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Wikimedia Meta-Wiki: Difference between revisions
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==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
A lot of high-level Wikimedia staff members, stewards, global sysops, etc. frequent meta. Many of them use it as their home base, and ask that users on other projects contact them there. As a result of these users being so readily accessible on-wiki, disputes that occur on Meta often quickly get escalated to the highest levels of Wikimedia, with complaints being posted on those users' talk pages, which would not be the case on other wikis. Thus, it is fairly common to see, for example, attempts to drag high ranking Wikimedia legal counsel into conflicts that would, on another wiki, be settled at a much lower level. | A lot of high-level Wikimedia staff members, stewards, global sysops, etc. frequent meta. Many of them use it as their home base, and ask that users on other projects contact them there. As a result of these users being so readily accessible on-wiki, and rubbing shoulders now and then with other Meta users in the course of carrying out their duties, participating in the global wikigovernance aspects of Meta, and responding to communications, disputes that occur on Meta often quickly get escalated to the highest levels of Wikimedia, with complaints being posted on those users' talk pages, which would not be the case on other wikis. Thus, it is fairly common to see, for example, attempts to drag high ranking Wikimedia legal counsel into conflicts that would, on another wiki, be settled at a much lower level. | ||
It is fairly easy to get blocked or banned from Meta, often with little explanation or with a vague and/or misleading explanation. Usually the blocks for common vandalism are for lengthier periods than would be the case on Wikipedia. Although there is no Arbitration Committee, the goings-on at Meta are not completely transparent because there is a great deal of [[revision deletion]] that occurs there. | It is fairly easy to get blocked or banned from Meta, often with little explanation or with a vague and/or misleading explanation. Usually the blocks for common vandalism are for lengthier periods than would be the case on Wikipedia. Although there is no Arbitration Committee, the goings-on at Meta are not completely transparent because there is a great deal of [[revision deletion]] that occurs there. | ||
As is the case on MediaWiki.org, Meta sysops typically have free rein to do what they wish, as the community does not exercise much oversight over them. The difference is that there is more likelihood of disputes because of the controversial subject matter (policies, etc.) that are discussed at Meta, so users are more likely to get blocked. | As is the case on MediaWiki.org, Meta sysops typically have free rein to do what they wish, as the community does not exercise much oversight over them. The difference is that there is more likelihood of disputes because of the controversial subject matter (policies, etc.) that are discussed at Meta, so users are more likely to get blocked. The equivalent of an administrators' noticeboard incidents page is "Requests for help from a sysop or bureaucrat".[https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta:Requests_for_help_from_a_sysop_or_bureaucrat] There is no exact equivalent of a Requests for Comment page. As is the case on Wikipedia, repeated bickering tends to result in warnings and/or eventual blocks for the participants, rather than an attempt to sort out who is at fault. | ||
There are not many rules governing conduct, so it is left up to sysops to make their own judgments of what is appropriate or inappropriate. Specifically, there are only seven policies applicable to Meta in particular.[https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta:Policies_and_guidelines] Meta has an "anti 'snowball' policy" that prohibits speedy closure of discussions at this project, but in practice sysops can and do close discussions summarily and implement what they think is best sometimes.[https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta:Snowball] | There are not many rules governing conduct, so it is left up to sysops to make their own judgments of what is appropriate or inappropriate. Specifically, there are only seven policies applicable to Meta in particular.[https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta:Policies_and_guidelines] Meta has an "anti 'snowball' policy" that prohibits speedy closure of discussions at this project, but in practice sysops can and do close discussions summarily and implement what they think is best sometimes.[https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta:Snowball] | ||