Wikipedia:WikiProject Administrator/Five Problems with a Single Solution

The following attempts to be a quick overview explaining one view of how Wikipedia's admin-related practices could be improved.

Editors and Admins

Some people are best as editors, some people are best as admins. They are not "ranks" as much as they are "roles" or "job titles". Someone who works most efficiently as an editor is no better or worse than someone who works most efficiently as an admin.

An ideal editor is someone who works best in areas that don't require the tools-- a heavy duty content contributors, or as someone who is works best being a strong advocate for Wikipedia polices rather than a neutral enforcer of policy.

An ideal admin is someone who works best in areas that do require the tools-- a kind wikignome who cleans things up, a wise adjudicator who closes out deletion debates, a trusted broker who calms things down, or a unbiased enforcer of policy.

(Of course, in reality, the two roles aren't mutually exclusive. Many admins spend the bulk of the time editing away, only needing the actual tools occasionally. Many editors spend their time mediating disputes and cleaning things up, thereby acting as tool-less admins.)