Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/Victuallers

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The following discussion is preserved as an archive of a successful request for adminship. Please do not modify it.


Victuallers

(talk page) Final: (60/0/0); Ended 18:22, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

Victuallers (talk · contribs) - Victuallers is a fine editor whom I am nominating for administrator. He's been contributing since October 2006 with about 12,000 edits, about 5400 in mainspace. He's contributed to namespace, template talk, user talk pages, and other types of pages. He's made many fine edits (over 100) to La Martiniere Lucknow and many to Claude Martin, who endowed the school in the 1700's. He has created many articles and helped recognise others by nominating their article for DYK. He has never been blocked aside from a less than one minute interval which the blocking admin noted was a mistake. He has numerous barnstars, medals and awards, almost as many as a foreign dictator, except he is well behaved. He has mentioned on his user page that he is interested in being an administrator. Some call this power hungry. But this candour is advantageous because it suggests he will be honest and forthright with the community instead of having a secret agenda. A victualler is a person who people seek for shelter. Wikipedia needs a victualler and what better person than Victuallers?Mrs.EasterBunny (talk) 22:41, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Co-nomination by Royalbroil: Victuallers bring many things to Wikipedia. He is well-rounded - actively participating at DYK, XFD discussions, and articles on schools and Derbyshire. Victuallers has been extremely active with nominating other people's articles for DYK. These nominations greatly increase the spirit of excellent newer contributors who might not be recognized otherwise. He has uploaded hundreds of images to Commons [1], so he understands how the projects interact plus image policies and guidelines. I have encountered Victuallers a lot at DYK, and I have always found him easy to work with. We need to keep increasing the number of admins who are active at promoting DYK because it often becomes delayed. I offered to nominate him for adminship after I was talking to him like was already an administrator (diff). It's time for my assumption to become reality. Royalbroil 17:04, 13 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Candidate, please indicate acceptance of the nomination here:

Fine Victuallers (talk) 12:06, 14 January 2008 (UTC) Sorry for late start... I was busy in real life. I have been pleased to see that a number of people have assumed I am an admin and asked for help. Hopefully this may be easier soon. Victuallers (talk) 12:06, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Questions for the candidate

Dear candidate, thank you for offering to serve Wikipedia as an administrator. :1. What admin work do you intend to take part in?

A: Hello. It seems sensible to work from the expertise that I already have. I spent a lot of time looking at school articles and assessing them before gaining enough confidence to create a number of articles myself. I have spent time at Afd debates and debates concerning redirect deletions. I have seen a lot of school and biography articles and I would assist in closing debates. I also know about DYK and I have been asked to helpcheck and move new hooks every six hours to the front page using Did you know/Next update. My experience with wikimedia commons and enthusiasm for citation helps here. I monitor about 500 articles and revert vandalism which can hit some school articles frequently. Being able to offer page protection may be useful but it is important to not just support the school who sometimes just want to prevent any poor descriptions irrespective of whether the information is verfiable or not. I have recently been added to the rollback list so this should make undo-ing easier. Most of the vandalism I have seen is just silly, obviously we need to make sure we capture enthusiasm whenever it can be sensibly controlled.
2. What are your best contributions to Wikipedia, and why?
A: Best. Hmmm. Well I think my best contributions are the imagemaps which brighten up a number of articles like Queluz National Palace, Boshin War, The Club and Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch. I learnt the technique from seeing it demonstrated in a featured picture The Eye and being helped to learn the technique. Others may value the hundreds of assessments I have made and the advice offered. Wikipedia has been improved I hope from my drive for inline referencing. Victuallers' Home page lists the articles not that I own, but ones I have contributed and in many cases created. There are about a dozen B class articles and I'm starting to contribute to FA class articles. I enjoyed the challenge of seeing if I could add value to articles that were about to be Today's Featured Article and I was pleased to see one contribution rewarded with a barnstar. The articles I have enjoyed most have been chance collaborations. Bunscoill Ghaelgagh is a recent example. The article was up for deletion but was saved due to collaboration and I particularly appreciated the integrity of the editor who proposed its deletion. (S)he was brave enough to admit his or her mistake. Its not a good article (as in GA) but it is a nice article that more local editors may pick up and improve.
3. Have you been in any conflicts over editing in the past or have other users caused you stress? How have you dealt with it and how will you deal with it in the future?
A:I have never got even close to 3RR rule. There are 2 million articles here and falling out over the wording or one or two is very narrow minded. My advice to others is to just leave and let it cool down. Where necessary we have conflict resolution procedures and over major points it is worth sorting this out. But not because one person feels it is important, but because it is important. If it is important then there will be consensus. About six months ago I took my own advice and redirected my efforts from the schools project towards DYK and a new Derbyshire wikiproject. A good move. I have learnt a lot more, but I am still using my expertise to encourage DYKs of school articles. Wikipedia is important but its not life threatening and is not worth losing sleep over. The fact that we are volunteers means that we must know that we are replacable and if necessary then others can assist you. I am always surprised to find how much we can achieve together.

