SmashWiki:Requests for bureaucratship/Miles of SmashWiki

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Miles of SmashWiki (talkcontribsedit countRFB page)

Candidate, please summarize why you are running for bureaucratship below.

I'm Miles of SmashWiki. I have been a SmashWiki editor since May 2008, and a SmashWiki admin since December 2008. I previously presented myself as a candidate for bureaucratship in August 2009, and was unsuccessful. It has been 6 years since then, and circumstances are very different. The site is different, the userbase is different, and I feel that I have matured as a person, as an editor, and as a leader for this community.

A bit of history: for a very long period of time, SmashWiki has operated with a single bureaucrat, who as a result is responsible for managing all the responsibilities of that role. When SmashWiki moved from Wikia to being hosted by Porplemontage in 2010, our last active bureaucrat was Emmett, who was unable to continue in that role. Upon leaving, he promoted then-admin Toomai to bureaucrat without a formal RfB process. In the five years since that time, Toomai has been SmashWiki's sole bureaucrat.

Toomai has done an excellent job. Nevertheless, I believe that the site could be better off having more than one bureaucrat, so we are not singularly dependent upon him. In light of a few instances of somewhat reduced activity from Toomai, I feel that I would be a good candidate for the bureaucrat role.

There's a few main tasks that I would be empowered to act upon as a bureaucrat that I cannot as an admin:

  • Renaming users. Toomai has generally done a good job with this, and I feel I could do so as well.
  • Interwiki table management. Not a crucial point, but given that some Smash series lack NIWA wikis to link to, we may want to discuss if there are other wikis worth cross-linking to through Special:Interwiki (for example, the Xenoblade Wikia).
  • Managing user rights. Requests for rollback and requests for adminship have been languishing a bit of late. We've had 6 RfAs in the last few months; 4 of these have only been resolved by the candidate withdrawing themselves, including one case where the RfA more or less sat there unresolved for two months. I feel that nobody benefits from leaving things unresolved for so long, and a few weeks is usually plenty for most issues in the RfA process to be spelled out in such a way as to present consensus or lack thereof.

So what makes a good candidate for bureaucratship? This is a bit of a tough question, given that we have not had a new one in so long. However, I think I am a good candidate for the following reasons:

  • Experience. I am one of the most experienced editors on SmashWiki, in terms of time and quantity of edits; as to the latter point, counting both my old and current accounts, I have over 22,000 edits to SmashWiki. I have a deep familiarity with both Smash and this site.
  • Back-end contributions. I have contributed significantly towards writing and updating policy for this site. I authored pages like SW:NOT, SW:TRIVIA, SW:IMAGE, SW:NEWGAME, and SW:TONE; I also worked on a significant revision to SmashWiki's Help pages to make them less Wikia-styled. I regularly make updates and revisions to SmashWiki's infobox and navigation templates, in order to make the site more useful and navigable.
  • Front-end contributions. I also frequently work towards contributing to SmashWiki's mainspace content. This includes editing existing pages, but also implementing many other large pages from scratch. Recent examples of this include overhauling List of voice actors, and creating List of minor universes, List of Super Smash Bros. 4 character posters, List of composers, and Tournament legal (SSB4). I also have worked on large batch edits such as standardization of Japanese names, and implementing pages for Smash Tour items and Mii costume characters. Another area I frequently contribute to is managing ongoing projects like tracking recent appearances, keeping the amiibo page up to date, and updating the downloadable content page.
  • Dispute handling. Handling disputes between users is one of the most difficult tasks an admin is faced with, especially if both users are displaying good faith and are not factually incorrect. I will admit to having had difficulty with dispute handling in the past, but I believe I have gotten better at such things, and I take seriously the feedback of other users. I seek to find a middle ground where the needs of the wiki and the desires of the users involved are best satisfied, whenever possible. Consensus is key, and I frequently seek more users' opinions whenever a discussion appears to have gotten stuck, as a way of trying to reach a better conclusion.

