I'm closing this RfC with the outcome, there is a consensus that Docu should abide by the guidelines of WP:SIG and Docu now seems to be doing this. Thanks Docu for heeding the input of this RfC! Meanwhile, some thought should be given towards making WP:SIG a policy, along with the ability for admins to disable a user's custom signature option.
Abiding by WP:SIG has mostly to do with civility and ease of use. Inexperienced editors are more hindered than others by signatures which aren't clear and don't carry a straightforward wlink to the userspace, but there doesn't seem to be any reason why an editor can't stick to the guideline.
Given that Docu rarely blocks editors, I don't think the comments about Docu's admin status ever had overwhelming pith, but an admin who is active with the bit in any way should likely take care that users can easily post to the admin's talk page.
The community seems to be ok with odd signatures, but there does seem to be consensus that even these should carry a link to the userspace and be timestamped. So long as this is only a guideline, such lacks shouldn't bring forth a block but if seen along with policy-breaking behaviour, should have some sway as to what might be done about it and how quickly. Gwen Gale ( talk) 15:49, 24 July 2009 (UTC)
More, following input on my talk page:
There was indeed support for a block, had Docu not heeded this RfC. However, Docu did heed the input and either way, most admins would be so wary of blocking over a guideline unless there was a policy breach to go along with it. Gwen Gale ( talk) 00:29, 25 July 2009 (UTC)
The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
In order to remain listed at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct, at least two people need to show that they tried to resolve a dispute with this user and have failed. This must involve the same dispute with a single user, not different disputes or multiple users. The persons complaining must provide evidence of their efforts, and each of them must certify it by signing this page with ~~~~. If this does not happen within 48 hours of the creation of this dispute page (which was: 20:17, 17 June 2009 (UTC)), the page will be deleted. The current date and time is: 23:58, 14 July 2024 (UTC).
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Docu ( talk · contribs · logs) refuses to follow the WP:SIGNATURE guideline and include a link to either his user page or talk page in his signature, and he almost never includes the timestamp (I haven't viewed every one of his contribs, so it's possible he may have done so at one time). He has been asked multiple times over a more than a year to adjust his signature to comply with the guideline, but he either completely ignores the requests or dismisses them as unimportant or not worth his time. In every instance I could find, he "archives" them by deleting the requests from his talk page.
This is disruptive, and therefore a breach of the civility policy on Wikipedia. Docu has been an editor here for a long time, and an admin for a large percentage of that time, so he must realize how important it is for editors to act in a civil and non-disruptive manner (even more so if you are an admin).
The desired outcome is Docu consistently using a normal signature with a link to either his user page or his talk page (or both), and with the timestamp as well. Nothing more, nothing less. He knows how to correctly use a signature as evidenced here.
Addendum: As a couple people have brought this up (through various comments and views), I thought I'd address it. This RFC is not seeking to block or desysop Docu (though there are some outside views which have stated that as a potential consequence they would like to see). The desired outcome is stated very clearly and concisely above, so please keep that in mind when offering an opinion here. Thank you.
See above as there's no need to restate it here.
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This is what I wrote last time it came up on ANI. I stand by it now, (though without the blocking bit yet - let the RfC run its course)
Screw it, I'm sick of these threads. Before anyone says the lack of a proper signature isn't a problem, it undoubtedly IS a problem if so many people are complaining about it. And it will continue to be a problem until it is changed (and this endless cycle of complaints about it will continue) Lack of a link to the user or talk pages and lack of a time stamp is downright inconvenient for everyone who wishes to contact him, and given that he is an admin, it should be relatively easy for all users, not just experienced ones, to find his talk page without having to navigae there the hard way. He has never given any explanation whatsoever for the lack of a link and timestamp - and honestly a suitable explanation hasn't been apparent to anyone commenting on the issue before. One pigheaded admin shouldn't be the source of so many issues over something so bloody trivial. We wouldn't tolerate that from any non-admin. Either he changes it or he is blocked until it is changed. Simple answer. ViridaeTalk 09:36, 4 June 2009 (UTC)
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The operative word is Guideline. If you want to make a signature a requirement, make it a Rule. As long as it remains only a Guideline, pushing this issue amounts to harassment. Is it annoying? Yes. But you can always go to the history and click on his talk page. Two keystrokes. Big deal. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 23:12, 17 June 2009 (UTC)
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Docu is a talented, hardworking, & helpful administrator. However, his non-standard sig use makes it difficult to enforce the signature guideline as users point to his signature use and complain that we don't enforce it consistently. As such, I urge him to begin using a signature with at least one link and a timestamp when posting on pages other than his talk page.
