Gazimoff retires, One less admin, one less AC clerk Options

[LaraLove]

I can't find the thread that all these were being discussed in, so if a mod can please move it, that'd be great. Thanks.

So Gazimoff (T-C-L-K-R-D) was the admin who created WP:RREV, the full scale analysis of RFA following RFA/DHMO 3. I believe it was a greatly needed review and I looked forward to the results and possible revamping of the process. Unfortunately, Durova got involved, spouted off her opinion, which basically fell under WP:CHIPSLAW, and it all went downhill from there. Thanks, Durova. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/dry.gif) Of all the pointless discussion going on around the project that you love to needlessly interject yourself in, it's THIS, which actually served a purpose, that you decided needed to be shutdown? Someone file this as an example of her grand lack of self-awareness.

Anyway, he was also an ArbCom clerk, but has now resigned and retired as seen here.

[Alex]

No offence to him, but the RFA review was a waste of time. Did it get lots of people to say how they thought RFA sucked and had so many problems? Yes. Is RFA still the same as it was around DHMO's RFA? Yes. Nothing changes.

And I'm sure Wikipedia will struggle on with one less arbcom clerk.

[Gazimoff]

I was wondering why my ears were burning

Nothing changes.

Indeed.

[Samuel Culper Sr.]

Welcome Gazimoff. Enjoy the chips and salsa by the door. There should be cold beer on the back porch.

[LaraLove]

No offence to him, but the RFA review was a waste of time. Did it get lots of people to say how they thought RFA sucked and had so many problems? Yes. Is RFA still the same as it was around DHMO's RFA? Yes. Nothing changes.

And I'm sure Wikipedia will struggle on with one less arbcom clerk.

It would struggle on with one less Majorly, too, but what's your point?

[Alex]

No offence to him, but the RFA review was a waste of time. Did it get lots of people to say how they thought RFA sucked and had so many problems? Yes. Is RFA still the same as it was around DHMO's RFA? Yes. Nothing changes.

And I'm sure Wikipedia will struggle on with one less arbcom clerk.

It would struggle on with one less Majorly, too, but what's your point?

The question is: what's your point? People retire everyday, so what?

PS. Did you snigger to yourself thinking up that hilarious retort? I certainly did. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/evilgrin.gif)

[Kevin]

I was wondering why my ears were burning

Nothing changes.

Indeed.

So you have been overwhelmed by the frenetic pace of change there as well?

Welcome to the other side.

Kevin

[EricBarbour]

Yes, it struggles on.

And more to the point: Was Gazimoff pushed out by Durova's bullshit,
or did he quit in general disgust?

And why are you people so damn blasé about this?

Starting to think the Glorious Shining Project is a hopeless mess, aren't you?

If that's so, Majorly, why do you keep logging in and adding to/fixing articles?
Your activity log is getting more and more sparse in recent days.....

[Alex]

Yes, it struggles on.

And more to the point: Was Gazimoff pushed out by Durova's bullshit,
or did he quit in general disgust?

And why are you people so damn blasé about this?

Starting to think the Glorious Shining Project is a hopeless mess, aren't you?

If that's so, Majorly, why do you keep logging in and adding to/fixing articles?
Your activity log is getting more and more sparse in recent days.....

I'll tell you why: I'm addicted. I'll tell you the truth: I wish I could leave. Or at least, leave the shit part of Wikipedia, and concentrate on articles instead. I don't think anyone here doubts that if we could start Wikipedia again: with real names, draft versions of articles before publishing, no RFA, no AN/I, no Arbcom, no/strict rules on BLPs etc etc, it would be 1000 times better than it is.

The reason for the lack of activity recently is because I'm out working on my placement from early in the morning until, tonight for example, 6pm. I actually have something to do with my time for the first time in almost three years, other than faff about on the computer all day long.

[EricBarbour]

I'll tell you why: I'm addicted. I'll tell you the truth: I wish I could leave. Or at least, leave the shit part of Wikipedia, and concentrate on articles instead. I don't think anyone here doubts that if we could start Wikipedia again: with real names, draft versions of articles before publishing, no RFA, no AN/I, no Arbcom, no/strict rules on BLPs etc etc, it would be 1000 times better than it is.

There are options, remember?
Citizendium, Encyc.org, probably several more I can't remember. Or start your own,
and copy WP article text over to re-edit. I am under the impression that their license allows this
under some circumstances.

Or are you addicted to the Wiki-scandals and the Wiki-soap-opera instead?

The reason for the lack of activity recently is because I'm out working on my placement from early in the morning until, tonight for example, 6pm. I actually have something to do with my time for the first time in almost three years, other than faff about on the computer all day long.

Good! You finally have something really productive to do!

So do I.........in fact, I've gotta finish another big pile of those damn things and ship 'em.