With all that said, I would appreciate your thoughts, and would be glad to answer any questions. However you vote, I hope that I can continue to be a good leader for SmashWiki. Miles (talk) 00:49, 1 November 2015 (EDT)

Support

  1. Support We probably need more bureaucrats since Toomai hasn't been online frequently. ZeldaStarfoxfan2164 (talk) is a never lover boy 00:53, 1 November 2015 (EDT)
  2. Strong Support I've seen you around every day. You're a great sysop. Like ZeldaStarfoxfan2164, we may need more bureaucrats since some of the bureaucrats are inactive. That would be a fresh start to have a newer bureaucrats. Luigi540 (talk) 01:00, 1 November 2015 (EDT)
  3. Strong Support Per the previous two, we need a new bureaucrat, and you've done an amazing job as an admin. Also, no hard feelings on your opposition of my adminship, I've been doing my best to improve. Disaster Flare (talk) 01:21, 1 November 2015 (EDT)
    Adding to my opinions due to suggestions on doing so. My main reason for thinking you'd do great is because of how well of a job you've done as admin. You've worked every day practically non-stop trying to protect the wiki, as well as the community, when you could've very easily decided to do something else instead. While you have made poor decisions in the past, the fact that you can say that you've learned from them and know now exactly what you should've done differently is a very commendable and respectable trait, a trait I honestly don't see a lot from people these days. Out of any admin, past, present, or future, you'd be the next most capable of being a Bureaucrat, and I'll be rooting for you on getting it. Good luck Miles. Disaster Flare (talk) 22:02, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  4. VERY strong support You are a very good administrator, very good at dispute handling, uses the blocking tool effectively, and last of all, we need a new bureaucrat, as toomai isn't on frequently. INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 04:01, 1 November 2015 (EST)
    I now switch to VERY, VERY strong support, as I think you will not abuse the user rights tool, edit interwiki data effectively, etc. INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 06:53, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  5. Same as INoMed It's true you can be stubborn or hasty sometimes. But the important thing is, you learn from your mistakes. You've been an invaluable contributor to this wiki, and you've been doing just as well since the day I joined. Plus, a semi-active bureaucrat (Toomai) isn't enough. Drill Blaster Mark 2 (talk) 04:51, 1 November 2015 (EST)
    Just going to make my points a little bit more clear... Miles is unlikely to do the same mistake even twice, has contributed in everything regarding this wiki (SW:TONE for example), is always one of the first to assist other users, and actively fights for the wiki's well-being. Drill Blaster Mark 2 (talk) 07:25, 2 November 2015 (EST)
  6. Very Strong Support per everything I said so far. Toomai appears to be out-of-touch, and the Marth incident had been resolved nicely (no thanks to me of course...) feel you are the optimal bcrat as of now. Ganonmew, The TERRIFYING Evil Clone 05:27, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  7. Very Strong Support. You probably do more for this wiki than anybody else. Other users have already stated what you're good at on the wiki, so I won't be redundant. We need more bureaucrats too, and you're the best choice for that. John John3637881 Signature.png PK SMAAAASH!! 07:50, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  8. Support Somewhat continuing DBM2's point; despite complaints that the userbase may give you at times, that doesn't change the fact that you are, in fact, a good admin. You make sure people do what they need to do, you make sure that people are improving on the wiki (hell, to my understanding and memory, it was you who made the SW:TONE thing), and frankly, I think bureaucratship is a good way to head in the right direction. AidanzapunkSig1.pngAidan, the Wandering Space WarriorAidanzapunkSig2.png 08:37, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  9. support just yes that is all i have to say because you fit perfect for the job Nintendofan1653 (talk) 10:15, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  10. Support. I'm still not sure that your dispute handling is 100% there yet (I agree it is getting better), but you'd be a perfect bureaucrat otherwise IMO. Nyargleblargle Let's go Mets! (Talk · Contribs) 10:40, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  11. An extra dose of level-headedness wouldn't go amiss, although the doses you've taken thus far are prevalant, and really, time will tell when it comes to this. I see no reason to oppose this. Just keep up your self-improvement and critique acceptance. All that said, Support. ScoreCounter 16:01, 1 November 2015 (EST)
