I would like Admin, for one reason only--

Let's talk about wiki roles. (Business, but not that serious.) [Discussion still open] by Neshomeh on 2024-01-19 17:43:37 UTC Serious business Reply

Full disclosure: I'm starting this because I promised Linstar I would. It's not ideal because I'm gonna be busy over the weekend, but it's probably never going to be perfectly ideal. {= ) Please don't be alarmed if I don't reply for a couple of days.

The purpose of this discussion is basically to take a look at the different roles available for wiki editors and see if we want to make any changes to who has what powers. We've literally never reviewed this before. ^_^; An overview for Fandom is here, and WikiTide for comparison is here, though it looks like they haven't yet filled in descriptions for all possible roles. Since it's all based on MediaWiki, I think it's safe to assume broad similarity between the two.

In a nutshell, we're talking about who has the ability to block users, to protect/unprotect pages, to edit protected pages, and to grant powers to other users. The top roles are Bureaucrat and Administrator (aka sysop), and the two typically go hand in hand, but the main difference is that Bureaucrats have the power to make and un-make Admins. Admins cannot un-make other Admins.

Currently, we have the following users with both Bureaucrat and Admin (aka sysop) powers, in order of most recent edit:

Doctorlit (29 December 2023)
Neshomeh (19 December 2023)
Huinesoron (30 November 2023)
Techno-Dann (30 September 2020) - This is the former username of Delta Juliette; not sure if she has a new account or not? If so it's not under "Delta Juliette."
Sunflower Official (1 September 2015) - This is a shared account, sort of a Nameless Admin for the wiki; IIRC hS and I have access, possibly Delta Juliette as well.
Laburnum (1 August 2015)
Araeph (1 September 2013)
Vixenmage (30 May 2013)
Sedri (14 May 2012)
Aster Corbett/Aster (20 February 2012) - These accounts belong to the same user (and I don't think the second one was ever used)
Agenttrojie/Trojie (29 Nov/13 October 2010) - These accounts belong to the same user, aka Trojanhorse
Korora (8 August 2008) - aka Tawaki

We also have the following account with only the Admin/sysop role, but not Bureaucrat:

The Marquis de Sod (27 December 2020) - This is another shared account; again, IIRC, hS and I have access, possibly Delta Juliette as well.

There's also Rollback power, which allows you to undo all the most recent edits by a single user. This is useful if a page has been vandalized; all edits by one vandal can be undone in a single click. Admins have this automatically, but it can also be granted independently. Currently no one has this who isn't also an admin.

There's also Content Moderator power, which is relatively new and so no one has it, but I think is one we should look at closely. It grants rollback plus the ability to delete/undelete pages/files, edit and move protected pages/files, and some other stuff relating to discussion threads, which isn't terribly relevant to us.

I will note that WikiTide doesn't have an equivalent role to this one because they offer the optional extensions AuthorProtect and LockAuthor for additional flexibility in determining who can or can't edit what.)

Questions to discuss: Are there roles on the wiki that are being underutilized? Is there anyone who currently wants a role they don't have? Is there anyone who currently has a role they don't want? Should we take any action to remove roles from inactive members? (My answer to the last one is no, not unless there's some reason it becomes a problem.)

Also, is there anyone who is generally interested in being a wiki editor, but doesn't know how to start? Don't be shy! Ask questions here!

~Neshomeh

In broader wiki-related news, looks like WikiTide and Miraheze have merged back together! by Neshomeh on 2024-02-05 03:32:51 UTC Reply

Sounds like they've worked out the issues that caused the split, and meanwhile the WikiTide group solved some tech and funding issues, too. They got registered in the US as a 501(c)(3) charity, for one thing. They'll be migrating to better, more affordable severs in the US, too. More details about the merge here.

They project that the actual data migration will be done by March at latest, so maybe we'll talk more about moving then.

Meanwhile, if you're in the UK and want a your own server (albeit an older one), Miraheze has some for sale... {= )

~Neshomeh

Indeed, that seems like a good time to resurrect the moving discussion. by Linstar on 2024-02-07 00:21:36 UTC Reply

It narrows down the options, at least.