Questions from Avruch

4. What is your opinion on administrator recall? Well I didn't have one. I have just spent 10 mins looking and I can see the appeal of it but it seems very complicated with each admin having a different process. This looks as if you could argue over for some procedures for years if you were ever subject to them. (Apologies of I have misunuderstood - if so then tell me). I liked the simplicity of [this] which seemed less complicated. Well I'm feeling good at the moment (thank you for the support!) so I would propose a rule of 6. If 6 edmins are willing to add their names to the recall list for one month with the same rules as I am using here and no one starts a petition for them, them I would leave if the majority of them thought I was abusing my powers. (Actually I suspect less would do ... but lets stick with this rule of 6.... until someone suggests a common procedure).

5. What do you want Wikipedia to be three years from now? Marlith T/C 06:00, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
A: I'm guessing this is just a fun question as I'm not sure any of us has much control over this. One of the articles I worked on is now on veropedia. Its a different interface ... but not very different from wikipedia, but this is a clue to the future. The improvements are going to be in the interface. Really pleased with the new mapping facilities which are starting to exploit the geotagging data. Not sure we have exploited all the data we have yet. I would expect a tool soon that shows me articles that are close in terms of not only subject and geotagging but also by date. The search tools are poor. The language tools are good and we need to avoid being anything close to a WASP application. So my prediction is better tools and interface, my hope would be that Wikipedia was being recognised as a contributor to global education. (Marlith - hopefully this has taken the edge off the platonic perfection you mention below :-) ).

Question from User:SQL:

6. What would your personal standards be on granting and removing rollback, if any?
A: How apt. I came across the word rollback first whilst reading about SQL (meaning the language). Rollback removes any trace of an edit or edits apart from a comment to say that it happened. This makes it powerful but highly unsympathetic. It removes nearly every trace of someones work (implying it is useless). Vandalism is useless but so is vandal warring. When I have been rolling back (by hand) school articles I usually use the phrase "removed silly edits". The reason being that I want the vandal to feel that their hand has been playfully slapped but not enough to make them annoyed. So! the reason why Ive told you this is that anti vandalism needs to be done without turning vandals into sworn enemies. I would only give these tools to trusted editors. I have recently been given these tools by someone who has known me for months and with whom I have mutual trust. I believe, he "knows" that his reputation is safe with me and I would take a similar view were I recommending another editor. The reason is that I know we can take away the ability to rollback, but its going to be painful. Better to avoid that by not giving the tool if there is credible doubt.

Question from LessHeard vanU:

7. Would you consider archiving your user talkpage, as admins may be expected to comment on matters in which they were involved some time previously?
A: Yes. I do. Like this? My talk page is already archived (if not well advertised). Obviously the infomation can be retrieved anyway I guess by going back through the talk page history file as well.
I prefer archives to talkpage histories, they read better - I've just checked yours over and see nothing that would stop me from supporting (that's why I read 'em - along with the count and a skim through the contribs!) Okay, since you do I will support... Cheers. LessHeard vanU (talk) 22:21, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Question from The Helpful One:

