Guild Wars 2 Wiki:Requests for adminship/Doodleplex/Archive 1

Doodleplex

Doodleplex (talk • contribs • logs • block log)

Started 04:17, 1 October 2016 (UTC)

Status

Unsuccessful. 03:38, 19 October 2016 (UTC)

Candidate statement

I figure it can't hurt to ask.

I've been pondering this for a while, especially when it came to the Shared Model Project, in terms of removing the images that were no longer needed. I'd like to be an admin mostly because I have interest in the "janitorial" aspects of it. I have a desire to clean up stuff ie delete un-needed images/redirects, duplicate images, and snipping the occasional spambot in it's virtual butt, which I think is already pretty obvious if you look at the current list of things to be deleted, or the deletion history log. I'm also on during different hours than the currently active admins(which really is just Alex and Ventriloquist), so I could cover the times when they're not able to, more or less.

I know I've had my hiccups and mistakes, and I own up to them, not to mention I try to learn from them so I don't repeat them. And...that's all I have to say.

Discussion

• Explanation of why the candidate should or should not retain rights/be given additional rights.

• Neutral vote. I see someone with potential. I see someone who, by going through this process, has a chance to become what I would look for in an admin. Doodleplex currently holds some qualities, and doesn't hold others, but I do not ask for, want, nor expect perfection. I was hoping to have my vote swayed by seeing growth on the talk page; I didn't. We do need more active admins, though. G R E E N E R 20:02, 12 October 2016 (UTC)

• Leaning no. Doodleplex isn't the first editor who's bad at conflict resolution to ask for admin rights for janitorial reasons. Our boy ishmael was self-admittedly not great at communicating with other editors, but he was nevertheless a huge asset to the team thanks to his skills with automation and SMW functions. Doodle, by comparison, doesn't offer us quite as much value in an admin role, and I can't overlook the fact that she was directly involved in the only conflicts we've had on GW2W in quite a while. At this time, based on what I know, I would not be comfortable with granting her full admin rights. However, her eventual answers to the questions Greener asked on the talk page might give me reason to re-evaluate. - Felix Omni 18:21, 10 October 2016 (UTC)

• Doodleplex has my trust, which is my main consideration with any RFA. Doodleplex is certainly an active user, and when looking at our current admin team, I'm struck that we don't have enough active admins with a visible presence. Being diplomatic/patient is part of the responsibility, and I think this comes with experience of being an admin - I believe that Doodleplex will be around long enough to develop this. If she wishes to emphasise a preference for deleting things etc compared with dealing with troublesome users (we don't really have that many troublesome users + besides we have some admins with experience in this matter already), I think we should allow that. (+1 for) -Chieftain Alex 21:59, 10 October 2016 (UTC)

• Voting no. Trust and friendship alone do not make good arguments in a discussion about the qualifications of a candidate to assume the role of an admin. After all, trust can be betrayed. Being active alone does not cut it either -- we have users that are active that I deem much more qualified for adminhood than our current candidate. Users that come with either a lot of experience and authority or excellent communication skills paired with technical know-how. Candidates for adminhood should start out with the right attitude and behaviour to be able to perform adequately. They are, albeit somewhat involuntary, role-models of the wiki and many editors will look up to them and follow their lead. As such, impartiality, level-headedness, seriousness, excellent behaviour, and communication and problem-solving skills are of utmost importance. Regarding activity, the amount of edits performed in the span of hours, days, weeks, months or even years do not make one any more suitable for adminship if most of these are just of minor or mechanical nature. I prefer quality over quantity. In addition, for me, a candidate for adminship has to be either experienced in the game and/or on the wiki — both would be preferred, but either alone is fine. As far as I know, Doodleplex is rather new both in the game (been around for roughly a year) and on the wiki (not even a year). This, and other factors I will be addressing shortly, leaves me concerned.

That said, let me preface what I actually wanted to address by saying that we do not really need another admin right now — particularly not for "janitorial" purposes only. Being an admin encompasses much more than just "deleting stuff" in any case, since there is a lot going on "behind the scenes". I am honestly not sure whether Doodleplex thought beyond this point. Judging from the time and encouragement by four other individuals (!) needed to respond to Greener's questions, of which the content of her reply does, as an aside, not suffice for me, I doubt it. Aside from this, an admin should address matters as quickly as possible and not take a week to "ponder" about matters. It signifies that she might not be ready for this position. Since this is a self-nomination, I expect much more of a candidate, including thinking beforehand what it means to be an admin and what role and which behaviour is expected by the community as a whole. As such, her candidate speech strikes me as a rather half-hearted attempt that lacks seriousness and compassion. Furthermore, it is, in essence, a paraphrase of Ventriloquist's own RfA and others. Her actual replies to Greener's questions feel like she is repeating after someone else, showing us what the majority might want to read or expect her to write. There is nothing new, and nothing that could be personally attributed to her. The content of these answers feels rather "generic" to be honest. This particularly bit struck me, however. "If I feel I'm getting to emotional or if my continuing to say anything will have no effect, I step back so I can come back to the issue with a clear head to find a good way to resolve whatever the issue was, or if I was in the wrong, say as much and move on" — an admin cannot simply "step back," backing out to let matters resolve itself once a situation gets heated. Conflicts require quick actions, else they spread or worsen. Apart from this, I expect an admin to address matters level-headedly and NOT emotionally in the first place.

