User:Jauerback/Admin Coaching

Let's go through some questions, find out how you would answer them, and use that to see if you're ready for adminship. Let's just start with the traditional RFA questions and once you've answered those, go on to some more.

Traditional RFA questions

What admin areas do you intend to work in?

A: Currently, I tend to spend most of my time on Wikipedia fighting vandalism. While most Admins are proud of their mop, if granted Admin status, I would probably get more use out of a toilet brush. I started out fighting vandalism by hand, however after I finally clicked on the link for VandalProof after seeing it in edit summaries a few hundred times, I switched. But... after I accidently gave Oxymoron83 a vandalism warning, I stumbled across (and promptly stole) the hybrid of Twinkle, Popups, and Lupin (that I believe he got from DerHexer) and have been using it ever since.

Going hand in hand with issuing proper vandalism warnings, I would I block when appropriate and monitor WP:ANI to ensure that others have been properly warned (and are indeed vandalizing) before taking action. WP:UAA will also be monitored for inappropriate usernames.

I also monitor new pages and would delete any pages that fit the criteria for speedy deletion.

I would start paying even more attention to AFD, because lately I've only participated in discussions when I stumbled across something while monitoring Lupin, or on a whim.

...to be continued...

2. What do you believe are your best contributions?

A: I've created a few articles, but most of them are still considered stubs. Unfortunately, none have been even submitted to WP:GA status. Well, that's not entirely true. I did submit Weber-Stephen Products Co. to GA, but I withdrew it within a few minutes when I realized that I was being overzealous and that it really didn't meet the criteria. This is probably my best article, but it's nothing to brag about, really.

Although I didn't initially create it, I did save Timothy Krajcir from Speedy Deletion and have been the only major editor since then.

My worst article has been deleted (that recreate wasn't me, by the way). It initially lasted for a few weeks, but it deserved to go, even though it seemed notable to me at the time I created it. I have since learned from that experience, however, with one exception. Although, it can be argued that she meets the WP:PROF, on her published works alone, I really didn't prove it with my single reference. I have since been unsuccessfully looking for a source to add. I realize it could be submitted to AFD at any time, and I have no real grounds to fight it, especially when DGG says "it looks a little indiscriminate", which in my opinion, generally means "Delete" (at best) if it were in an AFD discussion.

3. What conflicts have you been in and how have you handled them?

A: None. I've always been right.

Kidding.

Like everyone else, there are a few that come to mind. I started a discussion on POV pushing which continued into another one with some help from another editor.

Another time, I tried my best to help an editor understand about adding unsourced material to articles. I don't think I was very effective and I probably could have handled it better.

I also tried to help another editor in reminding them to use edit summaries. That wasn't very effective, either.

Those were pretty good answers, excellent use of linking to examples. Useight (talk) 17:03, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

Probable questions

1. Would you place yourself on Category:Administrators open to recall?

   A: I appreciate the spirit of this, however, I would have to say that I would not. I believe if others felt that I am abusing my admin (or even editing) privileges, I would willingly give up the mop. I already get enough "praise" as it is.

2. How would you apply IAR to your contributions?

   A: This is essentially how I've been editing Wikipedia all along. I edit the way I think things should be and I've picked up on the rules along the way. Most of the time, I've been right.

3. What are your personal criteria for a potential admin?

   A: I think WP:CIVIL is top on my list, which obviously includes WP:NPA. I often will start playing around on Wikipedia, either by reading or contributing as a boredom or stress reliever. It shouldn't cause you stress, if it does, it's time to take a step back -- not seek adminship. A strong knowledge of policy is a must or at least the proven ability to able to find it, read it, and understand it. If not, the willingness to ask questions, help, or advice from other editors. However, I don't put as much stake into edit counts as others, because it doesn't necessarily reflect anyone's value or knowledge and can easily lead to WP:ECT. Having said that, if I had to put an number on it, I suppose an editor should probably have at least 1000 mainspace edits with at least 95% filled out edit summaries.

Your Experience

Have you ever...

• Listed a vandal for WP:AIV?

A: If wannabe_kate's tool is correct, I currently have 183.

• Listed a page for protection?

A: I haven't done it a whole lot, but I know the procedure.

• Participated in WP:AN or WP:ANI discussion?

A: Yes, only once, however, I would add this to my watchlist if this RFA passes.

• Acted as a neutral party in dispute?

A: No, not yet.

• Used any .js tools or installed any editing helpers (popups, TWINKLE, VandalSniper, special navbars, etc.)?

A: Yes, I use a hybrid of Twinkle, Popups, and Lupin.

• Voted in an WP:RFA?

A: What's an RFA?

Real answer: Yes, I have, but I don't check it on a regular basis.

• Contributed to the Reference desk or Help Desk?

A: No to the Reference Desk, and yes, to the Help Desk, however only very recently.

• Read the Signpost?

A: Yes, I read it most every week. I was going to add it to my user page, but then I didn't like the look of it after I previewed it.

Another set of questions

• What do you believe are your weaknesses? If you were made an admin, what tasks would you have to read up on? What tasks do you feel you would totally avoid?

A: Wikipedia has a hidden amount of features that I know that I'm not even aware of. In other words, I don't know what I don't know. I discover new things all the time. However, as it stands now, I probably feel weakest in the image licensing. I plan on adding some photos of my own in the future, but the licensing on my own work is easy. I would definitely not feel comfortable at this point making any admin decisions about a image license. Something I would avoid entirely? I can't think of anything right now. I'd actually like to get more involved in some things, such as WP:GA, WP:FA, and even WP:FI and WP:FP nominations.

• If you could change one policy without any fear of opposition or reversion, what would it be? What changes would you make?

A: Off the top of my head: nobility standards for malls. With a few exceptions, (e.g. Mall of America), I find it hard to justify the inclusion of any mall. It's a simply a building comprised of numerous stores regardless of how much money they cost to build or how much profit they make. I might have to avoid closing any mall AFDs, because I'm a bit biased.

• When do you feel it is appropriate to decline a request in WP:AIV?

A: First an foremost, if the user hasn't been properly warned, and is indeed continuing to vandalize. There's a fine line between doing test edits and vandalizing and even a bigger difference between good faith edits and vandalizing. Not everyone realizes this, and feels that edits done to articles in which they don't agree with is vandalism, when it's not.

• A user requests semi-protection of an article, but you fully protect it. Why?

A: Most likely, this would be needed if multiple experienced editors are engaged in an edit war or if multiple vandals are vandalizing the article with accounts that are older than four days.

The last set of questions

• What's the difference between blocking and banning?

A: Blocking: getting your car keys taken away from your parent(s), which physically prevents you from driving. Banning: getting your license revoked, which can be done by the court system, but doesn't necessarily prevent someone from driving.

• What is the purpose of a block? Is it ever punitive?

A: They are generally preventive measures to deter users from their current behavior and to encourage them to edit constructively. They are not meant has punishment or retaliation.

• How would you deal with an extreme POV-pusher who has not committed any vandalism?

A: Encouraging discussion on the talk page is a great start. The article in question may have to be fully protected for a few days promote this.

• Why is wheel warring a Bad Thing and how can you avoid it?

A: A wheel war is essentially an edit war on an admin level. Neither are good, however esentially, the same means of resolving (or avoiding) it also apply. Discussion first, then arbitration either through WP:AN or through WP:DR. If I get anywhere near this happening, I just need to take a step back and bit of a Wikibreak.