8. Why don't haven't you signed any of your posts in this RFA? Surely an admin should at least know to sign their posts so other users know who wrote it easily, without having to go to check the page history!
A: Well I was surprised by your question and the evidence as I'm good at signing my posts so I had to think why I hadn't in this case. The reason is, I think, that the page is set out like a form. The section is headed "Questions for the candidate" so it seems reasonable that answers under that title would be mine. However I sh|could have signed as well, and I see that where I was specifically asked for my agreement then I did add my signature (as I will here) Victuallers (talk) 21:18, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Note: It is OK, I just wanted to make sure that you sign your posts from now on. Thanks for your answer, I will now support. The Helpful One (Talk) (Contributions) (Review Me!) 22:01, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Optional Question from Keepscases

9. If you are granted administrative rights, who in real life will you tell about this, and when? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Keepscases (talk • contribs) 00:22, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
A: Well, Keepscases, not many I think. Adminship is regarded in this world, but not so much outside it. A family member asked me about this. I said that if I was interviewing for say a technical author and I had an applicant with 25 GA/FAs then I'd employ him/her without looking too closely at real life qualifications. However I might not advise someone to emphasise their wikipedia involvement if they were applying for a tech author job. There is a lot of prejudice/intellectual snobbery about wikipedia. However I have tried to use Wikipedia when teaching with a lot of success and I have published notes to teachers recommending its use. Being able to logon to wikipedia and edit it in a school where the IP is blocked impresses some students (I am hoping the wikiversity project amd the wiki project that is trying to exploit wikipedia in Education will be successful too.) Victuallers (talk) 20:58, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Optional q from Simply south (talk · contribs)

10. Of your articles and contributions to Wikipedia, are there any of which you are not proud of?
A Interesting. I'm not really 101% proud of any of my articles. They are always a compromise between time and quality. I can spot an error in all of them and I wish I had time to fix them all. In truth there are three of four that are 'poor'. I will get round to fixing them, but I don't think they need naming and shaming here. I console myself with the idea that they all better than they would be without my help, although they are not as good as I think they ought to be. (I can see some errors in my answers above .... so I'll stop this contribution here :-) Victuallers (talk) 20:58, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

General comments

Please keep discussion constructive and civil. If you are unfamiliar with the nominee, please thoroughly review Special:Contributions/Victuallers before commenting.