In Doodleplex's case, it does not seem like she sticks to this concept, judging from her affinity to cause conflicts and her emotional "outbursts". Venting or generally ranting on one's userpages with hurtful comments or pseudo-cryptic hidden messages (such as cryptically talking of justice being served after Mora was suspended for two months) after a conflict arises or is not properly resolved is something I would not want an admin to do, as I expect more maturity of such a figure. Likewise, refusing to pursue closure in heated arguments and instead countering with something hostile along the lines of "What part of "Do not comment on my page again did you not understand. I don't have any desire to talk to you, it's not productive" or "I don't care for anything you have to say. Don't comment on my page again" and trying to erase such discussions while archiving, is not something I would deem as "good way to resolve whatever the issue was".

As for her following the advice of other users, I have the impression that she is rather selective when it comes to this. I expect an admin to at least listen to what others have to say and not to brush it off as nothing. I had the feeling that the advice I gave her in the past fell on deaf ears. Similarly, she appears to be accepting and acknowledging opinions of a small circle of people, consisting mostly of admins — the words of "regular" users do not have an effect on her; resulting often enough in conflicts where no compromises are made and no conclusions are reached. The ability to make compromises is one that every admin needs. Rejecting the concerns of others does not bode well, particularly not in an admin position.

Concerning discussions and actions, I think Doodleplex is acting a bit too bold sometimes, engaging in ego-trips that do not allow the interference or involvement of others. In an admin position, this would cast a long shadow. Instead of discussing matters first, she rushes in headlong and stubbornly does as she pleases (as can be seen in the recent decoration nav template case, which involved Dashface and Chieftain Alex, where she stepped in and did things according to her own wishes, neglecting what was decided before; see here). Furthermore, she has an affinity for causing conflicts since the way she addresses matters causes others to take offence, even though, and I have to stress this, she is right or ends up being right in the most cases. The way she treats others is something she has to improve severely. She comes often across as provocative, condescending and patronising, and not even the use of emoticons aids her in these cases. See: here for a handful of links and quotes, the Nevermore affair and revert warring with User:Jwaz (contribution log for reference since all discussions are spread over several different talk pages here), the pumpkin for scale issue with User:Dashface (here), the incident with User:Louise that caused him to quit the wiki and other cases where Doodleplex treated him, at least in my eyes, not adequately (here, this, and this). All in all, as Felix Omni already pointed out, she seems bad at conflict solving and has an affinity for causing them instead. I wholeheartedly wish for her to improve her communication skills, regardless of the outcome of this RfA. These communication skills include a closer collaboration with other users to avoid solo trips. Furthermore, these skills become necessary should she become an admin since she will have to justify her own actions at multiple points, and there will be no one to hold her hand.

On a more positive side, and forgive me for not starting off with this at first, Doodleplex's intentions to "clean" are amiable and speak well for her. Her work on the wiki is undoubtedly invaluable, particularly since she is often taking care of the most mundane tasks no one else has an interest in but that need to be done regardless. However, all of these and patrolling are jobs that can be performed by anyone, they do not necessarily require a user to be an admin.

As such I am coming back to the question whether we need any more admins right now. It is true that we have only three active sysops at our disposal but these three are backed up by enough regulars to help them out while maintaining our standards. If we need another admin, we need one to fill a different role than just that of a "janitor". Currently, we have one sysop for overall and formatting issues who watches the RC, another one for technical administration, and a third for inter-communicational affairs. We could very well do with someone who prevents and resolves possible future user conflicts, someone who actively tries to unify the community to strengthen our bonds internally and keeps watch over our well-being. Further, someone who engages more in doing promotional work. Regarding the point of "cleaning", the current state of the deletion log is temporary; at some point in the future there will not be much left that needs to be deleted.

In summary, I am sorry to say that I cannot give my blessing in this particular case. Compared to the troubles that may arise if this candidate were granted admin powers, the benefits seem just too little. This might be something not even experience or guidance can amend. I apologise. talk 10:40, 11 October 2016 (UTC)

• I've known Doodle since she started doing work on this wiki, and her passion for the wiki has been justified time and time again. That's undeniable. However, as a sysop/admin, you have to deal with the other side of the coin; you have to warn and police users, prevent issues before they arise, or extinguish them if they do. As Felix and Inc pointed out, Doodleplex has been involved in a (very) recent situation that resulted in the loss of a valuable wiki member, and the whole situation and aftermath are still somewhat fresh, so I'm honestly kind of surprised to see this request. Putting her tireless editing work aside, I think she still has some more time to grow into a potential administrator position, be it through dealing with misguided users or working on the 'emotional' part. A no, for now. —Ventriloquist 14:10, 11 October 2016 (UTC)

• I've explained my point to Doodle but forgot to do so here. My vote is neutral. I am not opposed to having her as an admin; I simply don't know if there is a need for it. If, according to the present admins, a new admin doing some more "janitorial" work (and other admin stuff) would be helpful than I would agree. If this is not the case, I wouldn't vote for since having more admins than necessary (in my experience) is a recipe for disaster, regardless of intentions. -Darqam (talk) 18:22, 12 October 2016 (UTC)