User:Elviondale/GW2W
Why GW2W will fail pt 2[edit]
I've become quite discouraged at the overwhelming push for discretion-only rules around here. There is a fundamental problem with situational- or intent-based-ethics. You don't know the players mind nor motive when they do what they do. Granted, AGF is a good guideline, but oft times when admins get involved, it is determined that a user is not editing in good faith.
The problem with forgoing policies and almost exclusively relying on the will of the admin is that there is plentiful power and no restraint, other than the will of that admin. I fully expect that the admins we have will not abuse that power, but as a matter of principle and surety against the abuse of power in the future, policies need to be established with clear allotments for what can and cannot be done. If something as anomalous as GW2W:DICK is installed, it most assuredly will be thrown around as accusingly as GWW:NPA, even though NPA had a somewhat clear definition of what it was and wasn't. I've been around long enough on forums and such where an admin who is just annoyed or bothered by a user will ban him. According to some of the policy proposals seen floating around here already, an admin will be fully justified and within his/her right to do so.
Re: GW2W:DICK, the name must change. It is a vulgar term used for anatomy and according to practically every standards body, is restricted to a R, MA, or similar rating, beyond the rating of this game. Having it on wikipedia is fine. Pardon me saying it, but why don't we also have GW2W:NIGGA as well? While not a policy against black people, it would convey the dislike of a (not necessarily correct) stereotype that people might find to be of poor taste? That could simply be rewritten as "Communicate clearly and don't have an over-exaggerated sense of pride". While almost laughable, you should see what I mean.
But back to the larger issue at hand. This wiki would be best governed by admins who made decisions based on the circumstance, but according to things in policies. These "things" don't have to be spelled out one by one (which is commonly being being argued), however, admins should not make decisions entirely by their own judgment, but rather in accordance with policies, unless such a policy does not exist. If nothing else, having a system such as the speedy delete reasons in GWW would be a good idea. Since bans and other similar action are based on user conduct, simply have a user conduct policy incorporating whatever elements of NPA, harassment, patently offensiveness, vandalism, etc the wiki-body chooses to accept. Discretion could be used by the admins to use action if necessary based on those categories.
If this wiki is to be compared to the US Gvmt, think of the users as the legislative branch (making laws), sysops as the executive branch (enforcing laws), and bcrats as the judicial branch (interpreting laws as per case). Granted, they aren't perfectly similar, but the overall concept remains the same.
Why GW2W will fail[edit]
At GWW, people in a fairly level-headed state of mind came together and drew out what would happen- the where, when, and how. Back then, no one really used the wiki so a few people could put their heads together and come up with a plan for policies, guidelines, etc. Changes have been made since then, but its almost akin to making a Constitutional amendment. The undertones of its founding still guide GWW in its operation.
Fast forward a year or so. Now we are faced with GW2W. Editors from GW and GWW alike come with their own opinions about how things should be run. Unfortunately, wikis really aren't the best place to consolidate ideas between people. Their asynchronous method of communications breaks down any chance of having a viable interchange with 4+ people. If the core of this wiki is to be hammered out, it needs to be done in person or by other synchronous form and it needs to be a ton more organized than it is. Unfortunately, that is not a possibility.
The major difference is that we are not making something from scratch. We are all attempting to make something better than the old one. Everyone has their own opinion what "better" is. I'm not a fortune teller, but I can sense that this isn't going to work out.
Perhaps the best way to do this is to have 4 wikis. troll.guildwars2.com/wiki, admin.guildwars2.com/wiki (for all those aspiring to become admin and where current admins can exercise their power without restraint, as has been the recent "in" thing to do), content.guildwars2.com/wiki (for those who actually contribute to the mainspace), and wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki for those of us who are either disenchanted, prefer a PG rated wiki, and can coexist without 99% of adminship structure and policies.
