![]() | This is a
failed proposal.
Consensus for its implementation was not established within a reasonable period of time. If you want to revive discussion, please use
the talk page or initiate a thread at
the village pump. |
The following is a proposal to rename the positions of Wikipedia's bureaucracy and administration to match those of ancient Roman titles.
Wikipedia's bureaucracy has begun to take itself too seriously. We get so caught up in bickering over wheel wars and incivility and vandalism that we forget our original purpose: to create, maintain and expand an encyclopedia. While that endeavor should be approached with all due deference, it does not mean we cannot take creative liberties in the manner by which we carry out this task.
What do you think of when you hear the title "Administrator"? Or worse yet, "Bureaucrat"? Does the first image in your head depict an editor who tirelessly contributes to the betterment of the encyclopedia? No! Administrators and Bureaucrats conjure up images of pompous corporate project leaders or those cranky people who work for the DMV. The hardworking men and women of Wikipedia's administration deserve better than to be nailed to clunky, bland titles.
From where should we draw replacement titles? When one looks back throughout history and thinks of good administration, the first and foremost nation that comes to mind is that of the Romans. Romans were the best at administration of their provinces, and we could benefit from the example they set. We're an encyclopedia, so it is only fitting we draw upon one of the finest empires in human history for inspiration.
Addressing an administrator as a quaestor follows the spirit of adminship being "no big deal". "Administrator" sounds serious and harsh, opening the door for newcomers and new contributors to ascribe false importance to the role. Something like "Quaestor", however, is less imposing and allows the community to de-attach any perceived "big deal" from the position.
After all, the best way to make something "no big deal" is to treat it in jest. What better way to remove importance from a position than by naming it after something in which no inherent seriousness is implied? This is not to say that the duties that administrators perform should be treated in jest - far from it. Rather, the role in which the duties are performed should not have any emphasis ascribed to it.
"Administrator" implies administrating things. "Quaestor" is just an obscure title from ancient history.
Developers and stewards, as Wikimedia Foundation-level positions, are outside the jurisdiction of the English Wikipedia's community to rename.
In the interest of minimal confusion, high-traffic areas of Wikipedia's bureaucracy such as the administrator's noticeboard or the administrator intervention against vandalism forums would not be renamed.
![]() | This is a
failed proposal.
Consensus for its implementation was not established within a reasonable period of time. If you want to revive discussion, please use
the talk page or initiate a thread at
the village pump. |
The following is a proposal to rename the positions of Wikipedia's bureaucracy and administration to match those of ancient Roman titles.
Wikipedia's bureaucracy has begun to take itself too seriously. We get so caught up in bickering over wheel wars and incivility and vandalism that we forget our original purpose: to create, maintain and expand an encyclopedia. While that endeavor should be approached with all due deference, it does not mean we cannot take creative liberties in the manner by which we carry out this task.
What do you think of when you hear the title "Administrator"? Or worse yet, "Bureaucrat"? Does the first image in your head depict an editor who tirelessly contributes to the betterment of the encyclopedia? No! Administrators and Bureaucrats conjure up images of pompous corporate project leaders or those cranky people who work for the DMV. The hardworking men and women of Wikipedia's administration deserve better than to be nailed to clunky, bland titles.
From where should we draw replacement titles? When one looks back throughout history and thinks of good administration, the first and foremost nation that comes to mind is that of the Romans. Romans were the best at administration of their provinces, and we could benefit from the example they set. We're an encyclopedia, so it is only fitting we draw upon one of the finest empires in human history for inspiration.
Addressing an administrator as a quaestor follows the spirit of adminship being "no big deal". "Administrator" sounds serious and harsh, opening the door for newcomers and new contributors to ascribe false importance to the role. Something like "Quaestor", however, is less imposing and allows the community to de-attach any perceived "big deal" from the position.
After all, the best way to make something "no big deal" is to treat it in jest. What better way to remove importance from a position than by naming it after something in which no inherent seriousness is implied? This is not to say that the duties that administrators perform should be treated in jest - far from it. Rather, the role in which the duties are performed should not have any emphasis ascribed to it.
"Administrator" implies administrating things. "Quaestor" is just an obscure title from ancient history.
Developers and stewards, as Wikimedia Foundation-level positions, are outside the jurisdiction of the English Wikipedia's community to rename.
In the interest of minimal confusion, high-traffic areas of Wikipedia's bureaucracy such as the administrator's noticeboard or the administrator intervention against vandalism forums would not be renamed.