Wizardman exits Arb-Warts Options

[Zoloft]

If Wikipedia has no fairly fool-proof enforcement mechanisms, then why bother with trying to establish a process, of which ArbCom is supposed to be the final step, to regulate editor behavior? What an exercise in futility. What this really means is that Wikipedia's administrators are basically hamsters running in wheels, spending a lot of time looking like they're doing something, but actually having no true effect on what's going on around them. Please, someone, explain to me why my observation isn't accurate.

I won't, because it is.

It fails on two counts. Hamsters are cute and can be trained to poop in a designated corner.

[GlassBeadGame]

If Wikipedia has no fairly fool-proof enforcement mechanisms, then why bother with trying to establish a process, of which ArbCom is supposed to be the final step, to regulate editor behavior? What an exercise in futility. What this really means is that Wikipedia's administrators are basically hamsters running in wheels, spending a lot of time looking like they're doing something, but actually having no true effect on what's going on around them. Please, someone, explain to me why my observation isn't accurate.

I won't, because it is.

The basic working theory of why wikis are suppose to be self-improving is that each discrete edit whether vandalism or an accurate summing up of a reliable source, contains information that improves what is available for whoever makes the next edit. This is exactly the same mechanism that is suppose to permit markets to make wise decisions about prices. Each discrete transaction between buyers and sellers not only settles the slate for the parties to that transaction but contains information that helps make the parties to the next transaction make better decisions. This is how the "invisible hand" is suppose to work. But it doesn't. Not in the economic market place and even less so with wikis.

If this mechanism actually worked you would need no discussion pages, notice boards, patrols, RfC or dispute resolution. There would be no Admins and no ArbCom. The very existence of these things proves that the basic underlying mechanism is not working. The cumbersome lumbering weight and the level of coercion needed for their application indicates just how very messed up things are. If it was basically working but with imperfections you might have discussion pages and maybe notice boards. But that it needs to be propped up continuously with endless unproductive discussion, protections, blocks, bans, and the edicts of ArbCom shows that the problems are not cosmetic around the edges but systemic and in the very heart.

[Cla68]

If this mechanism actually worked you would need no discussion pages, notice boards, patrols, RfC or dispute resolution. There would be no Admins and no ArbCom. The very existence of these things proves that the basic underlying mechanism is not working. The cumbersome lumbering weight and the level of coercion needed for their application indicates just how very messed up things are. If it was basically working but with imperfections you might have discussion pages and maybe notice boards. But that it needs to be propped up continuously with endless unproductive discussion, protections, blocks, bans, and the edicts of ArbCom shows that the problems are not cosmetic around the edges but systemic and in the very heart.

I think you are describing one of the fundamental flaws with the Wikipedia model. I think there are ways to, if not completely fix it, at least mitigate it to some degree. I don't think, however, that Wikipedia will do so under the current management.

[A Horse With No Name]

Hamsters are cute and can be trained to poop in a designated corner.

Hamsters don't plagiarize, either. You can't say that about arbitrators.

[RDH(Ghost In The Machine)]

Interestingly, Hersfold just resigned too. That leaves 11 active arbitrators. Aren't there supposed to be 18? Maybe someday people will listen to the two simple reforms I've been proposing: full annual elections, and filling vacancies by promoting the next ranking candidate from the last election.

Yes, replace resigning arbs with the previous election's runners up, and have them hold the seats only until the next election would be the way to go. This would have the added benefit of phasing out the outdated and unnecessary tranches as well.

That would be the helpful and sensible thing to do.
But unfortunately Wikiland doesn't do helpful or sensible if it can avoid it and as long as Jimbozo is running the circus it will always be thus.
I think the AC, for all its faults, might be the last, best hope...even if only a forlorn hope. But before that can happen King clown's role in it must be reduced to nil.
Until it asserts itself as a truly independent, elected body, its influence and importance will continue to wane.

On the subject of Arb resignations, how long do y'all think it'll be till Steve Smith takes the long walk into the scorched earth?