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Lets not forget that WP:SIGNATURE is a guideline and that user preferences allow a great many different format signatures to be used. Many of those are in fact even more confusing to determine the actual link to the user and talk pages. In many cases a simple "bare bones" signature is much more helpful and less disruptive to the flow of discussions. The page history contains a link to the user's details. Also I would disagree with the implication that blanking ones own talk page is disruptive - it is an indication that the comment has been read and also an optimal way to archive.
If it is desirable to have a link to talk and user pages on each talk page comment, then it should be considered to make this a policy and remove the configuration options which can lead to confusing signatures being used by many.
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Whilst I agree with Xeno about Docu being hardworking, I do not regard him as helpful as I would expect from an admin. See these 2 exchanges regarding his non identification of being an admin [49], [50]. This strongly relates to his attitude to not allow easy communication with users as reflected in his signature. Everyone should refer to the policy Wikipedia:ADMIN#Administrator_conduct regarding "failure to commmunicate".
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Docu has been an established admin before (if not everyone) almost everyone here had even heard of Wikipedia. He has signed this way for years, and suddenly a bunch of trendy new cliquish users/officers (Clarification just for TenOfAllTrades: Not everyone involved is a trendy new cliquish user/officer) decide they don't like it, and harass him nonstop about it, even suggesting s/he should be blocked. What if Docu were to unblock him/herself? Are we going to strip Docu of adminship? Docu has made over 90,000 edits, and certainly deserves to sign in an unconventional way. Calling it "appalling behavior" is just…weird. This is probably the most absurd RfC I have ever come across. Pzrmd ( talk) 00:12, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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1. The editor's chosen means of signing complies with the primary purpose of WP:SIGNATURE - others are able to determine the account to which the edit should be attributed.
2. Information such as time and date is recorded by the software for those who are interested. Nothing requires an editor to advertise such information with every edit made.
3. It appears that when the editor has chosen to link his/her signature, it has been done by manually typing the wiki links. (Has anyone noticed an edit in which this user even used a tilde? Is it possible his/her keyboard varies from the one commonly used in western countries?)
4. None of the diffs provided reflect an instance in which it is claimed that an unlinked signature stopped anyone from actually contacting this user.
5. Despite all the talk about links, I can't help but think that there is only one for which this discussion is destined. Xymmax So let it be written So let it be done 02:23, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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I'm tired of these threads regarding an administrator whose RFA gives no confidence towards his administrating abilities. Quite frankly, the signature issue is one bit of the problem. There are greater issues to deal with as well, such as a repeated pattern of rude, disconcerting and anti-social behavior that is unbecoming of an administrator, and a refusal to answer reasonable questions. He has also been found through consensus, to have abused his administrative powers in an impartial matter where he had a conflict of interest, and has closed numerous AFDs in a biased manner.
His signature leaves me little desire to actually contact Docu or have any form of communication. If he chooses to make himself unavailable, then we -- as a community -- have the right to ignore any of his unsigned statements as nonsense. seicer | talk | contribs 02:29, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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Is this RfC about Docu's method of signing his posts? If so, this RfC is unjustified in my opinion. Yes, it's annoying, but it's hardly "appalling" or "disruptive". Other involved editors are blowing this way out of proportion, and I agree with Baseball Bugs in that this is bordering on harassment. We have plenty of abusive admins; Docu is hardly one of them. – Juliancolton | Talk 05:56, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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I see a simple problem here: There is no signature. And that's what makes this more than a WP:SIG issue. Had there been a signature, there would have been a timestamp at the least and we could argue if this is acceptable under the guideline. I can understand a person's tendency to find a way around a rule (or a guideline for the matter), but to simply ignore it for no valid reason is completely inappropriate and unbecoming of a respected user, admin or otherwise. And I also can't understand the arguments other users are making that you can check the page history and see who made the comment. If that's so, then why am I signing this post and why are you signing your posts? I'll tell you why: because we consider that as our responsibility, as any other user should. And shirking it for no apparent reason should not be accepted. Leave Sleaves 06:51, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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This discussion is misdirected. The issue is broader than what Docu does or does not do. If a SIG is required it should be automatic. Since it is not automatic it can be assumed that it is optional. Those who think that a SIG should be required should work towards a project wide policy or implementation. I suggest this discussion be closed without prejudice and a new discussion should begin at Wikipedia:Village pump (policy). -- droll [chat] 09:23, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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It's seldom that this happens but I have to disagree with Juliancolton. It's not only annoying, it's more than that. Admins, more so than many other editors, are expected and have to deal with new users and unexperienced editors very often. We regard it as natural to simply type "User:Docu" into the search field and find the userpage or to check the history of a page to find the time the comment was made. But we sometimes forget that those are not skills that new editors possess. They do not know about User:-namespace or page histories and as such, when seeing such a signature amongst all those with links and timestamps, they might be lost. Let's say Docu comments somewhere and a new editor wants to contact him about it. They might be here long enough to have figured out that they can usually click a name to do so. But they might (and some certainly will) not possess the necessary skills yet to figure out how to find his userpage or when he made an edit without the signature. An admin should not make it harder than absolutely necessary for new or inexperienced users to contact them or find out when they made a certain comment and Docu is no exception to this rule. It's not about whether WP:SIG is a guideline or a rule or anything but simply about the fact that admins, out of all experienced users, should not make using this site harder than absolutely necessary - for anyone.