[Alex]

There are options, remember?
Citizendium, Encyc.org, probably several more I can't remember. Or start your own,
and copy WP article text over to re-edit. I am under the impression that their license allows this
under some circumstances.

Or are you addicted to the Wiki-scandals and the Wiki-soap-opera instead?

The reason for the lack of activity recently is because I'm out working on my placement from early in the morning until, tonight for example, 6pm. I actually have something to do with my time for the first time in almost three years, other than faff about on the computer all day long.

Good! You finally have something really productive to do!

So do I.........in fact, I've gotta finish another big pile of those damn things and ship 'em.

I don't like the sound of any of them. The thing is I enjoy writing articles on Wikipedia. I'd like to stay on Wikipedia and write articles. It is quite difficult to do so when 1. I'm very busy and 2. The "ground" on which Wikipedia rests is currently an ongoing earthquake. I am distracted by the Wikidrama and all the stuff that goes on, and yes, I am addicted to it. I mean - I check this stupid forum every day just to see! I find it fascinating, and think it would make a great study in human psychology. I have long thought that about requests for adminship.

I think Wikipedia could work and be brilliant if just a few small things were changed. Those small things will never happen, unfortunately.

[Alison]

I'll tell you why: I'm addicted. I'll tell you the truth: I wish I could leave.

My turn this time:

The problem is all inside your head, she said to me
The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be fifty ways to leave Wiki-pee-dee.

Just take a WP:BREAK, Jake
Join the Review, Stu
No need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free

Hop off the Wikibus, Gus
No need to discuss much
Just drop the Encyclopee, Lee
And get yourself free ....

(sorry, sorry. I'll get my coat (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/smile.gif) )

[Alex]

Join the Review, Stu

Been there, done that! (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/smile.gif) I've been on here longer than most regulars. I hardly consider it an alternative though.

[Ahypori]

The thing is I enjoy writing articles on Wikipedia. I'd like to stay on Wikipedia and write articles. It is quite difficult to do so when 1. I'm very busy and 2. The "ground" on which Wikipedia rests is currently an ongoing earthquake. I am distracted by the Wikidrama and all the stuff that goes on, and yes, I am addicted to it.

I took a near-month long break from Wikipedia after my RfA nomination of Everyking last year (only logging in briefly with my alternate account to support a few RfAs, one of which was Aitias...eek), as I was stressed out from the drama, and also from the high-profile RfA, and the break turned out to be beneficial. When I came back, I made a strong effort to stick to the mainspace and keep away from the noticeboards and drama-mongers as much as possible (the recent exception being the Aitias case). That, combined with the break, has done a load of good, both for me and for Wikipedia. As such, I agree with you that editing articles is much, much more fun and productive than fighting around the Wiki: I wish more of the drama-lovers would put more of their energy into building the encyclopedia.

I mean - I check this stupid forum every day just to see! I find it fascinating, and think it would make a great study in human psychology. I have long thought that about requests for adminship.

The above being said, I too, actually read the noticeboards to see what drama is going on.

I think Wikipedia could work and be brilliant if just a few small things were changed. Those small things will never happen, unfortunately.

To begin with, chanelling the "dramaenergy" into article-building would be a simple yet largely productive change for the long-term. If the focus on generating useless discussions at WT:RFA was placed into article-building instead, we create loads of featured articles and be very happy for it too.

[Malleus]

To begin with, chanelling the "dramaenergy" into article-building would be a simple yet largely productive change for the long-term. If the focus on generating useless discussions at WT:RFA was placed into article-building instead, we create loads of featured articles and be very happy for it too.

What about starting with the deletion of that "Please Sir, X was rude to me" peanut gallery aka WQA?

[LaraLove]

I'm sure Wikipedia will struggle on with one less arbcom clerk.

It would struggle on with one less Majorly, too, but what's your point?

The question is: what's your point? People retire everyday, so what?

PS. Did you snigger to yourself thinking up that hilarious retort? I certainly did. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/evilgrin.gif)

I don't know what snigger means (and it's not pretty, so I'll stick to whatever is analogous), but I didn't find my retort hilarious. I was being serious. My point, dearest Maj o rly?, is partly summed up in your later post:

I think Wikipedia could work and be brilliant if just a few small things were changed. Those small things will never happen, unfortunately.

That's the point, troubled child. Wikipedia needs to make a few changes, but those changes will never happen. At least not until change is forced upon it. That is why it matters when big name admins retire. Admins that are also ArbCom clerks, for example.

In that this has to be explained to you, you clearly don't check in on WR enough; or you're not reading the right threads. To be fair, not all admin losses matter. Of that you can be sure. Your own, for example, was much needed. Of course, considering all the months I fought to yank you down from your administrative pedestal, I'm sure it's clear to everyone where I stand on you and adminship, yet you believe you never abused anything. Right... well, whatever makes you feel better about it.

