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Inactive admins

Resolved

 – Those mentioned have met criteria for activity (log actions or bureaucratic activity from an alternate account); further discussions to be held elsewhere regarding possible changes to definition of activity. –xeno^talk 15:25, 27 April 2015 (UTC)

I was looking at Wikipedia:List of administrators/Inactive and noticed that it's been over a year (in one case, 3 years) without any edits by Thunderboltz, Useight, Tijuana Brass and Friday and yet they still have admin status and, in Useight's case, bureaucrat status even though it's been 2 years, 8 months since they were active. Did the bot just miss them? Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 16:01, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

All but Useight have deleted pages within the last 12 months so that is why they have not been desysopped yet. Not sure why for Useight. Davewild (talk) 16:07, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

As for Useight his alternate account User:Useight's Public Sock made an edit in December 2014 so I expect that is the reason for Useight. Davewild (talk) 16:10, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

I guess those actions don't show up as "edits" in their contribution history? I guess their names should be removed from that list. Although, I've seen admins marked as "active" who have 7 edits over the past 3 years...that hardly seems active. IMHO. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 17:53, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

Indeed, deletions do not show up as edits.--Ymblanter (talk) 20:46, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

May I make a suggestion here? The community has decided that inactive admins may have the tools removed without prejudice in cases of inactivity. The cases mentioned above are certainly within the spirit of such inactivity, if not the letter. Maybe these cases could be referred to WP:ANI for discussion by the community. Any such approval by the community could then be acted on by a beaurocrat. Mjroots (talk) 20:55, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

But surely an admin who does one or two deletes is a more active admin (doing admin tasks) than one who does one or two normal edits. Davewild (talk) 21:02, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

It's less about who is more active than who, and more the other reasons listed for desysopping after periods of inactivity, like not being up to date with current policies. I've forgotten who it was now, but I saw an admin recently who seemed to come back every two years to make an admin action or two before going inactive again. That's definitely what I'd define as inactive, and I think there should be some scope within the procedural desysopping for those administrators who do the bare minimum in order to simply retain the tools. Sam Walton (talk) 23:06, 25 April 2015 (UTC)

If you think the bare minimum is insufficient then perhaps a proposal to add the words "or less than a 100 edits on all Wikimedia projects in the last three years" might get consensus. The advantage of an additional three year test extended to all Wikimedia Projects is that someone active on other projects is less likely to be a lost and now suborned account, and whilst they may not have kept track of changes here, they will still be familiar with mediawiki and changes like V/E. ϢereSpielChequers 05:19, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

Any scope creep in the inactivity policy definitely needs to be done via RFC, or its going to cause no end of drama. Monty₈₄₅ 13:18, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

Monty845 is correct; if there is to be any change in the current desysopping framework, that should be done via well-advertized formal RFC.

Useight's Public Sock hasn't edited for some months and Useight did not certify ownership of his account on request of another bureaucrat here so without a fresh edit confirming ownership and fulfilling inactivity requirements we should probably withdraw the rights (with thanks to Useight for his service). (Of course, if ownership is confirmed, the edit from the alternate account counts as bureaucratic activity and meets inactivity requirements.) –xeno^talk 15:43, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

I received an e-mail from Xeno, at my main account, to which I replied, but I just noticed that I got an auto-reply. I kind of feel like a character in the Dr. Suess book Horton Hears A Who - "We are here, we are here, we are here!"

I am not at my home computer, like I am often not, and I apologize to WJBScribe for completely forgetting about his request from a long time ago. It occurs to me that having a laptop would have solved this problem, but I intentionally don't have one, in order to ensure I pay attention in class.

I will log into my main account later.

Also, it looks like Thunderboltz has just about gone a year without an edit or logged action, too. Useight's Public Sock (talk) 19:59, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

Lol, forgive the auto-reply, the inmates run the asylum apparently. A fresh edit would be nice but that is enough to verify ownership imo. –xeno^talk 22:44, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

I would support an RfC with this provision. It seems ridiculous that admin candidates are put through such a grueling RfA process when there are admins who just return once a year to make one or two edits in order to retain the tools. When you see the thoughtfulness of some admins, who come here to BN to officially resign or temporarily be desysopped, it makes the other situation look ludicrous. No one needs the tools if they are going to make less than 5 edits in a year. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 20:42, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

Yes, Useight's Public Sock, I mention Thunderboltz in my original message that started this thread. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 20:44, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

I don't have the time to put something coherent together right now, but if someone else picked a suitable number of edits/actions per year that would still imply that an admin is 'inactive' (less than 10 or 20 perhaps?) and start an RfC I would likely support it. Sam Walton (talk) 20:56, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

I would give a few options and let people choose from them in the RFC, rather than having a RFC that is all or nothing. --Rschen7754 21:23, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

Well, I was thinking that to be active, an admin had to have 20-25 edits/actions per year but I like WereSpielChequers's suggestion of 100 edits over three years across all Wikimedia projects. I'm just tired of running into active admins with less than 5 edits over a few years. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 22:23, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

Perhaps a post on the Idea Lab regarding a suitable length and whether to include other projects would be a good idea prior to an RfC? Sam Walton (talk) 22:27, 26 April 2015 (UTC)

Imagine my excitement at being summoned here by somebody I don't know wanting to de-sysop me for no reason other than I have a life away from Wikipedia. I've never really understood the fixation some people have on this. Even though this has been marked as resolved - for now - since my name was brought up, I'll answer: It's true, after three kids, marriage, a demanding job and time consuming volunteer activities, I don't have the contribution time I had when I was a single 20-something. But I still edit on a monthly basis, albeit on an anonymous basis. Often it's because I'm somewhere where I don't trust my login credentials are secure (i.e. work). Other times it's because I don't want to throw the "weight" of an admin into a discussion. And occasionally it's because I'm lazy. But I'm still here.

Do I log in and make the minimum required edits to keep my status? Yep. Because I may well be back one day. Has anyone ever offered up a legit challenge that I'd be unfit to continue to perform admin duties, as opposed to when I was given the status almost ten years ago? Nope. So why is this brought up? I've watched the question raise its head a few times over the past years, and it's always people going after a non-issue. If a specific individual is causing some sort of problem after a hiatus, take away their tools. Otherwise, be grateful that you have somebody who's been found, by a group of their editing peers, to be competent enough to help keep the encyclopedia running and may be back some day.

Finally... just an FYI... you're more than welcome to debate raising the bar to some other arbitrary number. But if that happens, I'll just log in for that many edits, and then go back to editing anonymously, save for the rare occasion when I need the mop. Come on, guys. You're all long time editors, familiar with what really needs getting done around here. Spend your time on that, instead of obsessing over people who have to take a break for their personal lives and aren't causing any actual problem. Tijuana Brass (talk) 16:25, 27 April 2015 (UTC)

Exactly what I was going to add - short of requiring periodic reconfirmation RfAs (which will never happen), they're just gonna meet whatever criteria you require. Waste of time for everyone. ansh666 03:37, 28 April 2015 (UTC)

This is exactly the problem...admins who do the minimum number of edits to hold on to the tools with no active use of them. They are, in effect, inactive admins though they have an active admin status. They should either use the tools or lose them, otherwise it's just hat collecting. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 14:50, 1 May 2015 (UTC)

It isn't hat collecting, though you might consider it hat keeping. A hat collector is someone who takes on a role and then scarcely ever uses it, some of our inactive and former admins did a huge amount of admin work when they were active. Remember that though we can't agree whether we already have a shortage of admins, we do know that the number of active admins has long been declining, and though we have no shortage of mops at some point we will have a shortage of admins. In those circumstances why would we want to make it more difficult for formerly active admins to keep the mop? If someone spends a few years being busy in other parts of their life we should be making it as easy as possible for them to return here, of course we need to get returnees updated and back up to speed and it's good to see sufficient edits that we can be confident it is the same person. But with RFA broken our former admins are an important potential source of admin activity, and we should not be raising excessive barriers against their return. ϢereSpielChequers 15:35, 1 May 2015 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/Opabinia regalis 2 suggests that regaining the tools due to inactivity via an RfA may be trending positive -- at least for the obviously qualified. Rgrds. --64.85.216.26 (talk) 14:51, 3 May 2015 (UTC)

Congratulations to Opabinia regalis, but that is one isolated and rare exception. Its an outlier. The RFA process has long since been a broken process, it doesn't generate enough new admins and it drives off editors. This has been shown time and time and time again. One isolated case, though well deserved, doesn't change that. Giraffasaurus (talk) 15:33, 3 May 2015 (UTC)

Request for reinstatement of admin rights

TigerShark (current rights · rights management · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) · block log)

Hi, I have been away from Wikipedia for a while and my admin rights were removed due to inactivity. I would like to request that they are re-enabled. Thanks TigerShark (talk) 11:08, 11 May 2015 (UTC)

• Looks fine after the customary hold period. –xeno^talk 12:54, 11 May 2015 (UTC)

   Done, welcome back. –xeno^talk 11:19, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

  Thanks TigerShark (talk) 12:47, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

Could a 'crat take a look...