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I wish admins would be tougher on their own. Organizations like physicians and dentists have a chronic propensity to give wrist-slaps to poor performing members of their professions. But when someone comes along that publicly casts them in an embarrassing light, they kick them out in a New York second. Reading the complaint and motion, I am struck by the amount of drama that can be generated on Wikipedia. But I am also struck by how someone who is charged with enforcing conduct so willingly flouts those very rules with an imperious, dismissive style. This breeds resentment amongst long-time regular editors who perceive a severe double standard. And that foments an undercurrent of desire for wholesale reform of Wikipedia’s governance. My advise to the admin and ‘Crat community would be to realize that they govern with the consent of the governed here on Wikipedia. Consensus as to our processes for choosing and retaining admins can change. Reading the complaint, I had an epiphany of just what Docu is all about. I encourage you to simply strip Docu of his adminship and require that he go through the entire process of earning adminship again. Of course, he would never get it, would he? The admins need to rapidly weed out the embarrassments from its ranks. Greg L ( talk) 17:05, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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If Docu could go to the trouble of detailing his objection to signing properly, perhaps it would lead to more productive discussion. I for one don't have a problem with the way Docu signs, but a lot of wasted time could be averted if he could rationalise his decision intelligently and reasonably. One thing that is problematic is his lack of consistency when it comes to embedding the time and date. The idea of dating comments has a clear purpose – it allows for chronological sequencing and analysis, and clarifies the way a discussion has moved forward over time. In addition, it is an indicator of the stagnancy of a conversation and is, in this way, of archival advantage. By no means should action be taken against Docu if he refuses to sign properly, but the whole affair seems utterly inane if the user in question is unable to rationalise his tendencies. Therefore, a question directly to Docu: why do you refuse to date your comments on a regular basis, and why do you dislike the prospect of a signature linking to your user and/or user talk pages? — Anonymous Dissident Talk 04:49, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
Clearly, the issue here is that we have a user who wants to disrupt the normal workings of Wikipedia. The default signiture contains the users name and the date. Furthermore, it would be a heap easier to sign pages with ~~~~ than "User:Docu", the former only taking 4 keypresses, compared to nine. Further to that, the user in question is a admininstrator, who is expected to show civillity in all discussions. Telling other users to pretty much nick off is quite clearly not I, for one, would expect from such users. Therefore, we have a issue with a editor, who the community has chosen to bestow with the mop and bucket, telling us to (effectivaly) nick off, when we have asked a simple question; and refusing to use a signiture that almost every editor on this wiki uses. Thanks -- Sk8er5000 ( talk) 11:08, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
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Since I posted my original statement, Docu has started asking questions about my above statement to my editor review ( [51] [52] [53]), possibly as wiki-stalking. The first question, asking about a mistake I made ( and fixed), was fair enough. The next two, about my views on signitures, I feel is just wikihounding a editor about why they said something at RfC. If Docu asked these questions in good faith ( which he could have), then fair enough. However, given roux's statement, then I have reason to believe that Docu is acting more in bad faith. Thanks -- Sk8er5000 ( talk) 08:49, 3 July 2009 (UTC)
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Per [54] (only a couple of hours after this posting), Docu is starting to use a more standard signature with visibility. If this stays, then I see no point in this RFC to continue any further. MuZemike 12:07, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
