Town Sheriff Options

[Herschelkrustofsky]

There's a new function being proposed called Wikipedia:Town sheriff. It's not clear to me whether this will have a net negative or positive impact. The one detail which is bound to be a sticking point is "Sheriffs who are appointed to a page may be removed the same way, by a consensus of the community."
Your thoughts?

[Kelly Martin]

It looks like someone wants something that's more than a user but less than an admin, and tasked to do what, honestly, admins should be doing, but aren't. At least this isn't a solution in search of a problem (like so many Wikipedia proposals).

I doubt that this will ever get much traction; either the sheriffs will be powerless, or else they'll be admins. It's remotely possible that something like this (if implemented) could possibly lead to a change in the cultural expectations of admins, but that's all the more reason why it will not be implemented. Plus if it is implemented it's a virtual certainty that "successful" service as a sheriff will become a prerequisite for adminship, and thus there will be endless streams of clueless teenage boys strapping on their virtual gunbelts and virtual tin badges to dispense justice on the wikifrontier.

The most potentially interesting thing about this proposal, I think, is the opportunity for insight into the mindsets of those who are championing it, and objecting to it. Unfortunately, most of what we're getting is redundant information; we already knew that most Wikipedians are teenaged boys with a strong preference for social hierarchy and well-marked (and well-lit) paths for advancement.

[Kevin]

There's a new function being proposed called Wikipedia:Town sheriff. It's not clear to me whether this will have a net negative or positive impact. The one detail which is bound to be a sticking point is "Sheriffs who are appointed to a page may be removed the same way, by a consensus of the community."
Your thoughts?

It is hard to imagine how another level of bureaucracy controlled by some community consensus can be anything other a negative overall. Of course, being a plan to give power to the selected few, no consensus to implement will ever arise.

[SB_Johnny]

There's a new function being proposed called Wikipedia:Town sheriff. It's not clear to me whether this will have a net negative or positive impact. The one detail which is bound to be a sticking point is "Sheriffs who are appointed to a page may be removed the same way, by a consensus of the community."
Your thoughts?

Seems to be the project of this guy, who appears to have a type-Abd personality. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/laugh.gif)

[Kelly Martin]

"Requests for Sheriffcy"? Yet another jargon term; I've never heard of such a term and a Googling for it reveals a tiny scattering of hits, mostly pages saying that there's no such word.

[Jon Awbrey]

Sanger insisted on deputizing “Constables” in Citizendium.

It was the beginning of the end as far as adult projects go.

Jon (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/tongue.gif)

[lilburne]

The project is screwed because it has no focus, a slipshod understanding of notability, a woefully poor understanding of causality, and a bevy of fuckwits in swanning about it creating drama. Adding yet more fuckwits into the pot won't improve it.

[SB_Johnny]

The project is screwed because it has no focus, a slipshod understanding of notability, a woefully poor understanding of causality, and a bevy of fuckwits in swanning about it creating drama. Adding yet more fuckwits into the pot won't improve it.

I don't think they're shooting for more fuckwits, just giving more of the fuckwits some pretty badges to show that their fuckwittery is appreciated. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/rolleyes.gif)

[thekohser]

Sound like a great idea, once they define "community" for us.

[Zoloft]

Community would be defined as a shy garage attendant, a barber, a school teacher, and a maiden aunt who watches over your young son.

You would be an honest arbiter of justice, known for your plain ways, folk wisdom, and craggy smile.

But your deputy sheriff is a bit of a rabbity dingbat, so you only allow him one bullet, kept in his shirt pocket.

[Milton Roe]

Community would be defined as a shy garage attendant, a barber, a school teacher, and a maiden aunt who watches over your young son.

You would be an honest arbiter of justice, known for your plain ways, folk wisdom, and craggy smile.

But your deputy sheriff is a bit of a rabbity dingbat, so you only allow him one bullet, kept in his shirt pocket.

That last would be Barney Sidaway, sometimes known as the incredible Mr. Limpetmine. He drops into each episode to provide comic relief with this anxious and bizarre ideas, and you can't get rid of him.

And watch that young son-- he might grow up to be a famous producer and tell the story of it all...

[A Horse With No Name]

There's a new function being proposed called Wikipedia:Town sheriff. It's not clear to me whether this will have a net negative or positive impact. The one detail which is bound to be a sticking point is "Sheriffs who are appointed to a page may be removed the same way, by a consensus of the community."
Your thoughts?

This stuff makes Facebook so much more fun to play on. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/ermm.gif)

[Jaranda]

I don't see it working, it's a stereotype example of process creep, giving powers to people who shouldn't have powers and the things it supposed to do is already under control by adminstrators, meditators, and others in the proper noticeboard, this is laughable really. It doesn't have much support in the talk page other than a few non-admins.

This post has been edited by Jaranda:

[Cedric]

"Requests for Sheriffcy"? Yet another jargon term; I've never heard of such a term and a Googling for it reveals a tiny scattering of hits, mostly pages saying that there's no such word.

Bah. It should be labeled "Requests for Ensheriffment". Another non-existent word that is even more pretentious, and therefore perfect for Wikipedia, the let's-pretend encyclopedia. No Google hits at all. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/happy.gif)

[Milton Roe]

"Requests for Sheriffcy"? Yet another jargon term; I've never heard of such a term and a Googling for it reveals a tiny scattering of hits, mostly pages saying that there's no such word.

Bah. It should be labeled "Requests for Ensheriffment". Another non-existent word that is even more pretentious, and therefore perfect for Wikipedia, the let's-pretend encyclopedia. No Google hits at all. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/happy.gif)

How about just requests for "enreevement?" (they could get immediate bereevement counseling if they make it-- or don't make it).

What superpowerz do our new reeves get? Do we tell the Christopher reeve and George reeves that they're not Superman? The Steve reeves that they're not Hercules?

The amusing part of all of this, is that we're still recapitulating feudalism, and have made it now to the 14th century, perhaps. The lords of the wiki-mannor are getting bored by doing the nitty gritty oversight and accounting of the serfs, and want to hire out the managerial tasks without letting go of any powerz. So they look for shire reeves. Alas, it's still volunteer job, and just as dirty.

[Herschelkrustofsky]

Will they be sporting a tin barnstar?

[Lar]

Seems a bad idea to me but I could be confused.

[Sylar]

They should also appoint town outlaws and grant them extra powers also.

[Text]

Everyone on Wikipedia is a sheriff without guns to enforce anything...

[bi-winning]

"Requests for Sheriffcy"? Yet another jargon term; I've never heard of such a term and a Googling for it reveals a tiny scattering of hits, mostly pages saying that there's no such word.

"Sheriffship" sounds better to me, and Google seems to support.