...at this discussion on AN/I? BMK (talk) 22:21, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

I have commented, but (contrary to what BD2412 has said in that thread) this is not an area in which bureaucrats have any additional tools that would assist. WJBscribe (talk) 23:24, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) We have no special abilities to remove block entries, unfortunately; though I agree the block, the block reason, both poorly considered by BD2412. An admin shouldn't be blocking an established editor over an edit dispute especially without warning and from the hip like that. Hopefully this is an isolate lapse in judgment. Sorry you've got a block log, now Mlpearc. I've got one too, if it makes you feel any better. –xeno^talk 23:27, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

Indeed, as do I, arising from a bit of wiki history. WJBscribe (talk) 23:39, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

• (edit conflict) I'm getting over it, I was quite hot at first, thanx Xeno. WJBscribe thank you for your comment. Mlpearc (open channel) 23:38, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

• It's understandable. I remember being blocked (on another, non-Wikimedia wiki) by an admin for an invalid reason and seeing red myself. –xeno^talk 23:43, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

If I may make a suggestion, perhaps it would be advisable for the user to be blocked and unblocked again, with a specific comment as to the validity (or rather the lack thereof) of the original block. Conversations in noticeboards are easy to miss, but a log is not. If this was me I'd rather have one additional block with an explanation than just one without. But I guess that's up to the user that was the target of the block. §FreeRangeFrog^croak 23:35, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

The text accompanying the block can be revdel'ed; I've done that myself as a 'crat on Wikiquote. bd2412 T 23:36, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

Presumably Wikiquote does not have the equivalent of this policy: Wikipedia:Revision deletion#Log redaction. Best to just get the blocks right in future. In the meantime, perhaps you could add a 1 minute procedural block acknowledging your block was made in error and apologising for it? WJBscribe (talk) 23:39, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

I'm not sure if I'm misreading, but it does appear that blocks can be redacted with "required consensus or Arbcom agreement"; perhaps either of these could be sought. (Also, that should be 1 second, not 1 minute.) –xeno^talk 23:43, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

True enough - those do seem valid routes to get permission to use rev delete to fix this mess. By 1 minute I meant a trivially short block, 1 second would work too :-). WJBscribe (talk) 23:46, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict)x2 FreeRangeFrog's remedy is fine with me, matter of fact that would be best I think rather than trying to alter the logs, I would however, fell better if a 'crat would do the action, no dis-respect BD2412. Mlpearc (open channel) 23:47, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

(sigh) No, if it must be done, I have to be the one to do it; it's my mea culpa. bd2412 T 23:49, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

Done. I continue to think that a revdel of the earlier log would be appropriate. bd2412 T 23:51, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

You could create a new thread at WP:AN seeking the "required consensus", or maybe send a request to Arbcom seeking permission to redact the logs, as mentioned at Wikipedia:Revision deletion#Log redaction. (Though it should be noted that the injured party thinks the already-implemented solution is best.) –xeno^talk 23:56, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

IMHO the best solution is to leave a summary using a 1 second block. Although I have said otherwise before, I am concerned about setting a precedent regarding the revdel-ing of block logs, as it makes it harder for non-admins to audit the use of an admin's tools, should there be a need to do so (i.e. an ArbCom case). --Rschen7754 01:03, 13 May 2015 (UTC)

It's already been done, but not quite like you described and I don't think we should sully Mlpearc's log any further. –xeno^talk 01:04, 13 May 2015 (UTC)

Request for reinstatement also

Jcw69 (current rights · rights management · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) · block log)

Resolved

Hi, I too have been inactive for a while due to work commitments. My admin rights were removed due to inactivity but now find myself with time to contribute again therefore I would like to request that my admin rights be re-instated. Thank you. --Jcw69 (talk) 10:07, 14 May 2015 (UTC)

Qualifies for resysop after the 24-hour hold period. –xeno^talk 13:27, 14 May 2015 (UTC)

I don't see any problems. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 20:45, 14 May 2015 (UTC)

I don't see any issues either, and so have restored the right. Worm^TT(talk) 12:35, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

Relevant TFD (Rfap/Rfaf)

See Wikipedia:Templates for discussion/Log/2015 April 27#Template:Rfap. –xeno^talk 11:56, 17 May 2015 (UTC)

Question

When admins are about to be desysopped for inactivity, I assume that a message is left on their talk page, but is an e-mail also sent out to them? I'm just wondering if an e-mail might prevent more procedural desysoppings and, not incidentally, remind the admin that they haven't edited in a while and might like to start up again. BMK (talk) 22:55, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

The bot that sends out the advanced warning notices emails a copy if email is enabled. –xeno^talk 23:00, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

Great - thanks for the response. BMK (talk) 01:06, 16 May 2015 (UTC)

Not only that, but, from what I've seen, there are three messages placed on the admin's talk page over the course of a month alerting them to their loss of the mop. One single edit would stop the process which seems like an absolutely minimal requirement. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 20:08, 18 May 2015 (UTC)

User:AntonioMartin desysopped

Please see the announcment on AC/N. Thanks in advance. Courcelles (talk) 17:54, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

 Done Thanks for bringing this here. Acalamari 18:05, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

Request resysop for User:DESiegel

I recently had my admin rights suspended after being inactive for a year. See DESiegel (current rights · rights management · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) · block log). I have resumed activity, as can be seen from my contributions. I hereby request restoration of my admin rights. Thank you. DES ^(talk) 15:34, 26 May 2015 (UTC)

Looks fine after the standard hold. –xeno^talk 15:39, 26 May 2015 (UTC)

No objections in over 24 hours so  Done. Welcome back, DESiegel. :) Acalamari 18:02, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

Thank you, xeno. I shall attempt to be an asset to the project. DES ^(talk) 19:50, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

Relevant discussion: WP:IDEALAB#Bureaucrats?

In an a workshop ongoing regarding administrator activity, bureaucrat activity was brought up at Wikipedia:Village pump (idea lab)#Bureaucrats?. (The last discussion on this subject was held when renaming was still part of the bureaucrat toolset.) –xeno^talk 13:31, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

Inactive admins for June 2015

The following admins can be desysopped for inactivity:

• @pple (t · th · c · del · cross-wiki · SUL · edit counter · pages created (xtools · sigma) · non-automated edits · BLP edits · undos · manual reverts · rollbacks · logs ^{(blocks · rights · moves)} · rfar · spi · cci) (assign permissions)^{(acc · ap · ev · fm · mms · npr · pm · pc · rb · te)}
• Dlohcierekim (t · th · c · del · cross-wiki · SUL · edit counter · pages created (xtools · sigma) · non-automated edits · BLP edits · undos · manual reverts · rollbacks · logs ^{(blocks · rights · moves)} · rfar · spi · cci) (assign permissions)^{(acc · ap · ev · fm · mms · npr · pm · pc · rb · te)}
• Wayward (t · th · c · del · cross-wiki · SUL · edit counter · pages created (xtools · sigma) · non-automated edits · BLP edits · undos · manual reverts · rollbacks · logs ^{(blocks · rights · moves)} · rfar · spi · cci) (assign permissions)^{(acc · ap · ev · fm · mms · npr · pm · pc · rb · te)}

Thanks to all of them for their service to Wikipedia. Graham87 09:43, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

I've done Dlohcierekim & Wayward. Can't do @pple - looks like that will need to be done by a steward, due to the username Worm^TT(talk) 10:12, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

@Worm That Turned: Typing #3685614 into the username field should work to remove the admin rights (it just did when I tested it to get onto the removal screen). That's the user ID for that user per this API query, and that's basically how the stewards would do it anyway. Graham87 10:30, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

@Worm That Turned: Service. —DerHexer (Talk) 10:39, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Thank you both - didn't even occur to me! Now done Worm^TT(talk) 12:12, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Sockpuppet investigation block

Pursuant to this decision of the Arbitration Committee, please remove admin tools from Chase me ladies, I'm the Cavalry (current rights · rights management · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) · block log). For the Arbitration Committee, L235 (t / c / ping in reply) 17:42, 9 June 2015 (UTC)

 Done Acalamari 18:43, 9 June 2015 (UTC)

Request for reinstatement of sysop rights

Resolved

 – @Kevin Gorman: Administrative privileges restored, thank you for your patience. –xeno^talk 12:28, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

Kevin Gorman (current rights · rights management · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) · block log)

 On hold pending comment from the Arbitration Committee (see Special:Diff/666496542; Special:Diff/666543382). –xeno^talk 00:11, 12 June 2015 (UTC) see special:Diff/666827735

Hi all - I'd like to request a reinstatement of my sysop rights. They were previously stripped (and my account blocked) after I had a technical compromise simultaneous to health issues that prevented me from immediately dealing with the technical isssue and requesting GorillaWarfare block my account, and have since locked down my system. I realize this is a slightly atypical situation, but feel that postinghere requesting reinstatement is likely to still be teh most transparent route. Kevin Gorman (talk) 14:44, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Hi Kevin. Not sure I've got this right, but it looks like you were desysopped just a week ago by an ArbCom representative. As such, I don't think we should resysop without ArbCom say-so. --Dweller (talk) 15:02, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Although performed at the behest of an arb member (and I would expect arb to be consulted before reinstating the rights,) they were removed at my own request (since I couldn't immediately secure my own accounts, I asked GW to take action.) Although I would expect arbcom to have input here, since they were removed at self-request and were not removed under a shade, it seemed more appropriate/transparent to request restoration and discussion here than through private lists. (GW is aware I posted here, as I imagine is the rest of arbcom by this point.) Kevin Gorman (talk) 15:14, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Kevin, as this request was made at the behest of an arb member, we will be waiting for an arb member to re-instate. Worm^TT(talk) 15:23, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

I certainly expect the 'crats to wait on arbcom confirmation it's okay to and have no problem with it :) I just felt like it would be a little more in the wiki-way to place a request about it on a public board, rather than email arbcom-l and the crats lists independently. Realistically, I'm hoping it won't a particularly challenging discussion - I reached out once I knew an account had been compromised to prevent any damage to the wiki, asked for me rights to be stripped, and then remedied the situation as I could (which involved voluntary giving up of privs while not under the shadow of wrongdoing. In full disclosure, one of my blocks was challenged to ANI during this, but it was upheld.). Felt like BN was a better place for a discussion of restoration of rights not taken away under the shadow of wrongdoing than elsewrhere would've been, since it really is a 'crat matter. Kevin Gorman (talk) 15:47, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Seems sensible. Hopefully, they'll give us a quick answer. --Dweller (talk) 16:00, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Thanks, WTT. ArbCom is aware of this request and we are currently discussing it. Salvio ^{Let's talk about it!} 15:25, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

(del/undel) 17:40, 4 June 2015 Addshore (talk | contribs | block) changed group membership for User:Kevin Gorman from edit filter manager, course campus volunteer, course coordinator, course instructor, course online volunteer and administrator to edit filter manager, course campus volunteer, course coordinator, course instructor and course online volunteer (Temporary desysop per private communication with the Arbitration Committee. GW)

I've alerted GorillaWarfare to this, happy to follow Arbcom's instructions in this matter. Worm^TT(talk) 15:08, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Thanks for doing, that Worm That Turned. I should have thought of it in the first instance. --Dweller (talk) 15:38, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

• Can it conclusively be said that the correct user is now in control of the account? –xeno^talk 19:38, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Slowly threading answers as I can, but yes, we certainly can. I'm more than willing to voice/video/verify with Keilana (a well-regarded admin,) Molly (a current arbcom member,) NF (a current arbcom member, and any number of WMF'ers who have met me in person. Threading in replies one by one to avoid complex edit conflicts. Kevin Gorman (talk) 21:50, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Great, thank you. –xeno^talk 23:44, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Marked 'on hold' while awaiting response from the committee. –xeno^talk 00:11, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

• In the discussion below, it was pointed out that the Wikipedia:Administrators#Security policy since 2008 (and not modified following a 2013 RFC) asks bureaucrats to consider while evaluating such requests "their view on the incident and the management and security (including likely future security) of the account."
  