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Since I was shown wrong above and made to look like a schmuck, I'll add to my above statement (but not take away what I have said above). The current wording in the WP:SIGN behavioral guideline states Signatures must include at least one internal link to one of your user page, user talk page, or contributions page to allow other editors easy access to your talk page and contributions log. The word "must" indicates imperativeness. There were two ways I can see that this could have been handled. The first was to discuss the current wording of the guideline at WT:SIGN and/or possibly start on RFC on that if needed. The second was to request comment on Docu's not abiding by this guideline. The community seems to, for the most part unambiguously, have sided towards the latter. While, at any other time, this RFC/U may have been justifiable, I cannot fail but not notice that the timing for this RFC/U is outright horrible and that I do agree with some of the others in that there might be other motivations behind this RFC/U. MuZemike 19:06, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
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Wikipedia does not need user cops who find problems where there aren't any. I dare any of the accusers and harpies here who thought this was a valuable use of anyone's time to try and go mediate some of the intractable issues in the actual, you know, project. We have rampant nationalist POV warriors, paid corporate shills, quack medical and fringe theory pushers abundant all over the project and this issue is about someone's signature line? Give me a break. This is why RFA is broken, because the fear of controversy self-selects an admin (and wanna-be) corp who are too chickenshit to go after the real problems on the project and spend their time in morale crushing, ineffectual, internecine witch hunts. SchmuckyTheCat ( talk)
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At its core, Wikipedia is a collaborative project that would have never lasted this long if the editors involved worked on a principle of anything other than mutual co-operation because not one single editor on this project is capable of building an encyclopedia by themselves. If a number of editors had spent years trying to tell me that a most insignificant and minor change in the way I edit Wikipedia would make their lives a hell of a lot easier and presented me with a minimum logical reasoning of why this would help better the encyclopedia (the sole reason why any of us should even be registered users on this website), then I would have no issue accomodating such a request because my minor inconvenience is well worth the benefit of the project and the convenience of countless editors who help build it. In such a case, it would make no difference whatsoever whether WP:SIG is a guideline or a policy or, for that matter, whether official documents on this even exist. It's the most fundamental element of good faith editing that I should edit in such a way that I improve Wikipedia rather than to maintain or improve my own position as an editor. Big Bird ( talk • contribs) 16:50, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
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I've not seen an explanation of why Docu refuses to sign his posts. Surely it's not because he enjoys inconveniencing other users. I'm genuinely curious: Docu, why do you steadfastly refuse this simple act of courtesy?
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Turn out the lights and put this baby to bed. Ridiculousness is what this is. - ALLST✰R▼ echo wuz here 05:43, 23 June 2009 (UTC)
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This entire Request for Comments has drama written all over it. I urge Docu to begin using the signature button at the top of his edit bar (so he doesn't have to type the four tildes if it bothers him) and as ASE has stated above me, this RfC be closed. If he refused to do so, what would be the end result here? De-adminship? A block for disruptiveness? That seems like the only conclusion that would happen here if he were to adamantly refuse changing it (consistently). blurred peace ☮ 05:50, 23 June 2009 (UTC)
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I am going to try hard to stay away from drama and cliques. I will not discuss Docu's long tenure, or skills as an admin as they are not imperative to the point. From a truly outside perspective, the first time I saw Docu's "sig", I said "what the f...?" There are four primary issues with the sig as per the last time I saw it:
Perhaps at some point, the programmers-that-be will need to allow admins to disable the checkmark that allows us to bypass the default signature, and it could be used in cases like this. ( talk→ BWilkins ←track) 15:45, 23 June 2009 (UTC)
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Per the diffs provided by Majorly here ( [60], [61], [62], [63]), it is apparent that Docu is attempting to make some sort of point and/or is indulging in deliberate disruption. Signing is the same on both sites, so it is not actually possible for it to be harder here than it is there. This is in addition to the diffs provided above of absolute refusal to answer simple yes/no questions or respond to simple inquiries.
