Wikimedia Meta-Wiki: Difference between revisions

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'''Wikimedia Meta-Wiki''', also known as '''Meta-Wiki''', and internally within the {{tag|Wikimedia Foundation}} (WMF) as merely '''Meta''' – this '{{tag|meta}}' [[wiki]] is used by the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) to act as a central primary coordination [[WhatIsWiki|wiki]] for all of their '[[wmf:Our_projects|projects]]' and activities; which include running [[:Category:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]] and various sister projects, and also originally included developing their own [[:Category:Wiki Engine|wiki engine]] software, known as {{tag|MediaWiki}}.

This meta {{tag|wiki}} also used to include a lot of {{tag|information}} about the MediaWiki wiki engine; including user manuals, installation manuals, and development information.  However, this has now all been moved to the [[MediaWiki.org]] wiki (a more logical place for it).  Inevitably, the [[Talk page|discussion pages]] related to those manuals start to act as a kind of support forum, but there are [[mw:Communication|other channels]] for seeking user/[[Sysop|admin]]/development support.

#Discussion and formulation of {{tag|Wikimedia Foundation}} (WMF) projects, in particular {{tag|policy}} discussion relevant to across projects, such as open-content [[:Category:Wiki License|licensing]].  The central venue for discussion is the [[Wikimedia Forum]].  Some high-level discussions, held mainly in [[:Category:FoundedIn2009|2009]], were split to [[Wikimedia Strategic Planning]] (also known as Strategy Wiki – itself now [[MetaWiki:Proposals for closing projects/Closure of Strategy Wiki|closed]]).

#[[:Category:Wiki Multilingual|Interlingual]] (cross-wiki) and international coordination concerning the WMF projects and the Wikimedia movement in general; including discussion in [[:Category:Wiki Language|languages]] other than [[:Category:Wiki English|English]].  This includes requests (for pan-Wikimedia or other wikis), {{tag|translation}}s and news, and the description, {{tag|documentation}}, and discussion of real-life activities and facts related to the Wikimedia Foundation and affiliates.  This includes reports, events, outreach:, and grants.

#Writing and dissemination of personal {{tag|essays}} about WMF projects.  Because these are usually not delivered from a [[neutral point of view]], they are often summarized on neutral issues pages from multiple {{tag|Point of view|points of view}}.  There is a degree of freedom in determining what is related to Wikimedia projects, which makes Meta also a [[meatball wiki]] of sorts; discussing such matters as [[wiki culture]] and patterns.  This role includes more formal {{tag|research}} and related discussion.

The third purpose, [[MetaWiki:Category:Essays|essays]], has not actually resulted in a large number of essays; only something in the low triple digits.  Likewise, there are not many [[MetaWiki:Category:Issues|issues]] pages.  Meta is specifically excluded from the list of projects that adhere to a [[:Category:NPOV|neutral point of view]].^{[[MetaWiki:Neutral point of view|ref]]}  Although theoretically,^{[[MetaWiki:Meta:Inclusion policy|ref]]} Meta is a place for debate and advocacy concerning controversial policies and practices, behaving in too opinionated of a manner concerning contentious issues has resulted in [[block]]s and bans.

{{tag|Elections}} of Wikimedia Foundation board members,^{[[MetaWiki:Board elections|ref]]} [[steward]]s,^{[[MetaWiki:Stewards/Elections|ref]]} global [[sysop]]s,^{[[MetaWiki:Steward requests/Global permissions#Requests for global sysop permissions|ref]]} etc., occur at Meta-Wiki; and sometimes users of all projects are invited to comment on proposed global policies at Meta.  Sometimes, [[user]]s make complaints about what is going on at other projects, if it appears that the sysops of those projects have run amok, and that intervention from stewards may be necessary.  This is usually only allowed when the projects are relatively small, and it is clear that the sysops are going against the will of the community; otherwise, the argument will be raised the Meta is not an appeals court.^{[[MetaWiki:What Meta is not|ref]]}  The [[Requests for Comment]] (RFC) page is a venue for these types of complaints, as well as debate on a wide variety of other matters, such as policy; proposals for what to do with wikis that are in [[:Category:In preparation|incubation]], or that are proposed to be brought under the Wikimedia Foundation umbrella; and requests for global bans.^{[[MetaWiki:Requests for comment|ref]]}

Meta is also the location of the global [[spam blacklist]]^{[[MetaWiki:Spam blacklist|ref]]} and the [[interwiki map]].^{[[MetaWiki:Interwiki map|ref]]}

A lot of high-level [[:Category:Wikimedia Foundation people|Wikimedia Foundation staff members, stewards, global sysops]], etc., frequent Meta.  Many of them use it as their 'home base', and ask that [[user]]s on other projects contact them on Meta-Wiki.  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 wiki-governance aspects of Meta, and responding to communications; other Meta users tend to become at least superficially acquainted with them within the [[wikisphere]].  Accordingly, disputes that occur on Meta often quickly get escalated to the highest levels of WMF, with complaints being posted on those [[WikiIndex:Talk Pages for Wiki People|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 [[block]]ed or banned from Meta; often with little explanation, or with a vague and/or misleading explanation.  Usually, the blocks for common [[vandal]]ism are for lengthier periods than would be the case on [[English Wikipedia]].  Although there is no [[Arbitration Committee]] (ArbComm); 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 [[sysop]]s 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 '[[MetaWiki:Meta:Requests for help from a sysop or bureaucrat|Requests for help from a sysop or bureaucrat]]' (RFH).  As is the case on [[English Wikipedia]], repeated bickering tends to result in warnings and/or eventual blocks for the participants.

Essentially, the procedure on Meta, as on many other wikis, is that if a [[sysop]] warns a user that a behaviour he is engaging in must stop, then he can either (1) stop, (2) communicate with other sysops through non-public channels (e.g. email) and try to get those sysops to warn the other sysop to back off, or (3) take the matter to a public forum for community input.  However, the third option is very risky, because it can be viewed as disruptive, and result in blocks or bans.  If the sysop blocks the user for such 'disruption', and no other sysop is willing to reverse the block, then the block stands, unless someone else who is not yet blocked takes the matter to a public forum such as RFH and gets the community to reverse the decision.

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 [[MetaWiki:Meta:Policies and guidelines|policies and guidelines]] applicable to Meta in particular.  Meta has an 'anti '[[MetaWiki:Meta:Snowball|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.

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