  Without comment on the propriety of this policy section, at this moment I don't feel I have enough information to properly consider your request as suggested; and while things may become clearer with further response from the committee (and the request is on hold at least until then anyway), perhaps you could describe the circumstances surrounding the compromised account and steps you've taken to re-secure your account both now and in the future? You could do this here, via Special:EmailUser/Bureaucrats or even directly to Special:EmailUser/Xeno if you prefer not to email the list (though other bureaucrats might also request the same disclosure from you). –xeno^talk 00:59, 12 June 2015 (UTC)
  • I forwarded significantly more details to Xeno. In my mind, this was less of a breach than an average editathon, let alone Wikimania-type event. I trust Xeno's judgment as to who further disclose to. I don't think any realistic evaluation of what happened here has it any more a danger than an average editathon. Disclosure of OPSEC related events is something to be encouraged, not discouraged. I've had least one person in a position where they could actually do so suggest the possibility of an additional week long full block which would be entirely punitive in nature. Kevin Gorman (talk) 03:26, 12 June 2015 (UTC)
    • Confirming receipt of Kevin's email; still awaiting comment from committee. –xeno^talk 17:09, 12 June 2015 (UTC)
      • Thank you for your patience, all. Please go ahead with the resysop. For the Arbitration Committee, GorillaWarfare (talk) 19:54, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

• Since no further information or guidance has been provided by the committee and from my understanding of the events, there has been no negligence or carelessness on the part of Kevin Gorman as regards account security (indeed it was responsible and appropriate to self-request the removal of the tools as a precautionary measure), I will restore his administrator privileges after another 12 hours or so. –xeno^talk 23:50, 13 June 2015 (UTC)
  • @Xeno: Given that far more than 24 hours have passed since the original request and the only bar to restoring the tools has been removed, why can't this be done immediately? Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 04:18, 14 June 2015 (UTC)
  • Agreed. It's been 3 days, anyone that wanted to object should have and would have done it by now.—^cyberpower_Chat:Online 10:36, 14 June 2015 (UTC)
    • 1) An objection thread was suspended pending AC comment, potentially causing others to reserve their comments - so allowing at least some time for objections to be raised following the awaited comment is appropriate and 2) for reasons explained in my second paragraph here. –xeno^talk 12:21, 14 June 2015 (UTC)
      • Agree with the delay as a standard delay once the primary hurdle had been passed; Crats only get one chance to do it right. Don't see any bar to resysop after the delay. Dennis Brown - 2¢ 12:30, 14 June 2015 (UTC)
        • Fair enough.—^cyberpower_Chat:Online 15:11, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

Request for reinstatement of sysop rights (discussion)

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

• comment An admin that takes security matters lightly and allows his account to be compromised shouldn't have his privileges reinstated without going through a fresh RfA. Adminship is a position of trust and such incidents affect the truthworthiness of a person significantly enough to invalidate any vote of confidence from before the incident. Does the community trust Kevin Gorman not to have his account compromised again and is therefore willing to restore his admin access? Only a reconfirmation rfa can determine that. It would be highly irresponsible to just reenable Gorman's admin access like it's nothing and I strongly oppose that course of action. 72.88.208.18 (talk) 18:00, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

  Umm...what? A compromised account can happen to anyone. It can happen to me, it can happen to a CU, as scary that sounds. His account could have been compromised because he inadvertently went to a Wikipedia mirror, logged in, and unwittingly gave away his username and password in the process. I just saw in the news today that a hacker broke into a governmental mainframe, made himself an admin, and messed around.—^cyberpower_Chat:Online 18:21, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Your first edit being here is suspicious. What do you have against this user? Dustin (talk) 18:28, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Have you previously edited under other IPs? As a user? I don't have proof that you have, but the fact that you make your first edit an "oppose" to this user having his sysop rights restored casts some serious doubt. Dustin (talk) 18:29, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

The correct question would be - 'what do you have against admins who get their accounts compromised having their admin access restored like it's nothing'. I don't think it's worth asking though. As for your other questions, they belong on my talk page, not here. 72.88.208.18 (talk) 18:36, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Being an admin or not has nothing to do with, for example, getting by our home broken into and your laptop (containing various passwords) stolen. I don't know if that's what happened here, it's just an example of how "an account can be potentially compromised". Nowhere does it imply the user was negligent. ☺ · Salvidrim! · ✉ 18:24, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Details are irrelevant. Even if you think otherwise, you have absolutely no way of knowing for sure how the account got compromised. The only thing we know for sure is that it did happen, and the question is - what now? My answer: have Gorman run a reconfirmation rfa. Anything else would be just outright irresponsible. 72.88.208.18 (talk) 18:45, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Actually, I think the main question to ask is has this happened in the past and how was it handled then? Bureaucrats should know whether the proper step is to grant admin powers back, have the admin go through a reconfirmation RfA or some step that hasn't been mentioned here yet. Unless there are extraordinary circumstances (and you say that the details are irrelevant), this case should be handled in a way that similar cases have been resolved. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 19:03, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

You think? And what if similar cases in the past were handled the wrong way? It's better to use common sense than to waste time analyzing precedents here. 72.88.208.18 (talk) 19:29, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

What exactly would users be judging at a reconfirmation RfA? Surely all they would be evaluating is whether the user will avoid their account being compromised in the future - something no one can judge. Sam Walton (talk) 19:34, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

If we go that route then we have no option but to deny Gorman's request for resysopping. Not a bad idea at all, frankly. And no, his ability to keep his account secure isn't what would be judged at his rfa - we already know he can't be trusted to do that. The way I see it, we'd mainly be looking at Gorman's use of admin tools so far to determine whether the benefit of allowing him to continue holding the mop sufficiently offsets the risks associated with his account getting compromised again. 72.88.208.18 (talk) 19:52, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

What you're saying is essentially, is that if someone were able to hack the bank servers and managed to get a hold of your back account, and started spending with it, that you can't be trusted to keep your bank account secure, and therefore should not be granted a loan. That doesn't sound very fair, not to mention a complete lack of WP:AGF.—^cyberpower_{Chat:Limited Access} 20:26, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

The WP:RESYSOP procedure asks the bureaucrat to ensure the account is not compromised at the time of the request for re-instatement and that the user did not resign "for the purpose, or with the effect, of evading scrutiny of their actions that could have led to sanctions"; it doesn't give bureaucrats an active veto to refuse to restore adminship on the belief that the requesting user no longer holds the complete trust of the community. –xeno^talk 19:46, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Xeno, as usual, is right. --Dweller (talk) 19:59, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Except WP:RESYSOP isn't a policy, it's part of an information page. On the other hand, Wikipedia:Administrators#Security is a policy, and it reads 'Discretion on resysopping temporarily desysopped administrators is left to bureaucrats' and 'In certain circumstances, the revocation of privileges may be permanent' - you can and should deny requests and direct the requester to the rfa page in cases like this one where the decision to resysop is bound to cause controversy if it's made without a reconfirmation rfa. 72.88.208.18 (talk) 20:05, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) You're the only one who seems to think this is controversial. It comes off more like an anonymous smear campaign. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 20:09, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

A smear campaign you say? Where's the smearing though, other than in your above message? 72.88.208.18 (talk) 20:18, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Interesting. @FT2: regarding this change, was there any particular discussion surrounding it? (I think I may have found it here: Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard/Archive 9#Readdition of administrator flag) –xeno^talk 20:19, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

FT2 replied at Special:Permalink/666604008#Resysopping.

Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Resysopping practices may provide some guidance here. –xeno^talk 20:39, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

There is a previous discussion on this topic here: Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard/Archive 6#Re-adminning compromised accounts. –xeno^talk 19:38, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Where they were resysopped. There is no reason that Kevin shouldn't be resysopped promptly here. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 20:09, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

• I would like to remind that 72.88.208.18 our sock puppet policy says "Undisclosed alternative accounts are not to be used in discussions internal to the project.". This includes logging out and posting as an IP. Please log into your regular account if you wish to participate in this discussion. Chillum 20:10, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

• Without presupposing anything at all here, the Arbitration Committee, when it removes someone's tools, has the responsibility to set reasonable situation-specific criteria for their return. There may be more to this story than meets the eye, and I would discourage everyone from jumping to conclusions here. I'd suggest that the 'crats might want to hat this discussion until such time as there is a response from the Arbitration Committee. Risker (talk) 20:55, 11 June 2015 (UTC)
  • For what it's worth, I agree with Risker. Newyorkbrad (talk) 21:47, 11 June 2015 (UTC)
    • As a direct friend of Molly who happened to be in off-wiki contact with her when this occurred, it shouldn't matter two bits whether I made the request myself, had any other trusted editor make the request, or approached a friend, who happens to be an arbitrator, asking her to make the request for me. Frankly, I think arbcom would be creating de novo policy if they were to treat this case differently than other temporary compromised accounts, which would be a pre big change to the scope of arbcom, and the kind of thing to be determined in a major venue and not ex post facto on one particular case. Criiminy, we regularly resysop people who hae been gone for >6 months without a peep, and challenging a temporary compromised account.. Kevin Gorman (talk) 22:01, 11 June 2015 (UTC)
    • From what I read at Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee#Kevin Gorman - compromised account desysop and block, and GW's note in Kevin's unblock log ([1]), this is probably safe to do now, but waiting for word from GW or another arb is emminently sensible. Risker or Brad, you could hat it yourself, but what happens if a non-crat hats a discussion on "their" board? You might get "accidentally" renamed or something... --Floquenbeam (talk) 21:58, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

My only thought is that Kevin said (above) that he is replying to comments here. Although I think this portion of the discussion doesn't need to be addressed by him. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 22:00, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