    Given the below commentary, I think I'll enhance my reasoning a bit more. Whilst it is true that we do indeed have an active B'crat, and that has seemed efficient for some time, the fact that there is no deliberate need to have an another should neither sway anyone towards Support or Oppose. We're trying to answer the question "Does/can this person need/deserve/be trusted with the related powers?" I do indeed think that Miles having these powers will at least be of some benefit to the wiki, as it will help the system run better, as that would mean more time is covered, so to speak. Based off his contributions both to the technical side of the wiki and the community aspect, I think that I am justified in saying that he does meet the requirements of being a BC. However, here, I hit a snag, as there has been some rough patches in the past, including multiple scuffles with OT, two of which coming to mind, which I really wouldn't want to migrate to scuffles between Miles and Toomai. However, I do note that, bar the exception that quite a few people had noted, and I don't feel like I need to, he has not had, to my memory, too many disputes with other editors on the wiki, particularly so in recent history - before that, not so much. Therefore, my end argument is this - I support this RFB not only because Miles, in my opinion, satisfies those conditions, but that I find no substancial reasoning not to. Certanly, should such reasons arise in the future, my opinion may change, but, until such a time, I will keep my opinion as support. However, I will note one other thing - should this RFB be passed, this will leave us in the slightly awkward position of having two BC's. To bring British Law into this, in a Magistrate's court, you either have one Magistrate, or three, never two. The reason for this is obvious - irresolvable disagreements are very likley, a 1/3 random chance, as opposed to a 1/5 random chance with, four. Hence why I really don't want disagreements between the two. However, I do think it's unlikley, and we can resolve it if it happens. ScoreCounter 16:44, 6 November 2015 (EST)
  12. Full Support. If you've helped all past users like me, I'm all for it. Even if not, I'm sure that you'll make a good bureaucrat. PikachuMS.pngPika, Wild Turkey appeared! Talk 15:40, 6 November 2015 (EST)
  13. I'd just like to note that you aren't just a good candidate, you're pretty much the only candidate, unless OT becomes fully active all of a sudden or Nyargle demonstrates a need for the b'crat powers. And speaking of needing, I'm not entirely convinced you need the powers (I'll change this to a support if you can prove me of this). It would definitely be beneficial if we had another user handling renames and RfRs, but outside of Serpent King we really haven't had a legitimate RfA candidate in a while (at least off the top of my head), and that seems to be the driving force behind this application (and that's something you outright say here). Overall, all that, combined with your generally consistent activity, leads me to a mild support. - EndGenuity (talk) 16:20, 6 November 2015 (EST)
    I can prove that Miles needs Bcrat piwers. 1. Toomai is the only one currently promoting users to Rollbacker, admin, and bcrat status as of now. 2. Miles could help make interwiki linking easier by adding more wikis to the list using the interwiki table. 3. Miles would be able to rename users (SW:NAMECHANGE compliance needed) if Toomai is nowhere to be seen. (Does that change your vote to Support?) INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 07:05, 7 November 2015 (EST)
  14. I think you have improved a bit since the whole tirade between you and OT. In fact, I think both of you have improved. You also have been helpful for those that needed it. Thus, I'll lend my support. Berrenta (talk) 15:18, 7 November 2015 (EST)

