Guild Wars Wiki talk:Elections/2009-06 bureaucrat election/Wandering Traveler

Lets hope W.t does well

Good luck M8---- Yo Jm 17:33, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

Agreed-good luck!--Burning Freebies 16:46, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

Questions

Please don't shoot me if I make more spelling mistakes than usual, I'm editing from my phone due to a broken laptop.

Hey WT! I have a couple of questions for you:

1. How would you define a Bureaucrat's job here on the wiki?
2. Which characteristics, personal traits, mindset, experiences, morale values and/or .... do you think one needs to be a successfull bureacrat?
3. How do you recognise these features in youself (and, if you feel like elaborating, in the other candidates as well)?
4. Sysop tools are srs bsns. If elected, would you use them, why would you (not) use them and, in case you would use them, how would you use them?

Good luck ;) — Why 23:31, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

Hey Why! I'll answer these as best I can.

1. The Bureaucrat's main job is simple and straightfoward: arbitration. If a case rises that normal sysop/user action/intervention cannot resolve, its the bureaucrats job to step in and review what has happened and where to go from there. While there are sysop tools...the bureaucrat is a bureaucrat, not a sysop. I don't see myself using the sysop tools unless there is no sysop on to stop a massive vandalism wave (which I doubt).
2. All of these traits must remain neutral for a successfull bureaucrat. Having a bureaucrat that loses control of the situation in the middle of a case (or any intervention in general) is generally bad for not only his image, but for his standing as a role of a bureaucrat. Experience should just be keeping a good calm standing on the wiki, helping solve user disputes and generally keeping a cool head. Those are the most vital portions of being a bureaucrat.
3. Myself? I know I started off on the wiki very shaky, jumping into situations hoping to stop them, but instead escelating them even more. I hope I have learned from my mistakes since those early days, but I do realize I have made mistakes. However, my experience and time on the wiki has shown that plowing through a conflict head first is not the best way to solve things. It takes careful deliberation to help alleviate a situation, and thats what I have learned. At this time, I will not comment on the other runners.
4. As stated above, this is about a Bureaucrats job, not a sysops job. If I have to use them as a last ditch resort to stop a massive vandal wave when Wyn is kidnapped, Poke's computer explodes, and Pling is on vacation in Portugal, then I'd do the neccesary block. However, I'm running for Bureaucrat, not putting up an RFA, so last ditch is my motto.

Hope this helps. :) -- Wandering Traveler 18:53, 12 June 2009 (UTC)

Questions

I would just like to ask these questions, if you don't mind.

• Why do you want to be a Bureaucrat and what qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a good Bureaucrat?
• What is your opinion on strictly literal interpretations of policy vs. "spirit of the policy" interpretations?
• How might your decisions in previous ArbComm decisions have differed from those given by the Bureaucrats?
• How would you define the Bureaucrat's role on GWW?
• What is your stance on trolling/disruption/incivility/harmfulness? How is that stance justified given the current status of those issues within our system and culture?
• What do you think the proper role of ArbComm is?
• How might you use the Bureaucrat position differently than other Bureaucrats have?
• In what way(s) would your decisions in arbitration be affected by the weight of a user's general history of valued contributions (or lack of such)? Would user valuable-ness reliably translate into some extra degree of leniency from you? -- §Lacky§ Talk 07:12, 12 June 2009 (UTC)

Hello Lacky! Lets see what I can do here.

1. See above
2. I don't like taking a policy word for word, but sometimes it has to come down to that. GWW:NPA specifically states "No Personal Attacks". If a case comes up with specific and constant attacks against someone, and that particular user is deliberately targeted for it, then yes, literal policy would state "No Personal Attacks". Spirit of the policy to me is if two friends are one the wiki joking about in extremely obscene manners. Now granted, they're friends joking, not "personal attacks", but nevertheless it should stay off the wiki and on vent. Its a bad example; but thats how I see it.
3. Arbitration is a last resort, plain and simple. Users, Sysops, and (off duty) Bureaucrats have the job of keeping the peace. If a difficuly situation arises that Users cannot handle and Sysops cannot resolve, Arbitration is called to figure out where to go. Its straightfoward.
4. I hope I don't use the bcrat position differently. I run in hopes of continuing the great work they've already done. Having read some of the previous arbitration cases handled by Dirigible, Xeeron, Tanaric, etc., I hope to imitate that and keep the great work they have done going.
5. I'm...a little confused by this question, but I'll answer it the best I can. In arbitration, a users contributions are ususally focused on the violation. In other words, if a case was held against a user for contant presonal attacks, I'd focus on the contributions that contained those personal attacks. If the user is said to be "highly valued", I don't think that would affect my decision much. The arbitration is about finding out where to go with what the user is accused of, not whether he gets free brownie points wiht massive matinence. The accused is the accused. I hope I answered the quesiton you were asking there.

Hopefully this helps! -- Wandering Traveler 19:03, 12 June 2009 (UTC)

Hi there

I've a quick question: Is there anything you passionately feel needs to be changed about the wiki or implemented?-- BVt 04:25, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

That is not how the bcrat job works. poke | talk 08:54, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

I don't think Shew is implying it does, he's simply asking WT if there is an area of the wiki he feels needs to be changed or implemented. -- Wyn 08:58, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

Developing/ adjusting the wiki isn't necessarily a bureaucrat's job (& like Wyn said, I wasn't saying that it was); I'd just like to know WT's thoughts on my question.-- BVt 10:17, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

Personally, I think the wiki-works are just fine as they are. I'm not as technically savvy about the wiki as Poke or Wyn, but so far its been fairly smooth sailing. So no, I don't think I would push for any changes....yet. :) -- Wandering Traveler 19:45, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

Very honest answer; thanks! :]-- BVt 23:38, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

Hi Wandering Traveler, I still remember when you assited me on my user page, really appreciate it, you got my vote, if I have one... Dero Ahmonati 19:06, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

Hi there (2)

I have a quick question, is this a joke?--99.153.226.11 22:57, 18 June 2009 (UTC)