• • • (edit conflict) ArbCom are still discussing this - it is a slightly atypical situation which is why it is taking us time, but please bear with us. I am not able to share anything more, but we do have more information than is public. I have no objection to any 'crat hatting discussion of this at their discretion. I will say I am disappointed by the IP's users tone. Thryduulf (talk) 22:04, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Per Liz's suggestion, I'm going to avoid further posts here (I'm assuming everyone can see the troll as a troll- everyone tends to get hit soooner or later,) except to point that GorillaWarfare, who blocked my account as compromised, is the same arb who unblocked my account as no longer compromised ear — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kevin Gorman (talk • contribs) 22:14, 11 June 2015‎ (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Request for reinstatement of sysop rights (break)

@GorillaWarfare: didn't see the old fashioned way to alert used. Just in case. --DHeyward (talk) 03:40, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

Thanks for double-checking! I am indeed aware, and we are discussing it. GorillaWarfare (talk) 04:25, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

• must be quite a discussion based on how long it's taking. Not to rush things, and though not an arb, I fully support the reinstatement of the bit. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cyberpower678 (talk • contribs) 21:36, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

There are differing views, but yes the discussion is ongoing. :) -- Euryalus (talk) 02:45, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

Could you clarify what there are different views about @Euryalus:? I wasn't desysoped as part of an arb proceeding, but to ensure that a temporarily compromised account could cause no damage. As far as I can see it, the only thing needed to continue here is to ensure I am who I say I am. I believe that I have done that already, but if not would be glad to go buy NF a coffee if he is on campus tomorrow, or voice verify with any current arb/functionary/admin/Wikimedian whom I have previously met.

I don't think this is (nor do I believe it should be) a referendum on my current popularity among currrent arbitrators, admins, or the community as a whole. I think I have established that I am who I say I am - if I haven't, I'd be glad to go buy NativeForeigner a coffee if he is on campus tomorrow, or voice-verify with any of the hundreds of Wikipedians I've previously spoken to in-depth, including Gorilawarfare, Keilana, Andrew Lih, a great number of WMF staff, and a great number of other admins/arbs/CU's/OS'ers/WMF trustees/people who have written books about Wikipedia.

Unless concern remains that I am not who I say I am, I believe the only appropriate action for a crat wandering by to take would be to flip the bit. If some portion of arbcom believes that I have committed a desysoppable action by not throughly vetting the equipment on a network before connecting to it, thy have procedures in place to try desysop me themselves, those procedures are separate than the crat actions here and haveso far not been forthcoming. I could see delaying the 'crat switch a bit if they were eminently forthcoming, but it's been days. Though I'll get it done eventually anyway, I had intendedd to spend a good chunk of the next few days rewriting, rearranging, and restructuring content in a few area (woo, hefty amazon giftcards,) and given the way I work it's a bit of an unnecessary pain to rely on a second admin or just waiting for the bit to be reswitched.

Particularly given that it would have been possible for me to switch passwords on my mobile, and never mention that I had discovered that I had connected to a network that was at the time the target of both software and hardware keyloggers, it seems like disincentivizing good behavior. I'd be happy to voice verify that my account is back under control with any functionary who has heard my voice, which includes quite a few of them. Keep in mind that punishing people who divulge security lapses makes it less likely that future security lapses will be divulged - and this one would've been pretty to hide unless I am in fact delusional (I'd love to read the doc with legal implications about that whole mess of worms that some poor legal WMF intern would get to write about desysopping proccedures in that situation...

Fundamentally, this is a process for the 'crats. If they're content I say I am, they should flip the switch. If they're not, they shouldn't, but should lay out what identity proof they'd like. If Arbcom wants to try to desysop, I can't stop hem from doing so (though I do think it'd vbe rather wasteful,) but it should be through their own well-established processes - not unnecessarily taildragging the processes of the 'crats. (Noteworthily perhaps, since I reached out to her individually as the first Wikipedian friend I saw on FB with advanced privs, I would be skeptical of any claim that Molly's original actions in blocking/locking/striping my account were taken by her under the color of the committee as a whole.) Kevin Gorman (talk) 08:58, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

I don't know what the committee is discussing, but this is the same reason it would be imprudent for a bureaucrat to fulfill this request without waiting. They may have access to information we don't. I do apologize for the delay, hopefully we will hear soon. –xeno^talk 13:43, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

(Speaking as an editor not an arb clerk) Given that GW clarified that the desysop (before resysop request) was not done with the Committee's okay but was rather her acting alone based on a request from Kevin it seems we now have a situation where the Committee has desysoped without the paperwork. They are "discussing" a desysop which they (as a Committee) were not involved with. As far as I can see Kevin's last para is spot on. If the Committee believes there is cause to desysop they need to do the paperwork, since they haven't there's nothing stopping a crat flipping the switch. If the crats collectively won't then they need to present their concerns (and the some arbs saying they're discussing it isn't one as there hasn't been a formal statement/decision), as Kevin has asked for in his last para, or ask ArbCom to desysop. Callanecc (talk • contribs • logs) 14:49, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

I don't know on what you're basing your beliefs about the motivations of the Arbitration Committee. I won't speculate on what Salvio giuliano indicated the committee is discussing; however, in certain scenarios that come to mind, restoring the bit without awaiting further comment or direction would be reckless (and this is without any sort of prejudice towards Kevin Gorman or his rights to the administrative toolset).

The WP:RESYSOP procedure has built-in delays: immediate re-sysop is not guaranteed, there is an automatic waiting period to ensure sufficient bureaucrats can review and comment on the request. Other bureaucrats are likely witholding comment because we are awaiting further information, and we will require some additional time for bureaucrats to review whatever new information becomes available and comment before the request is finally processed.

That being said: if there is going to be a further significant delay, the committee might consider issuing a temporary injunction on the matter as appropriate, as clarity is required as to whether the committee is taking up the matter, in contrast to comments by arbitrators GorillaWarfare and Thryduulf in the thread mentioned by Callanecc above which indicate the desysop was a self-request and discussion of his admin tools belongs at WP:BN (Special:Permalink/666705786#Kevin Gorman - compromised account desysop and block). –xeno^talk 15:32, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

Only on the fact that some arbs have said we're discussing it which has effectively stopped a crat flipping the switch. Given that the desysop was not done by a decision of the Committee's they've effectively desysoped (or stopped a resysop) without the process of level I or II.

Given that the request was made more than 24 hours ago that requirement of RESYSOP has already been met, so now it's just waiting for a crat.

Thanks Xeno, that was my main point: if they don't want to resysop to happen at any time they need to post a desysop decision (which short of opening a case with an injunction) is the only to do it. Callanecc (talk • contribs • logs) 15:45, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

Unfortunately the requirements of RESYSOP are not yet met: the hold period "may be lengthened at a bureaucrat's discretion, if new information arises." In this case, it's been lengthened for an indefinite period of time, and clarity is required because it's not really fair for the request to be held in limbo (especially given Kevin's indication that he's unaware the reason for the delay). –xeno^talk 16:07, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

Not all self-requested removals are grounds for automatic resysopping - such as resigning under a cloud. (I'm not saying that is necessarily the case here). --Rschen7754 15:52, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

• I do wish that whatever the concern is would at least have been directly forwarded to me by now. I have a feeling that whatever question there is I could answer on FB in about thirty seconds, and I suspect that taking longer than anticipated to return rights to someone who followed best practices in locking down a potential opsec issue may have the effect of discouraging fourthcomingness in the future, at least potentially. Kevin Gorman (talk) 02:34, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

Just a stalker comment. No idea what arbs are discussing but I've been involved in security related stuff. The issue isn't just insuring the privileged account is no longer compromised, there is also the question of how it was comprimised and questions of diligence to the rules regarding account protection. The easy, extreme case is Snowden. He fled the country and the immediate concern is shutting down his access. The next concern is how he got access and that led to the firing of his cubicle mate (Snowden keylogged his passwords but that should have never worked if the coworker followed policy - yes, the NSA has more restrictions than WP but the illegal keylogging wasn't a defense for the coworker and it was the "two"-party authorization that gave him access). It's never just "everything's okay now." Anyway, just 0.02 that security breaches and impersonations are more than just establishing the account holder. I would hope due diligence is a checkuser and account log to see if there are other accounts that are compromised and then analyzing any relationship. --DHeyward (talk) 09:23, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

I absolutely agree, but the Committee didn't remove the tools. So if they want to decide when they are returned they need to officially remove them first. Callanecc (talk • contribs • logs) 14:55, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

I think it's debateable whether the committee removed the tool the request came from an arbitrator after all. There is private information involved in the case, whatever Kevin may state. I'm certain the committee will get back to us soon, there is no rush as long as the decision is the right one. Worm^TT(talk) 18:13, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

Special:Permalink/666705786#Kevin Gorman - compromised account desysop and block. Callanecc (talk • contribs • logs) 12:56, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

Except subsequent comments made in this thread made things less certain. –xeno^talk 13:02, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

Less certain yes, but there is a strictly defined process the Committee needs to go through. They didn't (comments from individual arbs don't have any affect on desysops, the Committee's majority does), therefore it was/is up to the crats not the Committee. Callanecc (talk • contribs • logs) 13:38, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

In the future, hopefully the committee will issue a statement clarifying what happened and under whose authority the desysop occured, as soon as possible after it occurs. A simple WP:AC/N notice saying: "Yes, it was done under Arbcom Authority" or "No, it was voluntary desysop, that just happened to be coordinated by an Arb" would have avoided all this confusion. Such a request for official clarification was also made 9 days ago. Monty₈₄₅ 13:55, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

I don't disagree that more clarity regarding the committee's precise involvement would have been optimal, but further discussion as regards the committee or any particular committee member's involvement in this matter should probably take place at Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee#Kevin Gorman - compromised account desysop and block or user talk. Bureaucrats will continue to exercise caution, restraint, and discretion in evaluating any resysop request, despite the letter of any particular policy. –xeno^talk 14:49, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

Bad RfA

Resolved

 – RFA was deleted as vandalism. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 17:57, 14 June 2015 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_adminship/habibisgreat

• Editor habibisgreat has been blocked for vandalism (blanking pages). BMK (talk) 05:14, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

Remove sysop powers

Greetings. I request removal of my sysop duties due to my inactivity. Thank you, - Mtmelendez ^(Talk) 00:46, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

•  Done, thanks for your service. –xeno^talk 01:10, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

Request for restoration of access to administrative toolkit

Resolved

 – Rights restored.