Discussion

Support
  1. Support as co-nom. Royalbroil 18:15, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  2. Absolutely - will use tools well. EJF (talk) 18:17, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  3. Support Looks good to me. It will be great to have another set of hands at DYK. Nishkid64 (talk) 18:28, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  4. Strong Support - yep! Rudget. 18:54, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Good luck Dustihowe  Talk  19:16, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  6. "I thought he was an admin" support Wizardman 19:22, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  7. Support. Was actually looking at him a week ago and wondering why nobody had nominated him yet. Trusilver (talk) 19:29, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  8. Support Avruchtalk 19:37, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  9. Strong support - I have known you for a long time now, in fact you were one of the first users to welcome me to the project, and my experience of you has been positive. Very good contributer, done a lot of work for WikiProject Schools and plenty of other things, certainly has the experience when it comes to articles. Civil and friendly to users, you have the right attitude and will be a good administrator. Camaron | Chris (talk) 19:51, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  10. Support -- Ed (Edgar181) 20:23, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  11. Strong support -- Victuallers is a fine editor. I've enjoyed working on chance collaborations with him in the past. He has helped me to learn how to use the referencing system and has contributed some brilliant clickable pictures. He is always polite and civil, never gets rattled, and has a good sense of humour. He would make an admirable administrator. Dahliarose (talk) 20:29, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  12. Support - Above people put it right. // F9T 20:47, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  13. Support No reason to believe he will abuse the tools. -- Mattinbgn\talk 20:51, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  14. Strong Support Very helpful and polite user. A prolific encyclopedist as well. His DYK nominating work also demonstrates precisely the right way to welcome new users to the project. --JayHenry (talk) 21:16, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  15. Support Haven't looked in depth into contribs, the answers to the questions convinced me.--Phoenix-wiki 21:25, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  16. Support Seen him make many constructive edits. Ohmpandya (Talk to Me...) 21:56, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  17. Support. Looks good to me. Malinaccier (talk) 21:59, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  18. Support - Without a doubt a very strong and capable editor. Has lots of experience in the many different areas of Wikipedia and will no doubt continue to be a strong contributor. ScarianCall me Pat 22:02, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  19. Support - brilliant. -- Anonymous DissidentTalk 23:03, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  20. Support As per track. Pharaoh of the Wizards (talk) 23:41, 14 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  21. Strong support Blnguyen (bananabucket) 00:24, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  22. Support looks good, meets my standards, no concerns. Bearian (talk) 00:59, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  23. NHRHS2010 talk 01:17, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  24. Support Well rounded, will use tools well. SpencerT♦C 02:07, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  25. Support, —dima/talk/ 02:34, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  26. Support. I have had positive interacts in the past and see no reason to assume this user will be anything but a great admin. SorryGuy  Talk  03:02, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  27. Support No problems here. --Siva1979Talk to me 03:39, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  28. Everything checks out here. Acalamari 04:31, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  29. Support Plato said that perfection exists in a world that is far away from ours and everything here is only a shadow of that perfect world which cannot be seen by man. Apparently he was wrong. Marlith T/C 05:59, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  30. Support. · AndonicO Hail! 17:24, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  31. Support - looks good. Will use the tools well. Sephiroth BCR (Converse) 19:53, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  32. Support Well qualified. --Sharkface217 21:58, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  33. Support Appears to be an excellent candidate. LessHeard vanU (talk) 22:23, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  34. Support Seems to be a very good choice. Lawrence Cohen 00:18, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  35. Support - Tiptoety talk 01:08, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  36. Answers to questions show a rare level of "genuineness" - they're not perfect, they're real. I wish more candidates would show this. Dihydrogen Monoxide 12:39, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  37. Support - BanRay 17:08, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  38. Support Almost forgot to support and I made the nomination! Mrs.EasterBunny (talk) 19:47, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  39. Suppot Great work with the DYK's, excellent. Midorihana~いいですね？ 20:33, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  40. Support Per answer to my question. The Helpful One (Talk) (Contributions) (Review Me!) 22:01, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  41. Majorly (talk) 01:53, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  42. Support My experiences with this editor have been good. The answers to the questions are satisfactory as is the edit history so I see no reason not to support.--Ѕandahl 06:48, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  43. Support: I thought he's already an admin (credits to Wizardman lol). Sorry for copying but I DID think that way until I failed to find the userbox stating that he's an admin. Came across this user when he assessed school articles, and he's doing a good job. — Yurei-eggtart 15:37, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  44. Support: Late pile-on. I need to check RFA more often for such gems. —Wknight94 (talk) 16:38, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  45. Strong support. Victuallers was a contributor I regularly came across when I was inactive ages ago. A fine editor, always civil, and thoroughly deserving of the mop. haz (talk) 19:13, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  46. Support He once helped me out a bit and he seems generally helpful towards others. I've seen him around a bit. Simply south (talk) 20:14, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  47. Support Great contributor. Master of Puppets Call me MoP!☺ 23:48, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  48. Support - Gogo Gadget mop! Gromlakh (talk) 05:17, 18 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  49. Support. Agree with the noms. Great content work! Cirt (talk) 12:29, 18 January 2008 (UTC).[reply]
  50. Support. - Agree. --Bhadani (talk) 12:51, 18 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  51. I-can't-believe-he-wasn't-already support per Wizardman and Yurei. Daniel Case (talk) 14:28, 18 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  52. Seems sensible - The Transhumanist 22:53, 18 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  53. Support - Noroton (talk) 04:46, 19 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  54. Support - quite a high profile and a good one. Deb (talk) 12:11, 19 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  55. Support Jumping on the bandwagon. I see no red flags here. Good luck with the tools! нмŵוτнτ 16:07, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  56. Support No really problems here--JForget 23:43, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  57. Support - I thought I voted days ago. Guess not. Anyway, excellent editor. Will make a great admin. Jauerbackdude?/dude. 06:59, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  58. Support strong editor with good variety of experience, likely to put the tools to great use. Doczilla (talk) 07:53, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  59. Support why not? Carlosguitar (ready and willing) 17:10, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  60. Support - looks cool-headed and trustworthy. Can see no problems. --BelovedFreak 17:34, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose
Neutral
The above adminship discussion is preserved as an archive of the discussion. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the talk page of either this nomination or the nominated user). No further edits should be made to this page.
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