New subject: Cuts both ways

3 Oct 2003

...
 Stevertigo wrote:
  Well for starters, how about if you, Jimbo. and
you,
 Ed, don't pamper and coddle people "like" him. 
Be careful, Stevertigo, that sword cuts in both directions.

--Jimbo 
If I repeat my offer from last year, will Steve or anyone else accept
it?

Make me a "lieutenant" or "sheriff" or "nursery school
teacher",
and I will liberally apply "time-out" to anyone who breaks a 
rule.

I'll use something like Andrew's graded system of 
"consequences":

1. A friendly explanation or reminder.
2. A warning.
3. A unilateral temporary ban (length: anywhere from, say, 3 to 
   24 hours)
4. An indefinite ban (to be resolved on the mailing list and/or 
   by appeal to our Captain or Head Marshall, Jimbo Wales)

I keep proposing this every 6 months or so, but people keep 
objecting that it will erode our freedom. Well, have you ever counted
the number of writers who LEAVE Wikipedia because they have NO FREEDOM
freedom to contribute in peace here?

I say we ought to try it out: say, for a 6-weeks trial period. 

If it works, let's keep doing it. If it works but needs 
refinement, let's tweak it. It if it doesn't work, let's stop 
it.

But anything's better than having several dozen edit wars 
simmering at a low boil, ready to erupt like volcanoes at a 
moment's notice.

I say, let's give it a try.

Ed Poor

Two-edged Sword