Request temporarily suspended following formal request of the Arbitration Committee (Special:Diff/669478080). –xeno^talk 13:21, 1 July 2015 (UTC) Taken off hold, this request should remain open for at least 24 hours to allow further bureaucrat review and community comment. –xeno^talk 12:43, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

---

 On hold Request on hold pending comment from the Arbitration Committee.

• Scott (current rights · rights management · rights log (local) · rights log (global/meta) · block log)

Please re-grant my access to the administrative toolkit, which I voluntarily requested be withdrawn in August 2014. I was not "under a cloud" when I did so.

I wish to accompany this request with a statement on the record:

My intention for requesting access to the admin toolkit is to inspect and perform maintenance on page histories - merges, splits, and moves; and to appropriately use revision deletion in any cases where I discover content that contravenes our policies and requires removing from public view. I will also be open to answering requests made of me by users to look into matters of article history or revision deletions; whether in the course of normal encyclopedic production, or investigating possible hoaxes, vandalism, or administrative malfeasance. I am fully cognizant of the requirement that sensitive revision-deleted material may not be disclosed: I never have, and I never will.

The administrative toolkit and role is long overdue being unbundled, but that's exceedingly unlikely to ever happen. Therefore I must indicate which parts of it I have no interest in, and will voluntarily refrain from using. Things that I will not do if I am re-granted access to the admin toolkit:

• Block or unblock any accounts or IP addresses
• Issue any warnings
• Close any discussions
• Participate in any discussions at WP:AN or WP:AN/I, beyond making simple requests at the latter for urgent interventions if absolutely necessary
• Perform any non-"speedy" deletions.

I shall explain the limited degree of my re-engagement with this project on my user page in due course. If verification is required that this account has not been compromised, I can be emailed through the site in the usual fashion, or reached on Twitter as @hex.

Thank you.  — Scott • talk 20:36, 28 June 2015 (UTC)

Comments from bureaucrats

The desysop does not appear to be under a cloud, I don't see a reason that re-sysop should not take place, after the 24 hour waiting period Worm^TT(talk) 08:57, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Dweller, below

WJBscribe, below

This matter has been raised with the Arbitration Committee (Special:Diff/669231932); I suggest the request be placed on hold pending further comment. –xeno^talk 20:02, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Taken off hold at 12:43 (UTC), but please allow at least 24 more hours for additional comment and bureaucrat review. –xeno^talk 13:22, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Questions from bureaucrats

WJBscribe, below

Request for restoration of access to administrative toolkit (discussion)

Discussion will be re-opened after comment from the Arbitration Committee and remain open for at least another 24 hours to allow further community comment and sufficient bureaucrats time to review the request. Comments regarding user conduct may be made to the Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee. –xeno^talk 19:46, 30 June 2015 (UTC) Re-opened. –xeno^talk 12:43, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

---

Considering how well known Hex is for promoting off-wiki drama causing distress to many Wikimedians, and even today is attracting drama in support of Eric Barbour, I see every reason to expect a RFA where Hex/Scott's suitability for access to deleted information can be discussed by the wider community. --Fæ (talk) 14:28, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Unfortunatelt 'crats do not have authority to refuse resysopping on those grounds. If you wish to petition for a desysopping, ArbCom would be the only appropriate venue. ☺ · Salvidrim! · ✉ 14:30, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Basically, what Salvidrim! said. This would require a Crat operating outside their charter. Dennis Brown - 2¢ 14:34, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Could you direct me to the policy that forces automatic resysopping rather than allowing you to not act on a request? Thanks --Fæ (talk) 14:38, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Crats can't be compelled to act if they choose not to, but it is unlikely that all of them will refuse to act and let it die on the table. It has never happened, and would have blowback from the community that elected them to do these things. Dennis Brown - 2¢ 14:44, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

That said the timescales can be extended for a reasonable period if vetting is likely to take longer. I'd be happy to suggest that happens, but "creating drama" (which can be a very good thing) isn't a reason I'd accept for such an extension. Worm^TT(talk) 14:54, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Having the ability to use trusted sysop privileges to fuel drama, or to intentionally cause personal distress to Wikipedians, off-wiki, can never be a very good thing. It is this aspect of the possible use of sysop privileges that would be examined in an RFA and that Scott would then have the opportunity to reassure everyone by setting their commitment to the mission of this project on the record. Having a Wikipedian call you a "notable Jimbotalk growth" is bad enough (quoting an off-wiki post by Scott this afternoon), but to have a trusted administrator do so when they create a discussion off-wiki in support of Eric Barbour, cannot be interpreted as collegiate behaviour. I seriously doubt that anyone being abused by being called a "growth" would feel the tools are in trustworthy and respectful hands. --Fæ (talk) 15:26, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

This is apparently a longstanding problem. One of the participants in this drama cited a failed policy proposal, WP:BADSITES, as vindication for his view that what goes off wiki stays off wiki and is of no relevancy whatsoever here. Like all utterly illogical trains of thought on Wikipedia, this one isn't even halfway rational. Skimming the five archives of discussions on the badsites talk page, it's very plain that this is a divisive issue and not some badge of honor that should be worn by administrators and checkusers who choose to administer or moderate websites that attack editors, or use such sites as safe harbors for behavior that would get them sanctioned here. Since "conflict of interest" is a strange and alien concept on Wikipedia, it is not surprising that people feel that way, and become livid with rage when the status quo is questioned, viewing it as an attack on their liberty or whatever. Coretheapple (talk) 19:18, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

That'd be WP:RESYSOP, Fae. As long as he is who he says he is and didn't resign to evade scrutiny or avoid sanctions, the admin right should be restored. Worm^TT(talk) 14:47, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Questions - was any of this alleged misconduct taking place at the time Scott resigned his access? Were any steps being taken in relation to it at that time? WJBscribe (talk) 17:10, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

• Without comment on this particular request (I haven't had the time to review it in detail), but it seems that objections to procedural resysoppings have become more common lately, which will in turn make administrators less likely to give up their tools in situations when it may be prudent for whatever reason (be it account security, personal reasons, needing a break, etc.).
  The community may wish to implement a lightweight desysopping process, but shoehorning it into the resysopping process as a "gotcha" is not the way to go. –xeno^talk 15:22, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

• Oppose I do not believe that Scott wants these tools for the benefit of WP, but rather to further his campaign, via his active membership at Wikipediocracy, against WP and also to persist in outing and harassing WP editors through that site. His latest one is just today [2] (posted here because public threads at WO have a habit of disappearing if the wrong public sees them)

Andy Dingley has a go at EricBarbour

Dingley has posted at the conflict of interest noticeboard that he thinks Metasonix should have a notice on it and its talk page, despite the glaring fact that EricBarbour has been blocked since 2009. Alison made this very obvious observation and removed the tag, but has run into resistance, including from notable Jimbotalk growth Coretheapple. Barrel-scraping in support of a grudge as usual.

Andy Dingley (talk) 15:49, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

• Oppose I really should support, since this is precisely the kind of thing that makes non-admins cynical about admins: their life tenure, the double standard applied to their conduct, the easy-peasy way they slip slide through the rules, the sheer idiocy of referring to their super-user status as a "mop" or as "tools." Yes, if we simply apply logic, this account needs "tools" the way an elephant needs an umbrella. But let's just be rigid and give him back his super-user status (his "tools") because it is the Wikipedia Way(r) to ignore common sense. Why don't we double down on the stupidity and make him a checkuser? Coretheapple (talk) 16:13, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

• I can see no reason in policy why we should deny this request and it should therefore be done at the end of the 24 hours wait period, unless another bureaucrat objects in the meantime. --Dweller (talk) 16:14, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

  There's no rush - 24 hours is a guideline - nothing has to happen at the end of that period. I for one would like to allow sufficient time for members of the community to articulate their opposition so that we can consider it fully. WJBscribe (talk) 17:08, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

  Wikipedians who discuss Scott's off-wiki campaign, have to be prepared to be targeted by friends of Hex off-wiki for daring to speak. Due to our policies (apart from when Arbcom sometimes choses to recognize it), off wiki behaviour is considered irrelevant to a complaint about behaviour on wiki. In response to my raising the issue here, poisonous allegations about my sex life have been posted in reply to Scott's thread, and this threatened more cyberbullying unless I cease writing here. It is not possible to separate Scott from the years long history of their off wiki toxic posts about the same Wikipedians that he is interacting with on wiki. He should be accountable for feeding banned internet trolls that act as his attack dogs by frightening others from sticking their head above the parapet. Anyone that habitually behaves this way, and is granted access privileges to our project, should expect to give a full account of their actions. The evidence is carefully kept off-wiki, just Google for the malicious crap and chumming of the waters he has chosen to post over the last few years, it's not hard to stumble across. --Fæ (talk) 19:03, 29 June 2015 (UTC) Struck per request. --Fæ (talk) 14:52, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

• A simple request for restoration of admin toolset resigned under non controversial circumstances. User is not subject to any sanctions and has given a detailed rationale for his request even though he is under no obligation to do so. I see no policy based reason for the bureaucrats to not proceed with the resysop. - NQ (talk) 16:33, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

• Not to labor it, but "oppose" and "support" have no meaning here. You can provide the Crats with information about how resysoping would be against current policy, but their actions have nothing to do with consensus, only policy. This isn't RFA version 2. Dennis Brown - 2¢ 17:09, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Question/Comment Being that there is cause for concern with returning the tools, are the burecrats here claiming "There is no current policy justification for withholding the tools" looking for something like a Writ of Mandamus/Writ of Certiorari from ArbCom/Jimbo to CYA for this new normal? Hasteur (talk) 17:57, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

@Hasteur: Could you explain what you mean? –xeno^talk 18:19, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

@Xeno: I'm getting a feeling of the Bureaucrats saying "Our hands are tied" in the face of the current policy. What I'm asking is if a motion by ArbCom (or a Jimbo proclamation) directing you to not restore the rights (or exercise discretion) in light of the circumstances. Hasteur (talk) 18:43, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

