Wikipedia talk:Arbitration Committee Elections December 2007/Summary table

Block log

Is it really necessary to add that in the notes column? We already have it under "other links". — Sebastian 09:06, 28 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Oops, I now realized that the "b" was not for being blocked, but for admins who blocked others. I already used "b" in that meaning in {{user tcb}}. I'm wondering if we can find another way to include that in the links column. Anyway, I'm too tired now to think this through. — Sebastian 09:37, 28 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

For now, I changed "b" to "block log" in the template. Carcharoth (talk) 10:18, 28 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! I will look at the block logs and check how many of them are clearly inappropriate or older than a year or two. Maybe we should add a column with a number for the appropriate recent ones, and a link to the log if there were any others? — Sebastian 19:16, 28 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Portfolio column

Someone proposed to “change "A", and keep it purely for arbcom members. This isn't aimed at anyone, rather, it's because clerk work really isn't the same as actual arbcom case work and (as in the case of Flonight last year) some people see the distinction as crucially important. Clerks may or may not have arb experience, but a proportion of users will probably wish to review their actual work. You already have an entry in the "Notes" column for arbcom clerks which is better.”

I don't think this would be an improvement. There are currently only two candidates with "A" in their Portfolio column. I intended the "A" only as a reminder; if someone wants to know what it stands for, they can just look into the next column - the Comment column, which tells if the candidate is a clerk or an arbitrator. I intended "A" for anything that is so involved that it equates about a dozen of lower case "a"s, because I feel it would be ridiculous to require a long chain of links when every voter can see that the person has solid experience with and continuous dedication to ArbCom. — Sebastian 19:16, 28 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Similarly to the "A", we could also use other capital letters in cases where a candidate has been so involved in an area that a portfolio would be superfluous. — Sebastian 19:38, 28 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'd want to see evidence and portfolio from anyone who isn't already on arbcom. Privileging those who have helped arbcom but not sat on it, been party to its decision-makings, or made decisions as part of it, by implying they do not need to evidence a portfoilio, is unhelpful; I'd want to see one anyway on principle since administrating arbitration pages or any other side-role at Arbcom, is a fundamentally different role than evidencing decisions in difficult conflicts. This is not "about" any given person; it's evidence I'd expect every candidate to be positively encouraged to select and provide. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 15:53, 29 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Consist....

Looks good, just need some consistency in the notes. I'll do it if nobody else does when I get home. Keep up the good work. Mercury 14:15, 28 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Concerned

As nice as this is, I think we should be careful about inserting what could be seen as biased or POV additions. The "portfolio" and "notes" columns in particular.

For example, would I be correct that all entrants with any "block" entries have that noted in "notes"?

Also, who determines what is "remarkable" in terms of editing contributions?

I realise this is a well-intended idea, I just would like us to stay Neutral in its entries. - jc37 04:22, 29 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I assumed the 'remarkable editing contributions' was for the candidate to select. I picked a few articles I was proud of and thought turned out well, and ignored those which do not flow properly. Sam Blacketer (talk) 09:58, 29 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The portfolio column is more Sebastian's idea. I think it can work well if handled properly. As far as I know, he has been notifying the candidates and inviting them to add links, though some may have been added by others. I would favour a "candidate only can add links", and making that clear to readers of the portfolio part of the table. The other parts of the table are similar to last year, including the notes column. The aim is to have it as comprehensive as posssible - all the block logs of the main accounts with blocks are there, and also those of the previous or alternate accounts, where known. Possibly it would be better to have links to all the block logs, and let people find out for themselves if there are blocks or not, and why. Also note the block disclaimer at the bottom. I tend to agree with those who say that block logs are really only a starting point for finding out about part of a candidate's history. The main reason for this table is that it helps to have everything in one place to refer to. Having the information spread across 20+ candidate statements could end up discouraging people from voting. Of course, you will always have those who vote for the wrong reasons, or focus too much on one things and not others (name recognition, block logs, access levels, length of time here), and there will be some who think just the candidate statement, or just the on-wiki contributions, should be what is used to decide on the merits of a candidate. This is just one more addition to the mix. The way to get it working well is, as always, to get more peopl involved with editing it! :-) Carcharoth (talk) 15:54, 29 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Block log caveat

I've moved the note about "block logs" to the top.

Although it's intrusive, I think it's actually important enough to do so (subject to formatting).

By the time someone has skimmed the table, they will frequently already have their main impressions made up, of which "has been blocked" is one. Many may not actually notice the note at the very foot of the page, or if they do it may not change the first impressions.

Hopefully given the importance of the caveat specifically (the rest of the notes are pure annotation), this will be seen as a less than ideal layout, but one of necessity. FT2 ^{(Talk | email)} 15:49, 29 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Would it not be easier, in the case of the users whose only blocks are self-blocks or manifest mistakes (eg being hit by Robdurbar when he went rogue), to not give a link? Or failing that, all the candidates' block logs could be linked to, even those whose block logs are empty. Sam Blacketer (talk) 15:54, 29 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]