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Suggestion: have someone from BAG launch a modified SineBot to monitor Docu's contribs and fix the damn sigs. Then, WP:DENY. Problem solved? 67.117.147.249 ( talk) 19:25, 8 July 2009 (UTC)
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I'm closing this RfC with the outcome, there is a consensus that Docu should abide by the guidelines of WP:SIG and Docu now seems to be doing this. Thanks Docu for heeding the input of this RfC! Meanwhile, some thought should be given towards making WP:SIG a policy, along with the ability for admins to disable a user's custom signature option.
Abiding by WP:SIG has mostly to do with civility and ease of use. Inexperienced editors are more hindered than others by signatures which aren't clear and don't carry a straightforward wlink to the userspace, but there doesn't seem to be any reason why an editor can't stick to the guideline.
Given that Docu rarely blocks editors, I don't think the comments about Docu's admin status ever had overwhelming pith, but an admin who is active with the bit in any way should likely take care that users can easily post to the admin's talk page.
The community seems to be ok with odd signatures, but there does seem to be consensus that even these should carry a link to the userspace and be timestamped. So long as this is only a guideline, such lacks shouldn't bring forth a block but if seen along with policy-breaking behaviour, should have some sway as to what might be done about it and how quickly. Gwen Gale ( talk) 15:49, 24 July 2009 (UTC)
More, following input on my talk page:
There was indeed support for a block, had Docu not heeded this RfC. However, Docu did heed the input and either way, most admins would be so wary of blocking over a guideline unless there was a policy breach to go along with it. Gwen Gale ( talk) 00:29, 25 July 2009 (UTC)
The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
In order to remain listed at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct, at least two people need to show that they tried to resolve a dispute with this user and have failed. This must involve the same dispute with a single user, not different disputes or multiple users. The persons complaining must provide evidence of their efforts, and each of them must certify it by signing this page with ~~~~. If this does not happen within 48 hours of the creation of this dispute page (which was: 20:17, 17 June 2009 (UTC)), the page will be deleted. The current date and time is: 23:58, 14 July 2024 (UTC).
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Docu ( talk · contribs · logs) refuses to follow the WP:SIGNATURE guideline and include a link to either his user page or talk page in his signature, and he almost never includes the timestamp (I haven't viewed every one of his contribs, so it's possible he may have done so at one time). He has been asked multiple times over a more than a year to adjust his signature to comply with the guideline, but he either completely ignores the requests or dismisses them as unimportant or not worth his time. In every instance I could find, he "archives" them by deleting the requests from his talk page.
This is disruptive, and therefore a breach of the civility policy on Wikipedia. Docu has been an editor here for a long time, and an admin for a large percentage of that time, so he must realize how important it is for editors to act in a civil and non-disruptive manner (even more so if you are an admin).
The desired outcome is Docu consistently using a normal signature with a link to either his user page or his talk page (or both), and with the timestamp as well. Nothing more, nothing less. He knows how to correctly use a signature as evidenced here.
Addendum: As a couple people have brought this up (through various comments and views), I thought I'd address it. This RFC is not seeking to block or desysop Docu (though there are some outside views which have stated that as a potential consequence they would like to see). The desired outcome is stated very clearly and concisely above, so please keep that in mind when offering an opinion here. Thank you.
See above as there's no need to restate it here.
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This is what I wrote last time it came up on ANI. I stand by it now, (though without the blocking bit yet - let the RfC run its course)
Screw it, I'm sick of these threads. Before anyone says the lack of a proper signature isn't a problem, it undoubtedly IS a problem if so many people are complaining about it. And it will continue to be a problem until it is changed (and this endless cycle of complaints about it will continue) Lack of a link to the user or talk pages and lack of a time stamp is downright inconvenient for everyone who wishes to contact him, and given that he is an admin, it should be relatively easy for all users, not just experienced ones, to find his talk page without having to navigae there the hard way. He has never given any explanation whatsoever for the lack of a link and timestamp - and honestly a suitable explanation hasn't been apparent to anyone commenting on the issue before. One pigheaded admin shouldn't be the source of so many issues over something so bloody trivial. We wouldn't tolerate that from any non-admin. Either he changes it or he is blocked until it is changed. Simple answer. ViridaeTalk 09:36, 4 June 2009 (UTC)
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The operative word is Guideline. If you want to make a signature a requirement, make it a Rule. As long as it remains only a Guideline, pushing this issue amounts to harassment. Is it annoying? Yes. But you can always go to the history and click on his talk page. Two keystrokes. Big deal. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 23:12, 17 June 2009 (UTC)
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Docu is a talented, hardworking, & helpful administrator. However, his non-standard sig use makes it difficult to enforce the signature guideline as users point to his signature use and complain that we don't enforce it consistently. As such, I urge him to begin using a signature with at least one link and a timestamp when posting on pages other than his talk page.
