Have you considered running for ArbCom in the upcoming elections? I think you'd be an excellent candidate. Reaper Eternal (talk) 15:47, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
You'd certainly have my support. — Ched (talk) 15:50, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
← Yikes.
I coined a phrase to myself earlier this year, the Newyorkbrad Index. It measures community satisfaction with the current arbitration committee by how many requestsNYB gets to re-take their seat on the committee.
I'd also be pleased seeing Risker back in there, though I understand they're taken on a number of other responsibilities.
And last to throw under the bus would be Carcharoth, they should do another stint.
I'd like to see a non-administrator candidate get through as well, I think there's a number of thoughtful non-administrators that could provide balance. –xenotalk 16:40, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
You're not an admin.... -Floquenbeam (talk) 16:46, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
Damn, got me on a technicality. –xenotalk 16:51, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
Ahh geez, Xeno, and here I thought we were friends. How could you wish Arbcom on me if you were my friend???? Risker (talk) 17:00, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
Ha - my initial reaction was to think back to what I'd done to wrong Reaper Eternal =) –xenotalk 17:07, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
Heh. I was thinking more of what you (Risker) said here ("It's a dispute resolution body, not the grand poobahs of Wikipedia. I know, I sat on Arbcom for 5 years."), here ("Yes, we need new faces"), here ("They're not political posts, they're work assignments"), here ("we as a community are almost going out of our way to avoid developing people who will be able to fill these roles 2-3-5 years down the road; in fact, we're recycling arbitrators to the point of absurdity, and doing nothing to fix that problem.") and here ("We are not renewing the committee; in other words, we are not growing new leadership. This is a significant failure on the part of the community."). Especially the last two diffs. The funny thing is, apart from not having the time, the thing that makes me least likely to run again is working with the same people as before. But it is almost impossible to run and not end up working with someone who was on ArbCom previously. The dynamic is different each time around, over and above the changes in people's personal lives and the changes in Wikipedia over the years (that makes it both an exciting and a daunting prospect). I really do hope that lots of new people step up to take on the challenge. Carcharoth (talk) 17:19, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
I read the 'Rome' and subsequent post as well (and largely agree with Risker), yet there's something to be said for the institutional memory and experience of having a good idea of what will de-escalate and what will lead to further community discord. (And you're both 'contributors matter' people.) So yes to new faces, but with institutional memory baked in as well. Just my humble opinion. –xenotalk 17:29, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
I confirm that this lack of renewal and new faces is actually my biggest issue with Arbcom today. If I was looking for new blood, I'd suggest someone like Barkeep49, who's hardworking, been around a while, but is still fairly fresh-faced as an admin. If I didn't think it would turn him into a complete Wikipedia cynic, I'd suggest TheDJ as a (currently) non-admin with great tech background. But yes, Arbcom is a work assignment, not a sinecure or a political post. The longer one is on the committee, the more likely that one forgets that point. Risker (talk) 17:34, 17 October 2019 (UTC)
By all appearances, Barkeep49 would make an excellent arbitrator; but wouldn’t that risk taking a brand new matchbook and igniting the entire thing? –xenotalk 10:45, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
You say that like it's a bad thing. :-) Risker (talk) 14:00, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
Matchbook here - though I actually think a candle might be a better metaphor. I think of Rob as an instructive example. I wonder if he'd waited another year if he'd have burned out or if his "wax" would have had more time to firm up more and thus there'd have been more to burn over a long period of time. I don't think we have a fixed amount to give to Wikipedia because at certain times we can get refilled with purpose and so does going on ArbCom too quickly mean that we give less overall? I don't know and obviously Rob and I are different in many ways (place in life, disposition, and the fact that I have his example to think about) but I throw that out there for consideration. Best, Barkeep49 (talk) 14:23, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
Barkeep49, that's definitely a good metaphor. In 2013, I became an arbitrator, but I had significantly burned out by the end of 2014 and it was pure stubbornness that meant I remained. At the time I was still fairly fresh-faced and keen. A year earlier I also ran but was knocked back, I was even more keen then. I came out the other side jaded and grumpy, and it took me quite a while to find my place on Wikipedia again. This term, however, I would definitely consider my wax hardened - I have managed the whole term without only one wobble (and given the circumstances, well, I think it's justified).
If you are willing to come onto the committee, I think you'd do well there, but do be prepared for the down sides, of which there are plenty. WormTT(talk) 14:37, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
My best advice to you and any person considering ArbCom is probably the same—you will find it much easier if you disregard optics and politics and just focus on doing the job well. Most of the snafus I recall during my time (that I remember—there's a blissful haze over much of it this far removed :P) were invariably made worse by attempts to reduce drama that instead inflamed it. It's no way to stay sane. Der Wohltemperierte Fuchstalk 15:11, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
What is this, Ac Pointe Blank reunion, Class of 2010? Don’t feel left out David, you’re a good egg too. And “blissful haze” says it all. –xenotalk 15:40, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
Just noting that you would have my vote also, you're pretty much what I'd like to see in a candidate, thoughtful, articulate and willing to change your mind - though (and I could be misremembering), were you not inactive for a significant period of your last term? That might put off a few voters given the inactivity problems we've been having recently. WormTT(talk) 11:12, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
(xeno 2012 edits - live count 126) I was inactive on almost all matters (and the project generally) for the final 11 months of my 2-year term (Special:Diff/473546506) due to unforeseen life circumstances and time limitations (Special:Diff/526585850). My major contribution of 2012 was organizing the AUSC selections, where I was pleased to oversee the appointment of a non-administrator to CUOS permissions (Special:Diff/479685278) - I believe for the first time project history. (They went and acquried admin rights shortly after, the blighter.) That 1 March 2012 diff represents the final arbitration action of my term, though I may have contributed to mailing list discussions (probably very sparsely).
I appreciate the kind words from all. Life continues to keep me fairly occupied. –xenotalk 12:26, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
I think I should expand a bit on my "not a bad thing" comment above. The year I was first elected to Arbcom (election in 2008, seated in 2009) was also what might have been considered a "crisis" year for Arbcom. Things were going pretty wonky, at least one arb took it upon themselves to act "on behalf of the committee" without the actual consent or agreement of the committee, and Arbcom was pretty much twisting in the wind with respect to its effectiveness. We started 2009 with a committee that had only a tiny number of arbs who had sat on the committee before. But enough of ancient history. The bottom line is that this is a really important opportunity for the English Wikipedia community to renew and reinvigorate the Arbitration Committee, just as it had in 2008/09. This *is* the time for folks to put their name forward and take Arbcom in a healthier direction. It's a rare window of opportunity and we as a community need to have the courage to take the leap. Risker (talk) 16:14, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
An exciting prospect, to be sure. Make sure you encourage folks somewhere other than the relative backwoods of my talk page ;>. –xenotalk 16:18, 18 October 2019 (UTC)
Well, I'll take that as a hint that I should spam some other people with no Arbcom experience to suggest they consider running. That may wind up being trickier than I first thought, since I've been spending a lot of time on global projects, but I've now hit up a few. Risker (talk) 06:32, 23 October 2019 (UTC)
Risker you and I have had the discussion before and I fully understand the reasons why you won't, but I still wish you were back on that committee. If I weren't so old and jaded I'd probably make another attempt to run. Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 17:07, 21 October 2019 (UTC)
Yes, I remember that one! I think they'd have a very difficult time being appointed administrator with such a name. Looks like they're only lightly active. –xenotalk 12:00, 24 October 2019 (UTC)