed to an article?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | The term 'short term escalating blocks' is used. How are blocks used in supervision?
 * The aim of supervision is purely to disrupt the established and entrenched situations where basics like NPOV and constructive editing aren't getting going.
 * The aim of supervision is purely to disrupt the established and entrenched situations where basics like NPOV and constructive editing aren't getting going.

This is surprisingly easy to do - the core of supervision's anticipated success is "little and often" rather than "major and few".

At present, a block is actually surprisingly hard to get, for borderline and low-grade behavior. Each block is a "big thing", each can be appealed, and so on. (This is evident to any admin or editor, by looking at some of the conduct that gets a warning, or repeated warnings, or the number of times that nothing really happens, such as the well known major edit wars.)

Under supervision, that changes. An editor who inserts OR might be cordially explained, and have it spelled out. They might be mentored. But they will also be told it's not okay. They repeat - 24 hour block. Repeat again - another 24 hour block. Repeat with virulence - 48 hour block. Try to deflect conversation by straw men? Warn and explain with care what the porblem is and why it's not relevant Offer support by email, offer mentoring or discussion on their talk page. But don't get the point and repeat straw men arguing? 48 hour block .. then another 48 again. Little and often, instant feedback on substandard behavior. Repeat as long as the point isn't got, with good explanations, and offer help all the way to explain that all they need to do is realize this conduct isn't okay on a Wikipedia article.

It's going to be really hard to edit-war when even one's slight breaches of good editorship (that one can normally get away with) now remove the person from the article for a day, or a few days. Once they're back, they can edit again. But if they persist, it's likely to escalate... 48 hours up to about a week or two weeks (maximum) in the most extreme cases. Not long. If they're still not getting the point, then by that time it's relatively easy to make the case at ANI that this is a genuinely disruptive editor (or one who wilfully refuses or is unable to get the point of what the project is about), and that is then passed to the community to handle. The supervision itself only needs to focus on short term removal of editors who enter edits that are substandard, or perpetuating the edit war.


 * {| style="border:black solid 1px" width="80%"


 * As such, no long term blocks and no "bans" (of any kind) will ever be issued under the supervision process. This is not part of a supervisor's remit.

Even the most unrepentant edit warrior should not need escalation to more than a week or two within a supervision.

A good supervision supports and explains what's needed, what's not okay; if breaches still repeat, then remove the editor briefly from the debate. If they persistently don't get a clue, present the evidence of non clue-getting at ANI, and relax; the community will take it from there. This applies to any editor, on any side.
 * }

The beauty of this is, it's completely neutral. To avoid it, all one has to do is edit in a constructive policy-based manner, nothing more. At that point, there's no impact of supervision. In fact it supports those who edit constructively and supports NPOV, by not removing viewpoints, but only removing tendentious or problematic behaviors and editing approaches. Supervisor criteria include a strong emphasis on mentorship - the aim is actually to have people who can say "look, this is how Wikipedia works, here's all the help you need, but this conduct just has to end", and do so in a genuine supportive manner.

As a last measure, since blocks may be more easily given than otherwise, blocks under supervision will all be tagged AS in the block log, so that others may be aware, apply fair judgement and AGF in future.
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Who can ask for supervision?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What are the other points of interest about the design of the proposal?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Variation and change

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Does supervision apply to articles or people?
 * Actually applies to disputes rather than articles or people. The same dispute may span multiple articles. It definitely applies to articles, but it's anticipating game-players, so if the dispute or disputants move elsewhere it may well still cover their conduct there too. The aim is to bring problematic behavior to an end, not to provide new forms of loophole.
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can new articles be added at a later stage or is a new request needed?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | If the editors recommence problem activity elsewhere, is a new request needed?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Abuse issues

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What is the potential for abuse by editors (eg editors accusing others of warring)?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How will specious complaints and smears of supervisors by bad faith editors be minimized? (And will this prevent genuine matters being reported?)
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What is the potential for abuse by supervisors in the process?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How would abuse of supervision be reported? Assessed? Handled?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Has the OWNership problem been considered? (What if supervisors became over attached to articles they supervise)
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Will supervision become a long term need in some edit wars? Is a limit proposed to prevent this?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Wording and pages

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What pages are proposed to be created?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Why is the policy proposal wording as detailed as it is?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Cases and case handling

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How would articles be referred (or proposed) for supervision?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can this be abused?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can this be withdrawn?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can this be extended?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Will supervisors be able to choose the articles they want to supervise? (How are supervisors matched to disputes)
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can a supervisor be contested or asked to recuse before appointment?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can a supervisor be removed from a supervision once appointed?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can new supervisors be added?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How and when does supervision end, once commenced?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What if it isn't resolved, or recurs?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Supervisors

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What qualifications and qualities are desired/required in supervisors?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How will supervisors be chosen? (Who appoints supervisors)
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Will supervisors have to be admins?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What conduct expectations exist on supervisors?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What are the proposed ways to recall or deselect a supervisor?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | When would recall, deselection or other sanctions be applicable?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Wider perspective and "fit" with communal culture/approaches

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Isn't this just more bureaucracy, or wordage? (Isn't IAR and/or competent adminship enough)
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Wouldn't this just create another clique?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can other admins intervene if concerns were to arise in some case? (Does supervision prevent other (uninvolved) admins taking a view or independently applying warnings or sanctions to an editor)
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How are concerns reported (by editors, or uninvolved parties)?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | How transparent are supervisors' decisions/actions?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | Can supervisors' decisions and actions be appealed?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Discussion

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | In some disputes, won't we end up removing all the editors if we followed this proposal?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | The proposal emphasizes that it is seeking approval for the general principle, and there may be detail to fine-tune. Can this be clarified? What do proposers see as still needing completion?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What objections or concerns have come up already? What answers have been given?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Trial

 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What exactly are the proponents of this proposal asking?
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * {| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"

! style="background-color: #f2dfce;" | What safeguards would be proposed to be given to the community?
 * }
 * }
 * }

Changelog
(none)

Other questions

 * Please leave other similar questions here; they'll be answered here or incorporated into the info section, and the updated.


 * Please note if the question is a discussion point, opinion, or suggestion, it might be best placed on the Discussion page - this page is for background on, and questions to the proposers about, the proposal.