If you want to stop editing Wikipedia, Majorly, and I think you should, how about you just quit? Here's a good way to do it: Drop a long spiel on your talk page, so that you look like a bigger dumbass than usual if you return, and have all your shit protected. Synergy will swing by and stick his nose in your shit as he so loves to do, but not until a few weeks later, and by then... you just don't care about editing anymore. Trust me.

It's not just an addiction. It's a habit. And for you it's a bad habit. Bad habits can be broken, though. They say something becomes a habit once you do it ten times. Women who take birth control pills may want to fact tag that, but that's what they say. Anyway, it sort of works the other way, too. Stop doing something for a while, and pretty soon, that habit is gone.

If you really love Wikipedia, Majorly, then you'll let it go.

[EricBarbour]

If you want to stop editing Wikipedia, Majorly, and I think you should, how about you just quit? Here's a good way to do it: Drop a long spiel on your talk page, so that you look like a bigger dumbass than usual if you return, and have all your shit protected. Synergy will swing by and stick his nose in your shit as he so loves to do, but not until a few weeks later, and by then... you just don't care about editing anymore. Trust me.

(snigger) Nicely put.

[Floydsvoid]

And get yourself free ....

Hear... hear.... I vote it two Moultons and 7/8 Milton Roe.

I'm not a wikipediot tho I admit to correcting a few irritating spelling errors as an ip, So maybe I have an outside viewpoint.

I contribute computer code to a number of open-source projects, some more than others. I find as I become more involved in a project, the more I find myself fixing code that I'm not particularly interested in. And since my forte is fixing problems, I find that I'm expected to fix problems. But that's not the hook that lured me to the project in the first place. And I kind of get tired of that after a while. So I don't think that `administrator burnout' is a new or novel idea unique to wikipedia.

I'd like to take this opportunity to observe that while wikipedia purports itself to be based on the open-source programming model, in actuality it bears no resemblance whatsoever. It would be absolute chaos if any Joe Smoe could check in source code. I suppose that's an advantage, computer source code has to be compiled (or interpreted or whatever) and nonsense is quickly noticed. In wikipedia the `code' is words and is interpreted by many different minds differently. In open-source projects there is a definitive hierarchy, much like a monarchy. In linux, Linus is the gatekeeper of what goes into his tree. Don't like it, fork it!

[Lar]

I'll tell you why: I'm addicted. I'll tell you the truth: I wish I could leave. Or at least, leave the shit part of Wikipedia, and concentrate on articles instead. I don't think anyone here doubts that if we could start Wikipedia again: with real names, draft versions of articles before publishing, no RFA, no AN/I, no Arbcom, no/strict rules on BLPs etc etc, it would be 1000 times better than it is.

I was with you until the "no strict rules on BLPs" at which point I was about to fire a broadside... "no strict rules??? strict rules are exactly what is needed....!!*)#%&@)&%"

...then I re-read it, parsed it differently and saw you are saying "no BLPs" or "strict rules on BLPs" ... whew. Thought you'd went over to the dark side for a minute there.

I never liked Slash anyway. Thought he was way overrated compared to truly great guitarists.

[Gazimoff]

And more to the point: Was Gazimoff pushed out by Durova's bullshit,
or did he quit in general disgust?

No, I wasn't pushed out, although I was disappointed. I wouldn't say I've retired in disgust, and would probably describe it more as a realignment of priorities.

I don't think anyone here doubts that if we could start Wikipedia again: with real names, draft versions of articles before publishing, no RFA, no AN/I, no Arbcom, no/strict rules on BLPs etc etc, it would be 1000 times better than it is.

I'm not sure that this would result in any improvement. I would say that Wikipedia has been exemplary at demonstrating which areas of a collaborative project are strengthened by community involvement, which ones are weakened by it and which ones can cause a project to stagnate. I think I'll find the insight most useful.

That's the point, troubled child. Wikipedia needs to make a few changes, but those changes will never happen. At least not until change is forced upon it. That is why it matters when big name admins retire. Admins that are also ArbCom clerks, for example.

The difficulty lies in the manner of retirement. Yes, WP has many faults, but I fear that to list them as a litany of complaints would probably make me come across as a petulant teenager. But to risk it with the aim of setting the scene, I was never a big name admin. I didn't hang around the major noticeboards, and I didn't pump out blocks, page protections, or other similar behaviour. All I wanted was to perform tasks that were enjoyable and mildly intellectually satisfying, or where I felt I could improve the project or add value. I no longer feel that the latter is possible, and have little time in the grand scheme of things to support the former. As a result I guess retirement is inevitable, even if the statement only helps to draw a line under things.