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Lets not forget that WP:SIGNATURE is a guideline and that user preferences allow a great many different format signatures to be used. Many of those are in fact even more confusing to determine the actual link to the user and talk pages. In many cases a simple "bare bones" signature is much more helpful and less disruptive to the flow of discussions. The page history contains a link to the user's details. Also I would disagree with the implication that blanking ones own talk page is disruptive - it is an indication that the comment has been read and also an optimal way to archive.
If it is desirable to have a link to talk and user pages on each talk page comment, then it should be considered to make this a policy and remove the configuration options which can lead to confusing signatures being used by many.
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Whilst I agree with Xeno about Docu being hardworking, I do not regard him as helpful as I would expect from an admin. See these 2 exchanges regarding his non identification of being an admin [49], [50]. This strongly relates to his attitude to not allow easy communication with users as reflected in his signature. Everyone should refer to the policy Wikipedia:ADMIN#Administrator_conduct regarding "failure to commmunicate".
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Docu has been an established admin before (if not everyone) almost everyone here had even heard of Wikipedia. He has signed this way for years, and suddenly a bunch of trendy new cliquish users/officers (Clarification just for TenOfAllTrades: Not everyone involved is a trendy new cliquish user/officer) decide they don't like it, and harass him nonstop about it, even suggesting s/he should be blocked. What if Docu were to unblock him/herself? Are we going to strip Docu of adminship? Docu has made over 90,000 edits, and certainly deserves to sign in an unconventional way. Calling it "appalling behavior" is just…weird. This is probably the most absurd RfC I have ever come across. Pzrmd ( talk) 00:12, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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1. The editor's chosen means of signing complies with the primary purpose of WP:SIGNATURE - others are able to determine the account to which the edit should be attributed.
2. Information such as time and date is recorded by the software for those who are interested. Nothing requires an editor to advertise such information with every edit made.
3. It appears that when the editor has chosen to link his/her signature, it has been done by manually typing the wiki links. (Has anyone noticed an edit in which this user even used a tilde? Is it possible his/her keyboard varies from the one commonly used in western countries?)
4. None of the diffs provided reflect an instance in which it is claimed that an unlinked signature stopped anyone from actually contacting this user.
5. Despite all the talk about links, I can't help but think that there is only one for which this discussion is destined. Xymmax So let it be written So let it be done 02:23, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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I'm tired of these threads regarding an administrator whose RFA gives no confidence towards his administrating abilities. Quite frankly, the signature issue is one bit of the problem. There are greater issues to deal with as well, such as a repeated pattern of rude, disconcerting and anti-social behavior that is unbecoming of an administrator, and a refusal to answer reasonable questions. He has also been found through consensus, to have abused his administrative powers in an impartial matter where he had a conflict of interest, and has closed numerous AFDs in a biased manner.
His signature leaves me little desire to actually contact Docu or have any form of communication. If he chooses to make himself unavailable, then we -- as a community -- have the right to ignore any of his unsigned statements as nonsense. seicer | talk | contribs 02:29, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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Is this RfC about Docu's method of signing his posts? If so, this RfC is unjustified in my opinion. Yes, it's annoying, but it's hardly "appalling" or "disruptive". Other involved editors are blowing this way out of proportion, and I agree with Baseball Bugs in that this is bordering on harassment. We have plenty of abusive admins; Docu is hardly one of them. – Juliancolton | Talk 05:56, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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I see a simple problem here: There is no signature. And that's what makes this more than a WP:SIG issue. Had there been a signature, there would have been a timestamp at the least and we could argue if this is acceptable under the guideline. I can understand a person's tendency to find a way around a rule (or a guideline for the matter), but to simply ignore it for no valid reason is completely inappropriate and unbecoming of a respected user, admin or otherwise. And I also can't understand the arguments other users are making that you can check the page history and see who made the comment. If that's so, then why am I signing this post and why are you signing your posts? I'll tell you why: because we consider that as our responsibility, as any other user should. And shirking it for no apparent reason should not be accepted. Leave Sleaves 06:51, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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This discussion is misdirected. The issue is broader than what Docu does or does not do. If a SIG is required it should be automatic. Since it is not automatic it can be assumed that it is optional. Those who think that a SIG should be required should work towards a project wide policy or implementation. I suggest this discussion be closed without prejudice and a new discussion should begin at Wikipedia:Village pump (policy). -- droll [chat] 09:23, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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It's seldom that this happens but I have to disagree with Juliancolton. It's not only annoying, it's more than that. Admins, more so than many other editors, are expected and have to deal with new users and unexperienced editors very often. We regard it as natural to simply type "User:Docu" into the search field and find the userpage or to check the history of a page to find the time the comment was made. But we sometimes forget that those are not skills that new editors possess. They do not know about User:-namespace or page histories and as such, when seeing such a signature amongst all those with links and timestamps, they might be lost. Let's say Docu comments somewhere and a new editor wants to contact him about it. They might be here long enough to have figured out that they can usually click a name to do so. But they might (and some certainly will) not possess the necessary skills yet to figure out how to find his userpage or when he made an edit without the signature. An admin should not make it harder than absolutely necessary for new or inexperienced users to contact them or find out when they made a certain comment and Docu is no exception to this rule. It's not about whether WP:SIG is a guideline or a rule or anything but simply about the fact that admins, out of all experienced users, should not make using this site harder than absolutely necessary - for anyone.
