I see the job of the Committee as to sort out problems that have gotten so bad that no one else can deal with them, and that are wasting the time of editors who are here to write, and to seek the ideal solution: the one that ends up with the least damage and lets the people who are here to work cooperatively and productively on articles do just that.
I believe strongly in keeping a civil and productive atmosphere on Wikipedia, and not being overly bound by precedent in search of a proper outcome. I also believe in using no firmer a touch than is necessary to remedy a problem.
There are certain issues I am firm on, including civility and respect as well as the proper use of admin powers. I also am a strong supporter of ignoring all rules, which makes me all the more disturbed when that guideline is abused for ends it wasn't meant for.
As a temporary appointee I believe most of my time on the AC so far has been spent "learning the ropes", and have found I would rather write articles than serve on the AC; what sane person wouldn't? But it hasn't made me want to snap yet, either, so I will fill the post if I am wanted back. Questions welcomed.
Being an arbitrator requires a finely tuned bullshit detector. What in your life has prepared you to detect bullshit with ease? Phil Sandifer 21:23, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
Many policies contradict and overlap with each other, and then WP:IAR makes things even more complicated while making them paradoxically more flexible. When two or more policies apply and conflict, what do you do? karmafist 18:50, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
Do you hold any strong political or religious opinions (e.g. concerning George Bush, Islam, or on which end you should break a boiled egg)? If so, would you recuse yourself from cases centred on these?
How willing are you to contest the decisions of other arbitrators rather than just "go with the flow"?
Do you view all requests to re-address cases, particularly requests made by those most penalised, as being automatically without merit?
In the case against Yuber, it was decided by the arbitration committee that it is the duty of arbitrators to investigate, and rule on the behaviour of not only one party involved, but all of them. Do you support this decision? [if current arbitrator] Does your visible behaviour on recent cases reflect this decision?
--Victim of signature fascism 16:50, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
Many people have noted that Wikipedia's original communitarian structure is no longer functioning very well. One editor has suggested that ArbCom is "about getting the trains to run on time," which is a reference to a fulfulled promise of Mussolini's fascist government. Do you agree that Wikipedia needs to become more orderly, and if so, do you think there are any options other than a move toward a more centrally controlled authoritarian system? Do you think that the spirit of cooperation in Wikipedia would survive such a change? Marsden 15:59, 6 December 2005 (UTC)
Q: How old are you and what do you do? (If student, please state what subjects you are studying.)
A: I'm 23, currently a freelance musician and a student on hiatus before graduate school. (I studied music and mathematics; what I end up doing for graduate work is still up in the air.)
Q: How many hours a month do you think you will need to be a good Arbitrator and are you really willing to put in the time?
A: Too many, really! Not just the reading of cases, but in keeping up with the rest of Wikipedia enough to know what's going on. I'd say roughly an hour per day on arbitration alone. I am willing, yes. (There goes everyone's estimation of my sanity.)
Q: If chosen, you will need to arbitrate on disputes arising from the creation or revision of articles. Experience of creating and revising articles yourself, particularly where it has involved collaboration, is very valuable in understanding the mindset of disputants who come to arbitration. With reference to your own edits in the main article namespace, please demonstrate why you think you have the right experience to be a good arbitrator.
A: I've created many articles, including one I've gotten through FAC ( Rebecca Clarke), but my experience in article space has been all but uncontentious; my experience in policy and informal dispute resolution has been more useful. ( Hugo Wolf, another article that is primarily my work, is long dead, else I may have had to do battle with the Brahmsian POV-pushers, but in general classical music is a peaceful area.)
Q: Please list out what other Wikipedia usernames you have edited under.
A: I've never edited (other than tests) under another username. User:Brainleakage is mine to test the non-admin, uncustomized interface, and I registered User:Kat Walsh as my real name (which redirects to my current userpage; it's possible I may switch to using it in the future). Oh, and for full disclosure, User:Gmaxwell is my significant other; yes, I would recuse on any issue he was significantly involved in.
Mindspillage (spill yours?) 19:25, 6 December 2005 (UTC)
Do you support the creation of a Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Code of Conduct as I have just now suggested at User talk:Jimbo Wales#A sincere question? - Ted Wilkes 18:39, 10 December 2005 (UTC)
I'll probably end up posing this question to all whose views I don't already know:
What is, in your opinion, the proper use of WP:IAR? When, if ever, should the rule be invoked to justify administrative action? Xoloz 17:32, 16 December 2005 (UTC)
In your case, this is asked to clarify your candidate statement. Xoloz 17:32, 16 December 2005 (UTC)
Do you support Wikipedia:User Bill of Rights? ( SEWilco 05:40, 21 December 2005 (UTC))
PurplePlatypus 07:48, 21 December 2005 (UTC)
Tito xd( ?!? - help us) 06:55, 24 December 2005 (UTC)
Zordrac (talk) Wishy Washy Darwikinian Eventualist 16:24, 24 December 2005 (UTC)
(Being asked of all candidates)
Do you believe that regardless of Jimbo Wales' own views on the matter, the community should be able to strip arbitrators of their position under certain circumstances, and if so, what circumstances?
