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#wikipedia-en-admins is a closed channel for administrators on the English Misplaced Pages. Many admins on other Wikimedia projects, former admins, developers and OTRS respondents are there as well. The channel is privately owned and the Wikimedia Foundation has no authority over it.
The channel is controversial, since its content is not accessible to the public; this has led to accusations of conspiracy, cabalism, and corruption. To some editors the frequent announcements on Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents beginning "Following discussions on IRC, I have blocked..." ring alarm bells, as often such blocks concern well established editors and are often misguided. Participants in the channel say that these accusations are wholly unfounded; therefore, since it is never possible to be sure that someone is not being inappropriate, it is up to each participant to be on her or his best behavior and to uphold the standards of behavior commensurate with being a trusted member of Misplaced Pages (i.e. an administrator).
Purpose
While there is a lot of idle conversation, the main aims of the channel are to discuss, away from the rank and file editors, admin work and decisions. It's also amazing how people who argue furiously on the wiki can be a lot nicer in real time. It's good for quickly asking questions. Admins are more likely to find a checkuser when they're in a hurry too.
The channel was originally created by Talrias for Danny to deal with urgent living biography issues. Foundation staff and board members will often go onto the channel with a problem needing solving.
Important: The channel is useful for double-checking yourself, but don't decide things based solely on an IRC discussion. Unless there is a legitimate need for privacy, on-wiki discussion is usually a better choice than off-wiki.
Conduct on the channel
The ethos behind the channel is "You're an admin, you were picked for your judgment. Use it."
Note that if you use the channel to sanity-check a decision, you still need to justify it as needed on the wiki. Your administrator actions must be able to stand on their own merits, regardless of any discussions on IRC.
Comport yourself in a collegial manner, even when you're really upset. The channel is not private, and logs have in the past been leaked or forwarded to ArbCom (and some arbitrators are on the channel). Don't disparage editors under discussion — it will get back to them, and it reflects on yourself.
How to get access
All Misplaced Pages administrators are technically entitled to entry to the channel, though in practice some are made too unwelcome to use it. If you're an English Misplaced Pages admin:
- Request access below, providing your cloak details and/or IRC nick. (Someone will then process these by hand with /cs ACCESS #wikipedia-en-admins ADD nickname 5.). Once done, you can get access to the channel by typing
/msg chanserv invite #wikipedia-en-admins. You should then be able to join the channel as normal. - If you wish, go here to request an IRC cloak. (Sean then processes these by hand). This step is optional, but a good idea.
- If you wish for 'automatic' access where a /cs invite command is not required, please ask an op while in the channel. A cloak is required for this, they will op themselves and do
/mode +I *!*@your/cloak/here
- If you wish for 'automatic' access where a /cs invite command is not required, please ask an op while in the channel. A cloak is required for this, they will op themselves and do
- The IRC instructions page may also be helpful.
Misplaced Pages:IRC channels/wikipedia-en-admins/requests
Removal of access
There is no formal process for the removal of access. Generally, access to the channel will not be revoked unless you show that you are not friendly or refuse to abide by the standards of conduct expected of channel members. Using the channel inappropriately, such as to orchestrate blocks, is a ground for the removal of access. Getting rid of unwelcome or critical admins may more commonly be accomplished by the informal method of making sure they're made uncomfortable than through formal removal of access.
Channel operators
There are several channel operators for this channel who have the ability to add users to the channel's access list, and remove users from the channel or access list.
The current channel operators are (in no particular order):
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The channel owners say that they would like all English Misplaced Pages administrators on the channel, particularly new ones, so as to get the admins talking to each other and learning accepted practice from the distinguished and well trusted admins there. Note however, that not all admins who are regarded on Misplaced Pages as distinguished and well trusted enjoy the trust of the dominant members of the channel. Some wikipedians regard the private status of the channel as being of particular value for mentoring in an environment unfettered by "wikilawyering" and "process wonkery," while others would like to see this closed channel dedicated to Misplaced Pages admins brought under the controll of the Wikimedia Foundation.
No aspect of IRC is mandatory to being an admin, and if anyone tries to make it a criterion for support at Requests for adminship, such comments should be ignored as hard as possible.
Sources of processes detailed on this page
James F. is the contact freenode has for Wikimedia-related IRC channels. The Foundation disclaims IRC, so James is the sole source of authority, a state of affairs which has led to some anomalies. For instance, there are examples of well-respected wikipedia admins being unwelcome in the channel, while non-admins with friends in high circles are made welcome, etc. James is only occasionally active at the moment in this area. This means that his deputy, seanw should be consulted for the majority of issues.
Parts of this page may have frivolous wording. This can sometimes be a problem, as the page is actually not under the authority of any sole "owner", any more than other pages on Misplaced Pages.