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I wish admins would be tougher on their own. Organizations like physicians and dentists have a chronic propensity to give wrist-slaps to poor performing members of their professions. But when someone comes along that publicly casts them in an embarrassing light, they kick them out in a New York second. Reading the complaint and motion, I am struck by the amount of drama that can be generated on Wikipedia. But I am also struck by how someone who is charged with enforcing conduct so willingly flouts those very rules with an imperious, dismissive style. This breeds resentment amongst long-time regular editors who perceive a severe double standard. And that foments an undercurrent of desire for wholesale reform of Wikipedia’s governance. My advise to the admin and ‘Crat community would be to realize that they govern with the consent of the governed here on Wikipedia. Consensus as to our processes for choosing and retaining admins can change. Reading the complaint, I had an epiphany of just what Docu is all about. I encourage you to simply strip Docu of his adminship and require that he go through the entire process of earning adminship again. Of course, he would never get it, would he? The admins need to rapidly weed out the embarrassments from its ranks. Greg L ( talk) 17:05, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
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If Docu could go to the trouble of detailing his objection to signing properly, perhaps it would lead to more productive discussion. I for one don't have a problem with the way Docu signs, but a lot of wasted time could be averted if he could rationalise his decision intelligently and reasonably. One thing that is problematic is his lack of consistency when it comes to embedding the time and date. The idea of dating comments has a clear purpose – it allows for chronological sequencing and analysis, and clarifies the way a discussion has moved forward over time. In addition, it is an indicator of the stagnancy of a conversation and is, in this way, of archival advantage. By no means should action be taken against Docu if he refuses to sign properly, but the whole affair seems utterly inane if the user in question is unable to rationalise his tendencies. Therefore, a question directly to Docu: why do you refuse to date your comments on a regular basis, and why do you dislike the prospect of a signature linking to your user and/or user talk pages? — Anonymous Dissident Talk 04:49, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
Clearly, the issue here is that we have a user who wants to disrupt the normal workings of Wikipedia. The default signiture contains the users name and the date. Furthermore, it would be a heap easier to sign pages with ~~~~ than "User:Docu", the former only taking 4 keypresses, compared to nine. Further to that, the user in question is a admininstrator, who is expected to show civillity in all discussions. Telling other users to pretty much nick off is quite clearly not I, for one, would expect from such users. Therefore, we have a issue with a editor, who the community has chosen to bestow with the mop and bucket, telling us to (effectivaly) nick off, when we have asked a simple question; and refusing to use a signiture that almost every editor on this wiki uses. Thanks -- Sk8er5000 ( talk) 11:08, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
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Since I posted my original statement, Docu has started asking questions about my above statement to my editor review ( [51] [52] [53]), possibly as wiki-stalking. The first question, asking about a mistake I made ( and fixed), was fair enough. The next two, about my views on signitures, I feel is just wikihounding a editor about why they said something at RfC. If Docu asked these questions in good faith ( which he could have), then fair enough. However, given roux's statement, then I have reason to believe that Docu is acting more in bad faith. Thanks -- Sk8er5000 ( talk) 08:49, 3 July 2009 (UTC)
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Per [54] (only a couple of hours after this posting), Docu is starting to use a more standard signature with visibility. If this stays, then I see no point in this RFC to continue any further. MuZemike 12:07, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
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Since I was shown wrong above and made to look like a schmuck, I'll add to my above statement (but not take away what I have said above). The current wording in the WP:SIGN behavioral guideline states Signatures must include at least one internal link to one of your user page, user talk page, or contributions page to allow other editors easy access to your talk page and contributions log. The word "must" indicates imperativeness. There were two ways I can see that this could have been handled. The first was to discuss the current wording of the guideline at WT:SIGN and/or possibly start on RFC on that if needed. The second was to request comment on Docu's not abiding by this guideline. The community seems to, for the most part unambiguously, have sided towards the latter. While, at any other time, this RFC/U may have been justifiable, I cannot fail but not notice that the timing for this RFC/U is outright horrible and that I do agree with some of the others in that there might be other motivations behind this RFC/U. MuZemike 19:06, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
