Wikimedia Meta-Wiki: Difference between revisions

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|founder          = unknown

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|wikiFactor URL= <!--http://stats.grok.se/meta/top-->

}}(As of: 2021-07-08)<!--manually add/amend date when stats are verified and/or updated-->

This meta {{tag|wiki}} also used to include a lot of {{tag|information}} about the MediaWiki wiki engine; including [[user]] manuals, installation [[:Category:Manuals|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 {{tag|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]]).

#{{tag|Writing}} and dissemination of personal {{tag|essay}}s 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-Wiki 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 have to adhere to a [[:Category:NPOV|neutral point of view]].^{[[MetaWiki:Neutral point of view|ref]]}  Although theoretically,^{[[MetaWiki:Meta:Inclusion policy|ref]]} Meta-Wiki is a place for {{tag|debate}} and {{tag|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-Wiki.  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 {{tag|Management|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-Wiki 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-Wiki is also the location of the global [[spam blacklist]],^{[[MetaWiki:Spam blacklist|ref]]} and the [[interwiki map]].^{[[MetaWiki:Interwiki map|ref]]}  A recent addition to make its home at Meta-Wiki is the [[Wikimedia LGBT+]], which is a Wikimedia [[:Category:User group|user group]] and proposed thematic organization, first announced at [[Wikimania 2012|Wikimania in 2012]].^{[[MetaWiki:Wikimedia LGBT+/Portal|ref]]}

A lot of high-level [[:Category:Wikimedia Foundation people|Wikimedia Foundation staff members, stewards, global sysops]], etc., frequent Meta-Wiki.  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-Wiki users in the course of carrying out their duties, participating in the global wiki-governance aspects of Meta-Wiki, and responding to communications; other Meta-Wiki users tend to become at least superficially acquainted with them within the [[wikisphere]].  Accordingly, disputes that occur on Meta-Wiki 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 [[:Category:Law|legal]] counsel into conflicts that would, on another wiki, be settled at a much lower level.

As is the case on [[MediaWiki.org]], Meta-Wiki [[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-Wiki, 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.

Dissident views on some [[:Category:Wiki Topic|topics]] are considered so disruptive that, even though they are on-topic for Meta-Wiki given its stated mission, they cannot be expressed.  The rationale behind disallowing the wisdom of suppressing these views from being openly debated or even challenged: is that this too would be contentious.  Therefore, the meta-discussion, and meta-meta-discussions, and so on, are suppressed as well.  There is no equivalent to the [[wp:Previous question|previous question]] or [[wp:Objection to the consideration of the question|objection to the consideration of the question]] that would allow the community to vote on a matter without discussion.

There are not many [[:Category:Law|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-Wiki in particular.  Meta-Wiki 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.

*[[Template:SeeWMF-Meta]] — a 'see also' template used here on WikiIndex for linking directly to articles on WMF Meta-Wiki

*[https://Stats.Wikimedia.org/wikispecial/EN/TablesWikipediaMETA.htm Wikimedia Meta-Wiki Statistics] — Stats.Wikimedia.org at [[Wikimedia Statistics]]