If the Arbitration Committee were to issue a motion formally revoking Scott's administrative privileges, or a temporary injunction asking that the permissions not be restored for the time being as they are considering such a motion, this would be compelling. If someone does formally engage arbitration, please leave a note here and bureaucrats will decide whether to place the request on hold. –xeno^talk 18:47, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

It strikes me that denying on the basis of there being a risk of a retired editor who left out of bitterness requesting the tools back for the purpose of off-site harassment is exactly the kind of thing that WP:IAR exists for. Given there is no indication Scott intends to re-engage with Wikipedia beyond his "investigations", I think any decision on re-instating the tools should be deferred at least until Scott follows through on his promise to explain his purpose. Parallel to that, if Fae et al's concerns are viewed as credible, then I would suggest this request is made under a cloud, and it should be left up to the community to decide via a fresh RFA. Resolute 19:35, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

I don't think creating a desysop procedure adhoc is an ideal course: as noted below, these concerns belong at a separate venue and are being heard at arbitration now. –xeno^talk 20:19, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Granted, and now moot given Arbcom has gotten involved, but at the same time, I don't like "our hands are tied" as an excuse when concerns of this nature are raised. There's a gap here that may warrant a policy change. Resolute 23:49, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

• @Fæ, Coretheapple, and Andy Dingley: as others have noted, the resysop procedure is not a fresh review of a users' suitability for adminship. Without comment on the present case, if you feel a user requesting procedural re-adminship should not have access to the administrative tools, you should consider engaging arbitration. Further to my comment above at 18:47, bureaucrats would be compelled to revoke adminship or reject a request for re-adminship if the committee were to issue a motion or engage desysop procedures. –xeno^talk 19:43, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

There are a good many admins at WP who deserve a good desysopping, but ArbCom has a poor record of achieving anything useful in that direction.

PS - The Wikipediocracy thread has, as predicted, now been hidden. Still, there are plenty of WO-active admins left who can see it. Andy Dingley (talk) 19:55, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Bureaucrats are not an investigative or disciplinary body. –xeno^talk 20:03, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Rather amusing that a forum that routinely bitches about things being done in secrecy frequently lacks transparency itself. Resolute 23:51, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

@Resolute: I'd prefer that we focus on the actual matter at hand and keep comments not directly related to it to a minimum. --(ʞɿɐʇ) ɐuɐʞsǝp 00:10, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

Request for restoration of access to administrative toolkit (request for hold)

• ArbCom have received private communication regarding this request and are considering it along with comments made on this thread. We would appreciate it if the 'crats would hold off on actioning this request for now until. Hopefully we'll get back to in less than 2 days, but we are busy at present so that is not a promise (sorry). Thryduulf (talk) 20:01, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

  I've suggested it be placed on hold pending additional comment; if you think a formal comment will take more than 24-48 hours, please consider issuing a temporary injunction. (less relevant as user indicated they do not mind the delay) –xeno^talk 20:08, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

  Seconded. --Dweller (talk) 20:12, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

  Agreed Worm^TT(talk) 20:32, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

  I hope I'm not out of line in suggesting that you close this discussion in the meantime. The evil voodoo drama spirits seem to be running wild through the Wikipedia neighborhood of the interwebs today. --SB_Johnny | ^talk✌ 20:38, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

  My concern with that is that Thryduulf indicated the committee was considering "comments made on the thread"; suspending the thread would prevent further community comments (and without a formal case filing, it wouldn't be entirely clear where such comments should be made). There are also outstanding questions that would have bearing on the processing of the request if the committee declines to take any action. –xeno^talk 20:45, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Noted. If it looks like it's going to take us more than 48 hours we'll issue a temporary injunction, but based on discussion so far it will be evening US time before we are in a position to know that. Thryduulf (talk) 20:44, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Thank you. –xeno^talk 20:45, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

• I well understand that the Arbitration Committee is busy with more pressing matters. I'm in no hurry with this request and am available for a drama-free chat by email at any time that suits.  — Scott • talk 20:57, 29 June 2015 (UTC)
  • While I understand that ArbCom intervention might be needed to put this request on hold from a "bureaucratic" point of view, it would also probably raise the drama level. Depending on the outcome, that might happen anyway (indeed, unfortunately, it's more likely than not to happen no matter how this is ultimately handled) ... but perhaps Scott's statement that he's in no hurry could be considered as his consenting to a temporary delay, thus eliminating the need for a formal ArbCom action at this early stage. (Noting that I'm not commenting on the merits of the request at all.) Newyorkbrad (talk) 21:43, 29 June 2015 (UTC)
    • Thanks, NYB. I'm absolutely happy for a delay to this process, of whatever duration.  — Scott • talk 22:46, 29 June 2015 (UTC)
    • Sensible as always. Thanks for your patience, Scott - we will hold for comment. –xeno^talk 13:55, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

Request for restoration of access to administrative toolkit (break)

• Comment I have had no dealings with User:Scott that I recall, and as far as his involvement in 'pediocracy goes his essay/blog post on Liquid Threads is on its face a good summary of what not to do. Nonetheless it it a matter for consternation when an editor who has "flounced", instead of coming back to the project to edit comes back to look at deleted revisions - specifically saying "I will also be open to answering requests made of me by users to look into matters of article history or revision deletions".

It seems to me that this sets alarum bells off, especially in the context of 'pediaocracy, who, while they claim to have moved forward from Wikipedia Review, is still an essentially "bash Wikipedia" and specifically "bash [other] Wikipedains" club.

It would perhaps be useful to know what specific revision deletions User:Scott wants to look into, and for which users.

All the best: Rich Farmbrough, 12:40, 30 June 2015 (UTC).

You've completely misread my statement of purpose. Perhaps it was ambiguous - the answer to your question is none. Everything I mentioned is part of the standard admin toolkit, of which I only find several components worthwhile. Regards.  — Scott • talk 13:26, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

To clarify (since I didn't ask a specific question): are you confirming that you currently have no particular or general edits, histories, deletions, areas of interest or client users in mind? I do not necessarily have a problem if you do, provided you are happy to share that information openly. All the best: Rich Farmbrough, 16:42, 30 June 2015 (UTC).

Yes, I can confirm that without hesitation.  — Scott • talk 17:00, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

While I am sympathetic to the observations made by Rich, which lead to the obvious query, I am strongly opposed to asking such questions. I realize the question has been asked and answered so this may sound like locking the barn door, but one of the things that concerns me about our organizational structure is the imbalance of power. My main concerns arise when an admin blocks and editor and the editor must find the right words to become unblocked. I think abuse is extremely rare but I want to make sure it is closer to nonexistent. On rare occasions, I have seen hints that the blocky must make statements unrelated to the original reason for blocking in order to be considered for unblocking. While understandable that's an abuse of power. I don't want us to fall into the same trap here. We've established a policy that if an admin voluntarily gives up tools not under a cloud they simply have to ask for them back. We do not get to say "now that you don't have the tools and you want them back is a few questions I'd like answered and if you don't answer them satisfactorily you might not get the tools back". I get that there might be special circumstances in this situation and I'll let ARBCOM investigate those off-camera. However, should there be a declination to return the tools, it had better be for an extremely strong reason and not simply that someone is unhappy with something Scott has done and now have a good chance to keep him from getting back the tools. On a related point, I do want to thank Scott for agreeing to a delay. ARBCOM does have quite a number of things on their plate, and I am sure that handling this on an emergency basis would not be easy. Giving them the time to sort this out on a more relaxed timeframe helps everyone.--S Philbrick(Talk) 14:42, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

Thank you S Philbrick. While I do agree that this isn't "RfA Round 2", I'm happy to answer some of the questions posed calmly down here, especially if they reveal some ambiguity in my original statement. That said, I also reserve the right not to answer questions if they start resembling RfA too much.  — Scott • talk 16:17, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

Indeed, "imbalance of power" is the central issue here, but not as you portray it. Administrators have far more power than ordinary users, are indeed super-users. What Rich was doing was trying to inject a note of common sense into a process of reinstating super-user status to a person who has behaved in an offensive manner while navigating the rules so as to stay on the "right side of the law." Wikipedia administrators know the rules very well, they know how to "play the game," and I think there is a growing sense that they are just a bit too adept and cynical at working the system. Wikipedia is not a bureaucracy, yet when it comes to situations like this, when super-users are dealing with members of their own fraternity, I sometimes think that Wikipedia is indeed a very rigid bureaucracy indeed. Coretheapple (talk) 14:56, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

I would never have even raised a comment, had Scott not specifically mentioned looking at revdels for other users - which is of course commendable honesty. I have not challenged his "right" to his bit back, nor would I (indeed I never supported, for example, the six month inactivity removal rule). All the best: Rich Farmbrough, 16:50, 30 June 2015 (UTC).

• Comment Apologies but I no longer log into my old account anymore. It's been a couple years, but I still check community pages to see what is going on, and I feel inclined to comment here. There's really only one thing that bothers me about your resysop request Scott. You said you have no interest and do not plan to use the administrative bit for blocks or unblocks, issuing any warnings, closing any discussions, participating at discussions at WP:AN-AN/I (except simple requests) and performing any non-"speedy" deletions. If you perform any blocks, or undertake any actions that you specifically said you would not do if you were resysopped, will you have adminship removed from your account "under a cloud"? That being said, I don't like the thought of granting accounts advanced permissions but with limitations of what tools they will or will not use. If you're requesting to be an administrator again, just request all the toolkit back. Otherwise, anything you said you weren't going to do, and then decide to do one day will be scrutinized. 73.171.146.172 (talk) 15:13, 30 June 2015 (UTC)
  • Hi, 73 (do you mind if I call you 73?). That's a perfectly valid question. There's no technical way of my not being able to do those things, which means that it has to rest on my honesty. While I don't know of any policy basis that would put me "under a cloud" for breaking my word (and forever tarring myself as a rotten liar), perhaps having broken such a public pledge on my part relating to administration would be sufficient for ArbCom to reconsider whether I should retain administrator privileges. Hard to say, really. Regarding your second point - I'm going to have to disagree with you there, I'm afraid. I've felt that the administrator role should be broken apart for the last ten years, and I'm not about to change my mind now. And really, there's no practical difference between me not doing those things now and not having done some of them in the past (or indeed any administrator not doing some of them, as many don't). There's only the difference of transparency and honesty on my part about my intentions. Best wishes.  — Scott • talk 15:47, 30 June 2015 (UTC)
    • That was more or less my concern, if that you prepared to be called a 'rotten liar', should you happen to actually participate in areas you said you weren't, because I would expect a cavalcade of editors looking to lynch you should you block someone. I would prefer you just want the whole bit back. That being said as well, I have been a proponent of the tools being broken up in the past too, so I don't disagree there. It's just not realistic to make that promise because eventually, there will be an exception. 73.171.146.172 (talk) 16:15, 30 June 2015 (UTC)
      • Well, indeed. Let me put it this way: I hate blocking people. Hate. It. And I've got over 12 years with this project that going against my word would tarnish. The motivation for me to cleave to my intentions is gigantic.  — Scott • talk 16:22, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

• Comments (1) FWIW, the fairly large component of Wikipediocracy staff and trusted senior members who are also admins has helped to reduce the frequency (or at least persistence) of false accusations against admins who are in fact using deletions and revdels to protect privacy (as opposed to "covering something up"). I think that's part of what Scott has in mind.