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Wikipedia does not need user cops who find problems where there aren't any. I dare any of the accusers and harpies here who thought this was a valuable use of anyone's time to try and go mediate some of the intractable issues in the actual, you know, project. We have rampant nationalist POV warriors, paid corporate shills, quack medical and fringe theory pushers abundant all over the project and this issue is about someone's signature line? Give me a break. This is why RFA is broken, because the fear of controversy self-selects an admin (and wanna-be) corp who are too chickenshit to go after the real problems on the project and spend their time in morale crushing, ineffectual, internecine witch hunts. SchmuckyTheCat ( talk)
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At its core, Wikipedia is a collaborative project that would have never lasted this long if the editors involved worked on a principle of anything other than mutual co-operation because not one single editor on this project is capable of building an encyclopedia by themselves. If a number of editors had spent years trying to tell me that a most insignificant and minor change in the way I edit Wikipedia would make their lives a hell of a lot easier and presented me with a minimum logical reasoning of why this would help better the encyclopedia (the sole reason why any of us should even be registered users on this website), then I would have no issue accomodating such a request because my minor inconvenience is well worth the benefit of the project and the convenience of countless editors who help build it. In such a case, it would make no difference whatsoever whether WP:SIG is a guideline or a policy or, for that matter, whether official documents on this even exist. It's the most fundamental element of good faith editing that I should edit in such a way that I improve Wikipedia rather than to maintain or improve my own position as an editor. Big Bird ( talk • contribs) 16:50, 19 June 2009 (UTC)
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I've not seen an explanation of why Docu refuses to sign his posts. Surely it's not because he enjoys inconveniencing other users. I'm genuinely curious: Docu, why do you steadfastly refuse this simple act of courtesy?
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Turn out the lights and put this baby to bed. Ridiculousness is what this is. - ALLST✰R▼ echo wuz here 05:43, 23 June 2009 (UTC)
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This entire Request for Comments has drama written all over it. I urge Docu to begin using the signature button at the top of his edit bar (so he doesn't have to type the four tildes if it bothers him) and as ASE has stated above me, this RfC be closed. If he refused to do so, what would be the end result here? De-adminship? A block for disruptiveness? That seems like the only conclusion that would happen here if he were to adamantly refuse changing it (consistently). blurred peace ☮ 05:50, 23 June 2009 (UTC)
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I am going to try hard to stay away from drama and cliques. I will not discuss Docu's long tenure, or skills as an admin as they are not imperative to the point. From a truly outside perspective, the first time I saw Docu's "sig", I said "what the f...?" There are four primary issues with the sig as per the last time I saw it:
Perhaps at some point, the programmers-that-be will need to allow admins to disable the checkmark that allows us to bypass the default signature, and it could be used in cases like this. ( talk→ BWilkins ←track) 15:45, 23 June 2009 (UTC)
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Per the diffs provided by Majorly here ( [60], [61], [62], [63]), it is apparent that Docu is attempting to make some sort of point and/or is indulging in deliberate disruption. Signing is the same on both sites, so it is not actually possible for it to be harder here than it is there. This is in addition to the diffs provided above of absolute refusal to answer simple yes/no questions or respond to simple inquiries.
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Suggestion: have someone from BAG launch a modified SineBot to monitor Docu's contribs and fix the damn sigs. Then, WP:DENY. Problem solved? 67.117.147.249 ( talk) 19:25, 8 July 2009 (UTC)
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