As a corollory:Do you believe, regardless of Jimbo Wales' view on the matter, that a large number of signatories (e.g. 150 requesting censure against 50 supporting the arbitrator) to an RFC against an arbitrator is enough that the arbitrator should be judged as having been rejected by the community in light of their actions, and consequently for them to be forcibly stripped of their post?
wikipedia has a policy of NPOV. Excepting straw men, have you ever introduced a substantial opinion or fact that contradicts your own political or religious viewpoint into an article on a topic of which you have strong opinions, and if you have, how frequently do you do so compared to your other substatial edits to articles?
-- Victim of signature fascism 01:46, 5 January 2006 (UTC)
I am asking these questions of all candidates:
1. Do you pledge to abide by the proposed recusal guidelines at Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Code of Conduct#Recusal?
2. Are there any parts of Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Code of Conduct that you do not agree with? If so, please describe in detail how you would improve them.
3. Will you please pledge to support expanding the number of seats on the Arbitration Committee? If not, how would you propose alleviating the present arbitration backlog?
4. Have you voted over at Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Elections January 2006/Proposed modifications to rules? If not, why not? If so, please summarize your votes.
Thank you for your kind consideration of and answers to these questions. — James S. 06:53, 5 January 2006 (UTC)
Kat, are you actually sane? ;-) Rob Church Talk 13:18, 6 January 2006 (UTC)
— Simetrical ( talk • contribs) 02:42, 10 January 2006 (UTC)
James F. have written in his statement the following:
Are you agree with your colleague? If not, please explain you view on the purpose of the Arbitration Committee and the role of punishment.-- AndriyK 19:28, 10 January 2006 (UTC)
User:Improv, who is also a candidate for the arbitration committee, has placed the following statement on Wikipedia:Village pump (policy):
I am inviting all candidates, including Improv, to expand on this theme on their questions pages. Do you agree that this is a cause for concern as we move into 2006? How do you see the role of the arbitration committee in interpreting the interpretation of Wikipedia policy in the light of this concern? -- Tony Sidaway| Talk 20:52, 12 January 2006 (UTC)
I see the job of the Committee as to sort out problems that have gotten so bad that no one else can deal with them, and that are wasting the time of editors who are here to write, and to seek the ideal solution: the one that ends up with the least damage and lets the people who are here to work cooperatively and productively on articles do just that.
I believe strongly in keeping a civil and productive atmosphere on Wikipedia, and not being overly bound by precedent in search of a proper outcome. I also believe in using no firmer a touch than is necessary to remedy a problem.
There are certain issues I am firm on, including civility and respect as well as the proper use of admin powers. I also am a strong supporter of ignoring all rules, which makes me all the more disturbed when that guideline is abused for ends it wasn't meant for.
As a temporary appointee I believe most of my time on the AC so far has been spent "learning the ropes", and have found I would rather write articles than serve on the AC; what sane person wouldn't? But it hasn't made me want to snap yet, either, so I will fill the post if I am wanted back. Questions welcomed.
Being an arbitrator requires a finely tuned bullshit detector. What in your life has prepared you to detect bullshit with ease? Phil Sandifer 21:23, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
Many policies contradict and overlap with each other, and then WP:IAR makes things even more complicated while making them paradoxically more flexible. When two or more policies apply and conflict, what do you do? karmafist 18:50, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
Do you hold any strong political or religious opinions (e.g. concerning George Bush, Islam, or on which end you should break a boiled egg)? If so, would you recuse yourself from cases centred on these?
How willing are you to contest the decisions of other arbitrators rather than just "go with the flow"?
Do you view all requests to re-address cases, particularly requests made by those most penalised, as being automatically without merit?
In the case against Yuber, it was decided by the arbitration committee that it is the duty of arbitrators to investigate, and rule on the behaviour of not only one party involved, but all of them. Do you support this decision? [if current arbitrator] Does your visible behaviour on recent cases reflect this decision?
--Victim of signature fascism 16:50, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
Many people have noted that Wikipedia's original communitarian structure is no longer functioning very well. One editor has suggested that ArbCom is "about getting the trains to run on time," which is a reference to a fulfulled promise of Mussolini's fascist government. Do you agree that Wikipedia needs to become more orderly, and if so, do you think there are any options other than a move toward a more centrally controlled authoritarian system? Do you think that the spirit of cooperation in Wikipedia would survive such a change? Marsden 15:59, 6 December 2005 (UTC)
Q: How old are you and what do you do? (If student, please state what subjects you are studying.)