  (2) One of the advantages to not having term limits on the bits is that "emeritus" admins can pick up the stray piece of litter they happen to wander across, help break a logjam, and be able to see the logs in a checking and balancing manner (this is why Wikimedia's wikis can't have only one checkuser or oversighter).

  (3) As long as an admin is still trusted not to use the tools in a way that violates policy, this shouldn't be a big deal anyway. --SB_Johnny | ^talk✌ 15:57, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

  • Thanks, SBJ. Regarding RevDel, yes, you've put it well. In the past I've found and fixed incorrect use of the feature by admins, acting completely on my own behalf as an admin, and have likewise been able to scotch misguided accusations of impropriety on Wikipediocracy against admins who've used the feature correctly. Revision deletion is a feature that is easily misunderstood, and it aids us all if someone is able to say, for example, "admin X hid those revisions because an IP user had inserted offensive comments about this BLP subject's family". That's what I meant by my original comments about the feature.  — Scott • talk 16:14, 30 June 2015 (UTC)
    • I agree and commend such uses. However it is often extremely difficult to tread the line between keeping confidential information confidential, and explaining why something was done. Currently we tend to being over-confidential in general practice, but that is probably preferable to "over-sharing". All the best: Rich Farmbrough, 17:00, 30 June 2015 (UTC).
      
      • Absolutely. It's not healthy to go around shouting about every revision deletion, but it's not healthy to keep completely schtum in the face of legitimate questions about administrative practice if they happen to arise. I've tread that line correctly in the past, and struck a similar balance in professional contexts also.  — Scott • talk 17:05, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

Temporary injunction regarding the restoration of Scott's admin privileges

The Arbitration Committee requests that restoration of adminship for Scott requested at the bureaucrats' noticeboard be suspended while the Committee communicates with him.

Supporting: Seraphimblade, Thryduulf, Courcelles, Salvio giuliano, NativeForeigner, Euryalus, Doug Weller, Yunshui

Recusing: GorillaWarfare; Abstaining: Roger Davies

For the Arbitration Committee, Salvio ^{Let's talk about it!} 13:10, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

Discuss this at: Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee/Noticeboard#Temporary injunction regarding the restoration of Scott's admin privileges

 Done. Comments or questions about the injunction itself should be at WT:ACN though bureaucratic implications of the injunction may be raised here. –xeno^talk 13:23, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

What do you mean by "bureaucratic implications of the injunction"? You've already hatted a dialogue that I was attempting to have with Scott about the off-wiki comments that are the reason we are here. That's not the "elephant in the room," it's the room. In hatting Request for restoration of access to administrative toolkit (break 2) you utilized the ridiculous notation that it should be discussed at his user page. Really? In the discussion that you hatted, Scott refused to discuss the comments that he made off-wiki that are the very reason we are here, saying that such queries are not "policy based," whatever that means. "Bureaucratic" indeed. The utter cynicism of this entire proceeding is really bordering on self-parody. Coretheapple (talk) 13:36, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

I have to agree with Core. I am a completely uninvolved editor who has this page watchlisted. There is an awful lot to be concerned about in this matter, both in Scott's demeanor on and off wiki, and in the process itself, as Core notes. Jusdafax 14:32, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

So why not raise them at Wikipedia_talk:Arbitration_Committee/Noticeboard#Temporary_injunction_regarding the_restoration_of_Scott.27s_admin_privileges? Arbcom has in effect called this one in, taken it from the crats and has opened that page for discussion. ϢereSpielChequers 14:42, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

 Done. Jusdafax 14:53, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

Coretheapple I collapsed the discussion in part because it may be rendered moot by committee decision and also because Scott withdrew from the discussion: if you want to attempt to continue to the dialog you should feel free to do so on his talk page. The bureaucrats' noticeboard is not a forum for grievances - there are more appropriate venues to raise user conduct concerns, especially since the committee took up the matter. I must admit I find your criticism confusing: you asked us not to restore Scott's administrator priveleges because of a user conduct concern, we referred you to the correct body to review this concern, have suspended the request pending their decision, and we have proceeded cautiously at every step. What more would you ask? –xeno^talk 17:08, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

Rescinding the temporary injunction regarding the restoration of Scott's admin privileges

The committee has resolved most of the concerns raised, and after discussing the remaining issue directly with Scott, his replies have satisfied us. The Arbitration Committee thus rescinds its temporary injunction dated 1 July 2015 at the bureaucrats' noticeboard.

Supporting: Doug Weller, Salvio giuliano, Seraphimblade, NativeForeigner, Yunshui, Euryalus, LFaraone, AGK

Opposing: Thryduulf, Courcelles, DGG, DeltaQuad

Abstaining: Roger Davies

Recusing: GorillaWarfare

For the Arbitration Committee, Salvio ^{Let's talk about it!} 12:27, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Discuss this at: Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee/Noticeboard#Rescinding the temporary injunction regarding the restoration of Scott's admin privileges

Thank you, I've re-opened the discussion. –xeno^talk 12:47, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Request for restoration of access to administrative toolkit (re-opened)

The injunction having been lifted, the discussion is re-opened and should remain for at least 24 hours before being processed. Please note a question from a bureaucrat above remains unanswered: "was any of this alleged misconduct taking place at the time Scott resigned his access? Were any steps being taken in relation to it at that time?". –xeno^talk 12:43, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

The question would have been better phrased as "Were any steps being taken in relation to any actions by Scott at the time that he resigned his access?" I can also provide the answer, which is no. (For reference, noticeboards on 22 August 2014: WP:BN, WP:AN, WP:ANI.)  — Scott • talk 13:11, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

I agree with Xeno that we should leave this open for at least 24 hours. However, if Arbcom is satisfied that there is no (desysop-worthy) misconduct, what are we, the bureaucrats, going to find or hear to say that Scott either resigned under a cloud, or that there are other exceptional circumstances as to why we can't do the procedural resysoping? Typically, the weather report is the bureaucrats' responsibility (and so far it's a cloudless report), and the "exceptional circumstances" bit is really more of the Arbcom's problem. And Arbcom rescinded their injunction. So at this stage, I see no reason as to why we cannot resysop Scott. Maxim_(talk) 13:21, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

The previous discussion shouldn't've been closed. ArbCom is a kangaroo court and has no authority to issue temporary injunctions here.

Scott: just out of curiosity, are you open to recall? I didn't see a mention of it on your user page.

In re-reading MeatBall, I wish we could find a way to make Wikipedia feel more like that. It's freer and more fun and more honest, I think. --MZMcBride (talk) 15:35, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Technically, it was only paused (and users were free to comment in the newer sections and did so). The committee's authority to issue a "temporary injunction", in my mind, flows from their ability to issue a WP:LEVEL2 desysop, indeed simply the "request for hold" was sufficient given Scott's patience and the built-in ability for resysop requests to be held for longer periods of time so that information gathering and bureaucrat deliberation can occur. Once we push the button to resysop, there is no policy-based way for bureaucrats to reverse or review the decision. To ignore a "request for hold" (even if issued in legalese) and go ahead with a resysop request without waiting for their comment would be imprudent: it would only serve to heighten the drama and tension while potentially force the committee to rush to action using Level 2 procedures. –xeno^talk 16:01, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

• The last time that Arb jumped into a resysopping (ironically, the last resysopping we had) Xeno decided to just leave it open an addition 12 hours, since there had already been plenty of time for vetting, the Kevin Gorman case, in the most recent archive. That would seems to be a reasonable precedent since more than 24 hours have passed since the start of this, and any dirt that there was to dig up would have already been dug by now. Starting the clock from the time Arb signed off would be appropriate, as there has been ample "process" in this process. Dennis Brown - 2¢ 15:59, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

  The circumstances of this request are different; it is a Sunday (of a long weekend in some places); and, I promised to leave the discussion open at least another 24 hours when I placed it hold ealier. I'm sure Scott will indulge us leaving this open at least short while longer. –xeno^talk 16:23, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

  That is fair enough. Dennis Brown - 2¢ 18:37, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

• In my opinion, for the purposes of this discussion it should not matter whether Arbcom is satisfied concerning desysop-worthy misconduct that happened well after the voluntary self-desysoping. If voluntary self-desysoping does not happen under a cloud, procedural resysoping should be approved as a matter of course. The basic principle should be this: If Scott had kept the tools would he have them removed at this time? If the answer is yes, then procedural resysoping should not occur. If the answer is no, then voluntary self-desysoping followed later by a request for procedural resysoping should make zero difference. What we absolutely don't want is for anyone to be reluctant to lay down the tools because there may be difficulties when they try to pick them up again. The ability to freely turn the admin bit on and off is an important security feature. anything that motivates anyone to keep the tools when they have no intention of using them weakens Wikipedia's security by a small amount.