Oppose

  1. ...

Neutral

  1. Neutral leaning towards support: First off, I do not disagree with anything you said below. The reason this is not a full support is because I have not forgotten the Marth argument (and similar, that's just the one that stands out most to me), which I felt that you handled entirely wrong (as you probably recall). That was a while ago though, and because I have not seen anything remotely like that since Marth, I can move past it (mostly). Looking back on it, would you have handled the situation differently? SerpentKing (talk) 01:32, 1 November 2015 (EDT)
    Yes. That was a situation I handled poorly, and I most certainly could have (and should have) done better. If nothing else, I have proven to myself exactly the kind of behavior I know I need to avoid going forward. Miles (talk) 01:46, 1 November 2015 (EDT)
  2. Oh bugger I knew this would happen eventually and was not looking forward to discussing it. My initial reaction is "neutral", and that is primarily because my kneejerk visualization of a wiki where you are bureaucrat is not any better or worse than it is now. I'm going to have to do a lot more thinking on this before coming to a better result. Toomai Glittershine ??? The Sharp 10:06, 1 November 2015 (EST)
    That has to be the most bizarre vote in the neutral section I have ever seen. xD INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 10:12, 1 November 2015 (EST)
    That moment when an RFB vote (From a bureaucrat) actually makes your day... INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 10:15, 1 November 2015 (EST)
    Okay so in an attempt to make my thought process a little more transparent I'll be documenting some of the kind of stuff I'm thinking of here.
    Why should I pass this RfB?
    • Having certain abilities be under control by only a single person is usually not the best idea. It would be nice to not be the only guy who can pass RfXs and renames.
    • Most of a bureaucrat's powers are no-brainer decisions. Renames? We have a cut-and-dry policy on how to handle them. RfRs? It's usually pretty obvious whether someone understands the rollback tool. Hiding revisions? Only the most egregious cases would require it. RfAs (and RfBs) are really the only part that requires thinking.
    • Promoting people to bureaucrat, after they've already proven themselves trustworthy as admin, really shouldn't be that big a deal. I would put it as a bigger deal than "user" to "rollback", but not as big as "rollback" to "admin".
    Why should I fail this RfB?
    • Having certain abilities be under control by only a single person ensures consistency in decisions.
    • For lack of a better phrase, Miles has a spotty history, and arguably the most cases of poor judgement of any currently-active user. Granted, some of this is just because he's been around longer than anyone else, and it's mostly content disputes rather than personnel disputes, but I can't deny it leaves a sour taste.
    • Good admins do not always make good bureaucrats; some wikis break the two positions into two different branches of progression instead of putting one above the other, because it can be argued that they have completely different roles (maintenance of the wiki versus maintenance of personnel). I would in fact argue that we've been a bit of a headless wiki for some time now.
    • I'd no longer be the only active gold name in Recent Changes. (no, this is not a serious reason)
    At the moment, I am leaning towards "yes, passing this is probably good for the wiki". I'm currently trying to figure out if my reservations have a legitimate basis, or if they're just the annoying human habit of not wanting to give away power. Toomai Glittershine ??? The Undirigible 12:12, 3 November 2015 (EST)
    Ok, that last one is probably the funniest thing I've ever heard you say. AidanzapunkSig1.pngAidan, the Wandering Space WarriorAidanzapunkSig2.png 12:19, 3 November 2015 (EST)
  3. Err... From my past experience, you certainly had your ups and downs. Granted like Serpent King said for the Marth conflict, I took your side on the debate and defended you but protecting a page just to get your way was unjust. Couple that with other complaints from other admins over the years, it's hard for me to decide if this is right for you. Dots (talk) Mega Man X SNES sprite.png The Left 4 Dead 10:57, 1 November 2015 (EST)
  4. Completely middle-of-the-road neutral leaning towards no way at all. On one hand, I totally agree we need another 'crat. On the other hand, you've kinda left a bad taste in my mouth as an admin. Admittedly, you have improved lately and really haven't done anything wrong to upset me for several months (which is why I'm neutral, not opposed), but because it was one of my first impressions on the wiki it sticks. So yeah. I wouldn't be upset if you got 'cratship, but I can't honestly say that I would be overly happy if you did either. ---Preceding unsigned comment added by BOO! Or maybe Nutta. 21:01, 1 November 2015 (EST)

Comments

Can you provide me some specific examples of currently unhandled tasks that require a bureaucrat, and additionally, how exactly you would handle them? SerpentKing (talk) 01:00, 1 November 2015 (EDT)

I mentioned the three types of task that are bureaucrat-specific that I cannot do as an admin. Renames are fine as they are, and interwiki things I haven't proposed yet (but a related task is on my to-do list). That leaves requests for _____, of which there are two active. Nutta/Nutty's RfR has been left hanging without a reply on Toom's part for most of a week, which is questionable (I would answer him with yes, seek another, clearer example). DF's RfA is new enough to warrant more time before a decision. The main issue I was noting lately was, as I stated above, the several withdrawn RfAs recently. Several were indeed skewed towards opposition, but yours in particular seemed to be withdrawn more due to delay than anything. Instances like that lead me to believe that having more than one bcrat would be beneficial.