A: I'm 23, currently a freelance musician and a student on hiatus before graduate school. (I studied music and mathematics; what I end up doing for graduate work is still up in the air.)
Q: How many hours a month do you think you will need to be a good Arbitrator and are you really willing to put in the time?
A: Too many, really! Not just the reading of cases, but in keeping up with the rest of Wikipedia enough to know what's going on. I'd say roughly an hour per day on arbitration alone. I am willing, yes. (There goes everyone's estimation of my sanity.)
Q: If chosen, you will need to arbitrate on disputes arising from the creation or revision of articles. Experience of creating and revising articles yourself, particularly where it has involved collaboration, is very valuable in understanding the mindset of disputants who come to arbitration. With reference to your own edits in the main article namespace, please demonstrate why you think you have the right experience to be a good arbitrator.
A: I've created many articles, including one I've gotten through FAC ( Rebecca Clarke), but my experience in article space has been all but uncontentious; my experience in policy and informal dispute resolution has been more useful. ( Hugo Wolf, another article that is primarily my work, is long dead, else I may have had to do battle with the Brahmsian POV-pushers, but in general classical music is a peaceful area.)
Q: Please list out what other Wikipedia usernames you have edited under.
A: I've never edited (other than tests) under another username. User:Brainleakage is mine to test the non-admin, uncustomized interface, and I registered User:Kat Walsh as my real name (which redirects to my current userpage; it's possible I may switch to using it in the future). Oh, and for full disclosure, User:Gmaxwell is my significant other; yes, I would recuse on any issue he was significantly involved in.
Mindspillage (spill yours?) 19:25, 6 December 2005 (UTC)
Do you support the creation of a Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Code of Conduct as I have just now suggested at User talk:Jimbo Wales#A sincere question? - Ted Wilkes 18:39, 10 December 2005 (UTC)
I'll probably end up posing this question to all whose views I don't already know:
What is, in your opinion, the proper use of WP:IAR? When, if ever, should the rule be invoked to justify administrative action? Xoloz 17:32, 16 December 2005 (UTC)
In your case, this is asked to clarify your candidate statement. Xoloz 17:32, 16 December 2005 (UTC)
Do you support Wikipedia:User Bill of Rights? ( SEWilco 05:40, 21 December 2005 (UTC))
PurplePlatypus 07:48, 21 December 2005 (UTC)
Tito xd( ?!? - help us) 06:55, 24 December 2005 (UTC)
Zordrac (talk) Wishy Washy Darwikinian Eventualist 16:24, 24 December 2005 (UTC)
(Being asked of all candidates)
Do you believe that regardless of Jimbo Wales' own views on the matter, the community should be able to strip arbitrators of their position under certain circumstances, and if so, what circumstances?
As a corollory:Do you believe, regardless of Jimbo Wales' view on the matter, that a large number of signatories (e.g. 150 requesting censure against 50 supporting the arbitrator) to an RFC against an arbitrator is enough that the arbitrator should be judged as having been rejected by the community in light of their actions, and consequently for them to be forcibly stripped of their post?
wikipedia has a policy of NPOV. Excepting straw men, have you ever introduced a substantial opinion or fact that contradicts your own political or religious viewpoint into an article on a topic of which you have strong opinions, and if you have, how frequently do you do so compared to your other substatial edits to articles?
-- Victim of signature fascism 01:46, 5 January 2006 (UTC)
I am asking these questions of all candidates:
1. Do you pledge to abide by the proposed recusal guidelines at Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Code of Conduct#Recusal?
2. Are there any parts of Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Code of Conduct that you do not agree with? If so, please describe in detail how you would improve them.
3. Will you please pledge to support expanding the number of seats on the Arbitration Committee? If not, how would you propose alleviating the present arbitration backlog?
4. Have you voted over at Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee Elections January 2006/Proposed modifications to rules? If not, why not? If so, please summarize your votes.
Thank you for your kind consideration of and answers to these questions. — James S. 06:53, 5 January 2006 (UTC)
Kat, are you actually sane? ;-) Rob Church Talk 13:18, 6 January 2006 (UTC)
— Simetrical ( talk • contribs) 02:42, 10 January 2006 (UTC)
James F. have written in his statement the following:
Are you agree with your colleague? If not, please explain you view on the purpose of the Arbitration Committee and the role of punishment.-- AndriyK 19:28, 10 January 2006 (UTC)
User:Improv, who is also a candidate for the arbitration committee, has placed the following statement on Wikipedia:Village pump (policy):
I am inviting all candidates, including Improv, to expand on this theme on their questions pages. Do you agree that this is a cause for concern as we move into 2006? How do you see the role of the arbitration committee in interpreting the interpretation of Wikipedia policy in the light of this concern? -- Tony Sidaway| Talk 20:52, 12 January 2006 (UTC)