As a real-life example, consider my personal situation. I sometimes travel to China to work on engineering tasks related to the toy industry and am the target of sophisticated industrial espionage. I can still edit Wikipedia using TAILS and TOR on a laptop that never leaves my side (I am IP block exempt for just this purpose) and then changing my passphrase and reviewing all of my own edits when I get back to the US. If I were an administrator I would temporarily self-desysop before I left and ask for a procedural resysoping when I returned. Keeping the tools would be a security risk to Wikipedia if my account were to be compromised. --Guy Macon (talk) 16:05, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Of course, bureaucrats were not appointed to determine the answer to the question "would [we]^? have removed them at this time?", that lays with the Arbitration Committee. And now, since the committee has not issued any permanent motion concerning Scott's administrative privileges, there seems to be no barrier to restoring Scott's administrative tools tomorrow unless it can be shown that the tools were relinquished to evade "scrutiny of their actions that could have led to sanctions". –xeno^talk 16:23, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

That Arb has jumped into the last two resysops is a bit odd, you have to admit. I try to assume the best of faith, but at the same time, Guy is correct. While I gave up the admin bit in January for a break due to real world issues, there was some hesitation that a single individual at Arb could jam up the whole thing and cast doubt on my admin eligibility. It was more than a passing concern, but in the end I took what I felt was a "risk", as it was the best thing for enwp. Losing the tools isn't that big of a deal, however, losing them due to unrelated or imaginary reasons would be a pisser. There isn't a trust issue with the Crats that I know of. There has been trust issues with Arb for almost as long as I've been an editor, often for good reason. I think the Crats handled it well both times, but both times, there was no issue in the end, which begs why the delay was so delayed by Arb, assuming the evidence was so compelling as to get them to ask you to stop, instead of waiting until after they had the bit back and starting formal proceedings if needed. It isn't Arb's job to normally review resysops, and they are batting 2 for 2 over the last month, pushing Crats into the political fray and making everyone a bit on edge. Dennis Brown - 2¢ 18:37, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

As I said earlier, such trends are likely to make administrators more reluctant to hand in their tools for whatever reason and this is unfortunate. The current policy at Wikipedia:Administrators#After voluntary removal is clear in that bureaucrats are asked to return the tools following voluntary removal except in very limited circumstances (account compromised or resigned "under a cloud").

Trying to expand the circumstances where bureaucrats decline to restore the tools via "opposition" to individual resysop requests is not appropriate: an amendment to the administrators policy should instead be sought if the community wishes bureaucrats to decline to restore the tools in other situations (though adding "coming back under a cloud" will only result in even more contentious resysop requests and further deter administrators from relinquishing their privileges).

Having the perspective of serving on the committee in the past (including as a sometimes-coordinator of decision-making), I understand the delay; and due to the nature of the objection, I can understand why they might prefer the ability to review deleted revisions was not restored until they had adequately reviewed the concerns and satisfied themselves that administrative privileges would not be used inappropriately (or in the previous case, that any remaining account security issues had been resolved).

I think we should be careful not to "blame the process": a set of unique circumstances was presented in both cases and the process was engaged to achieve the policy-based consensus result as set out in the various processes in place. We can criticize or try to change a process, but this should be done separately from individual runs of the process. –xeno^talk 19:24, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

More than 24 hours has passed and I have restored Scott's tools. --Dweller (talk) 12:40, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

• Many thanks.  — Scott • talk 12:43, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

---

The above discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.

Inactive administrators

Resolved

 – Notes manually sent. Bot operator contacted, but may be away who restarted the task.

Looking at Wikipedia:Inactive administrators/2015, it seems the notification bot did not run properly for July 2015. --Rschen7754 18:12, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Yes, it looks like the bot may have gone on holiday with it's operator. I'll send out the notes presently while we await for their return (or replacement if Madman can no longer host this task). –xeno^talk 18:19, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Has anyone tried emailing Madman? The bot stopped running when WMF labs was out - so presumably it just needs to be restarted? I don't know anything about WMF labs - does it have administrators that can restart someone else's process or is Madman the only person who can do it? If we're reasonably convinced that he is gone and nobody else is planning to do so, I could write a process to take over the task. --B (talk) 23:04, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Not that I know of, I was hoping they had email notifications enabled and wouldve gotten a note after Graham's message. –xeno^talk 23:13, 5 July 2015 (UTC) (I've now emailed them, in case. –xeno^talk 23:53, 5 July 2015 (UTC))

All existing crontab was disabled when Labs was bought back up on the 19th, but they also said that unmodified crontab would be switched back on on automatically on the 22 June, so that shouldn't had been the reason the bot not ran. (Shouldn't, not necessarily isn't!) -- KTC (talk) 12:29, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

I added the admins for July by hand, please feel free to tell me if I screwed up. Kharkiv07 (T) 03:02, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

I've also given them talk page messages and emailed them. Kharkiv07 (T) 03:27, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

Thank you, Kharkiv07, much obliged. –xeno^talk 03:31, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

Dumb question: Useight (talk · contribs) had a logged action in April, which reset his or her timer, but why wasn't he or she desysopped in some previous month? Useight seems to have gone from August 2012 until April 2015 with no edits, deleted edits, or logged actions. (I'm not asking for the sake of desysopping him or her - just asking to understand if there is some other piece of the formula.) --B (talk) 14:26, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

Because they have an alternate account (Useight's Public Sock) which is still active. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk, contributions) 14:28, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

So is the bot (somehow?) making a determination that Useight's Public Sock belongs to Useight? Or is someone who is aware of the user's alternate name manually removing them? --B (talk) 14:30, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

I think the perhaps there's an exception in the code? –xeno^talk 18:03, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

Okay. If we don't hear back from him in a week or so, I can undertake the creation of a replacement bot. This feature could be accommodated with a protected list of known socks that it would check before declaring an account to be inactive (although, technically, from reading Wikipedia:Administrators#Procedural_removal_for_inactive_administrators, it seems to say that the removal is based on no edits from the account - I don't see an exception for if the admin edits from a different account). --B (talk) 19:52, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

From what I can remember, someone pointed it out when the list of accounts was posted on here at least once. Whether the bot code was then updated to take that into account I don't know. -- KTC (talk) 20:08, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) He did reply to let us know he restarted the task, it was the labs outage that caused the interruption in service. Thanks for your offer to take over in case.

As best I can tell, the exception was first discussed around Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard/Archive 27#Requesting resysop after inactivity and has been observed ever since (Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard/Archive 29#Wikipedia:Inactive administrators/2013#September 2013), most recently discussed Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard/Archive 32#Inactive admins.

I'm not sure if any other administrators remain active this way on their alternate accounts, but as long as the link is confirmed, it's not unreasonable to allow. Technically an alternate account is just a sub-account of the main; any sanctions would apply to the main account if inappropriate edits were made by an alternate account; so too should positive edits doing administrative or bureaucratic activity from an alternate account fulfill activity requirements (though a check-in edit once in a while would be preferable). –xeno^talk 20:11, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

RfC: Increasing the activity requirement for retaining bureaucrat rights

Please see Wikipedia talk:Bureaucrats#RfC: Increasing the activity requirement for retaining bureaucrat rights and comment. –xeno^talk 21:12, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

Crat chat

Resolved

 – Discussion concluded.

See Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/Rich Farmbrough 2/Bureaucrat discussion. Maxim_(talk) 13:24, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

FWIW, I agree with the closure. I didn't see this until now due to RL activities. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 03:42, 7 July 2015 (UTC)

RfA ready for closure

Hello! The discussion at Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/Cyberpower678 has been ready for closure for about twelve hours now. Just FYI. Thanks! --MelanieN (talk) 09:14, 10 July 2015 (UTC)

Thanks Melanie - I'm looking through it now. WJBscribe (talk) 09:26, 10 July 2015 (UTC)

Crat chat (2)

Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/Cyberpower678/Bureaucrat discussion

You wait ages for one and then two come along at once... Would appreciate further input on this one. WJBscribe (talk) 09:53, 10 July 2015 (UTC)

The dynamics between them differ though. While the first one was trending up at the close, this one was trending down. Noting that oppose vote #34, which came in after my vote #30, resonated with me. These two candidates share the issue of concerns about automated editing. Take note of the automated editing concerns raised regarding Cyberpower's current bot request for approval, noted in oppose #34. I don't believe a lot of the voters were aware of these issues. Wbm1058 (talk) 16:37, 10 July 2015 (UTC)

Please keep all comments about the RfA on the associated talk page (or the 'crat chat talk page). We can't be trying to find comments all over the place. Thanks. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 02:17, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

Since you guys seem to be on a fence here, if I could possibly answer any questions, feel free to ask.—^cyberpower_{Chat:Limited Access} 02:04, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

Since our task is not to stand in judgment of you or your suitability, but to judge the community consensus as to your promotion, there isn't much more we could ask at this point. For my part, I think you are to be commended for your demeanour and honesty during this process. –xeno^talk 02:14, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Thank you for letting us know. Generally, we don't ask additional questions of the candidate during a 'crat chat unless it's on the talk page I linked above (and then, only rarely). The purpose of the chat is not to continue the discussion, but rather to evaluate the already-existing discussion. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 02:17, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

Well, then I'm at least glad to provide you guys a challenge. You guys seemed to be a little bored these days. ;-)—^cyberpower_{Chat:Limited Access} 02:18, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

Yes - if anything, you can say that you've got a goodly mix of us together for a meeting; unfortunately we've run out of spirits and the food is god awful (and Useight's "Sock" doesn't seem to have been washed in a while). –xeno^talk 02:21, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

Useight aside, who was in charge of food duty? I'm chillin' with Chinese, while my roommates are getting drunk and partying. :p Fortunately, I don't party or drink much. :p—^cyberpower_{Chat:Limited Access} 02:34, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

I though Jimbo was supposed to bring the food. He is our benevolent dictator overseer founder, after all. I, for one, would like to see some of that benevolence manifested. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 05:48, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

May I suggest arranging for steak, caviar, and lobster next time?—^cyberpower_Chat:Offline 05:52, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

Sorry for cutting the fun short, but it looked like it wasn't going anywhere and was a more sensible idea to withdraw on my own. But still, whoever is on food detail should at least bring the 3 things mentioned about. :p—^cyberpower_{Chat:Limited Access} 15:34, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

RfC on transferring the bot-flagging ability to a newly created BAG user group

See this thread for details. →Σσς. (Sigma) 07:30, 13 July 2015 (UTC)

Vanished user

Resolved

 – Just a new user account created which violated the username policy. Admins will handle it. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 05:44, 20 July 2015 (UTC)

Please see this concerning a vanished user who has returned to editing. BMK (talk) 02:01, 20 July 2015 (UTC)

Commented there. ···日本穣^? · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 05:44, 20 July 2015 (UTC)