Miles (talk) 01:19, 1 November 2015 (EDT)

I think you've already proven to us all you are a major help-out to Smashwiki. No offense(BTW, I misplaced this.). PikachuMS.pngPika, Wild Turkey appeared! Talk 15:51, 6 November 2015 (EST)

Already, this RFB is looking successful, with 8 supporting, 0 opposing, and 1 neutral. (Leaning towards support) INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 09:21, 1 November 2015 (EST)

Whoopsy daisies. Misplaced a comment. PikachuMS.pngPika, Wild Turkey appeared! Talk 15:51, 6 November 2015 (EST)

To everyone in support: Please understand that this is not something to take lightly. Like with RfAs "He should pass because we need more bcrats" is, in my opinion, not a valid point. I am not trying to tell you all to change your vote, but some of you may want to give a more substantial reason for supporting this RfB. Serpent SKSig.png King 13:51, 1 November 2015 (EST)

Yeah... As it seems like I'm the only one who actually presents proper reasons for support. INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 14:26, 1 November 2015 (EST)
What's wrong with my support? Nyargleblargle Let's go Mets! (Talk · Contribs) 14:31, 1 November 2015 (EST)
"but some of you may want to give a more substantial reason for supporting this RfB." Serpent SKSig.png King 14:33, 1 November 2015 (EST)
I was more talking to INoMed. Nyargleblargle Let's go Mets! (Talk · Contribs) 21:13, 1 November 2015 (EST)

So far, so good. 11 support, 4 neutral (1 leaning towards support), and 0 oppose. This could work. (Unless Toomai or someone like OT comes up and makes a giant oppose post to end it all...) Ganonmew, The Thankful Evil Clone 07:13, 2 November 2015 (EST)

Toomai voted neutral, with (Warning: this will be my only case of swearing ever!) Oh bugger as the vote. INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 07:16, 2 November 2015 (EST)
Excuse my rotten words there. (I didn't use it to offend anyway!) INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 07:17, 2 November 2015 (EST)
First off, that's a swear? Second, I mean if Toomai decides to oppose. Ganonmew, The Thankful Evil Clone 15:37, 2 November 2015 (EST)
Not THAT kind of swearing. Swearing as in "S**t". (Censored because a Ganonmew (A youngster) needs to know) INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 15:41, 2 November 2015 (EST)
Excuse my rotten words there #2. INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 15:41, 2 November 2015 (EST)
I will never use such words ever again on SmashWiki. (Sorry for using the words #2) INoMedssig.png INoMed (Talk • Contribs) 15:44, 2 November 2015 (EST)

(Reset indent) You're kinda overreacting... AidanzapunkSig1.pngAidan, the Wandering Space WarriorAidanzapunkSig2.png 16:00, 2 November 2015 (EST)

Uhhh... I don't understand what's going on. :/ PikachuMS.pngPika, Wild Turkey appeared! Talk 15:44, 6 November 2015 (EST)

*sigh* ...I wish we had more people who vote on this stuff. Serpent SKSig.png King 00:02, 6 November 2015 (EST)

Agreed, in Miles' case, it doesn't help the fact that an RfB doesn't even show up on the things to do table. :/ Disaster Flare (talk) 00:08, 6 November 2015 (EST)
Check again. This needs more attention from the community. Ganonmew, The Thankful Evil Clone 07:34, 6 November 2015 (EST)
Agreed with Ganonmew. PikachuMS.pngPika, Wild Turkey appeared! Talk 15:41, 6 November 2015 (EST)

You know, I feel like that this RfB is already turning out to be successful with Miles being well liked by the community. Unless if Omega Tyrant shows up and puts up a 9001KB wall of text of opposition, I think this is going to pass easily. Dots (talk) Mega Man X SNES sprite.png The G-Man 00:10, 7 November 2015 (EST)

Community approval isn't all it needs though. He could have 9,000 three-paragraph-long supports and no opposition, but if Toomai doesn't think he should be 'crat he's not gonna be 'crat. Obviously community approval helps, but... ---Preceding unsigned comment added by a turkey! Or maybe DatNuttyKid. 07:13, 7 November 2015 (EST)
Dude trust me, if you want this RfB to succeed easily, don't bring OT into this. Both of them had a very long and bad history with each other. Dots (talk) Mega Man X SNES sprite.png The Five by Five 10:15, 7 November 2015 (EST)