-Ls

Sorry for the very late response! by doctorlit on 2024-01-24 12:38:47 UTC Reply

Re: underutilizing roles:
Honestly, with the community being so small, there isn't much point in having, like, a tiered system with different powers anyway. We pretty much all know each other, no one who's been here more than six months or so is going to get roles and then turn around and sabotage the thing! And that's basically what we have done, what with all the actual human Wiki-title havers being Bureaucrats. So if we were going to give anyone Content Moderator or Rollbacker, might as well go straight to one of the higher level ones.

For that matter, Linstar was asking for Admin, but let's just make him Bureaucrat, yeah? Didn't think of it last week when I replied down below.

Re: removing roles from former Boarders
Nah, I agree there's no point in doing so, unless their accounts get hacked or something. There's always a chance they'll pop in again someday, and even if they don't, it's kind of an additional sign/record/memory of their contributions to the community.

—doctorlit, dreading another day of USDA inspection

Same. >.> by Neshomeh on 2024-02-01 00:27:38 UTC Reply

I, uh, got on an editing spree. Sorry. ^_^;

I don't have much to add here, either. Mainly, I didn't make Linstar a Bureaucrat because that's not what got discussed below.

Re. roles, I don't think we need to hand out all the powers to anyone who expresses the least interest. Having the power implies having the responsibility, IMO, and not everyone wants that. I thought our more occasional editors might be interested in getting un-restricted from pages locked against trolling, but since no one spoke up, I guess not!

~Neshomeh

I would like Admin, for one reason only-- by Linstar on 2024-01-19 18:55:21 UTC Edited Reply

I have a decent amount of free time and tend to check the wiki's "recent changes" page often. Many times, I have found and reverted edits by vandals, but without admin, I can't block them (which none of the lesser statuses than admin have, as far as I can tell.) Given that it's often taken a bit before Nesh/doc/hS can ban users, and that they will often continue until they're blocked, I think I could be helpful in that regard at least. I also have a fair bit of wiki editing experience, and am already familiar with the (FANDOM, at least) admin powers, since I'm one on the My Immortal wiki.

--Ls

Last call for comment on this? by Neshomeh on 2024-01-23 20:14:23 UTC Reply

For the record, I also support Linstar becoming a wiki admin: my availability has gotten sporadic with my new job, and Linstar has shown enthusiasm and has earned my trust with good communication over Discord.

That's three Yeas and no Nays so far. I'll give it another day before calling final results, just cuz I know everyone's lives are complicated these days. {= )

~Neshomeh

All righty, congrats to our new wiki admin, Linstar! by Neshomeh on 2024-01-24 22:54:52 UTC Reply

Thanks to everyone who weighed in. I'll now go make that happen.

~Neshomeh

Congrats Linstar! by Ekwy on 2024-01-25 11:21:11 UTC Reply

So proud! Couldn't ask for a better choice. =)
Congrats! 🎉 (nm) by Kі nо Shirayuki on 2024-01-25 04:15:18 UTC Reply
congrats Linstar!! by HeartCandy on 2024-01-25 00:55:28 UTC Reply

congrats!! you’re gonna be a great wiki admin :]
Woohoo! by Linstar on 2024-01-25 00:25:40 UTC Reply

Thank you to everyone who has placed their confidence in me. I'm glad to be able to help further with spam.

-Ls

I've no objections by Tomash on 2024-01-24 19:17:26 UTC Reply

I'm not really involved in the wiki myself - and I've also been sucked into work and moving and writing and such - but I don't see any reason not to give Linstar the admin bit.
Quick comment by OrangeFox on 2024-01-24 06:22:34 UTC Reply

Another yea - Lin's the only person I really ever see talk about the Wiki on the Discord, and he's put a lot of effort into it.

All excellent reasons, I support this. by doctorlit on 2024-01-19 20:14:46 UTC Reply

I used to check the Wiki daily, but I’ve fallen out of the habit as working full time plus has developed into my weekly norm. I’m sorry for that. But Linstar has been on top of wiki vandalism for months now, so we might as well make the process easier for him!

—doctorlit, doing an internet during lunch break
I support this. by Amina Arklighte/Damian Darkbrighte on 2024-01-19 19:21:25 UTC Reply

I don't have much authority to throw around, but Linstar is definitely one of the most active maintainers of the wiki, and has been for some time. I think he'll do well.