Wikiversity:Candidates for Custodianship/=Benjamin=

=Benjamin= (talk | email | contribs)

I would like to request probationary custodian privileges. While I have only been contributing since 18-Jun, I feel that I am competent at editing Wikiversity pages, and have an understanding of what Wikiversity is about. I have no other experience in other Wikimedia projects, however I have been exposed to the wiki-markup extensively during assessment at university. While I do enjoy keeping things clean and tidy, I don't intend to be a driving force of the maintenance side things. Rather, I feel the sysop tools will be of great advantage to me during the development of the anatomy side of Wikiversity. I have bright ideas about the learning possibilities here at Wikiversity and wish to create a solid and consistent learning experience for the Anatomy Division. I am also very excited about the ability of "learners" to contribute to the course content itself, many minds make light work.
I hold the view that this Wikimedia Project is markedly different from others, and so (while maintaining core values and rules of wikimedia) should not be constrained by them. This means Wikiversity should not hold too much functional fixedness towards the tools given to it as other Wikis have in the past.
I would be more than happy to help orientate newcomers, assist members with inquiries, clean up vandalism, and generally tidy Wikiversity, however this will not be a dominant priority of mine. I do not like to instigate, or get drawn into heated debates in Wikiversity or in other aspects of life. I try to convey a steady and passive demeanor in all I do, and will always do my upmost to be a consistently helpful and courteous contributor to Wikiversity. I have not been in contact with any current custodians about mentorship at this moment.

Thank you for your time =Benjamin= ( t ) · ( c ) · ( e ) 07:10, 23 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Questions and Comments for the Candidate

Dear Benjamin! This is more a comment than a question: The usual approach is that the candidate hangs around Wikiversity for some time (or at least has a solid record on another Wikimedia project) before application for the probationary custodianship. Also if you are nominated by somebody else it comes out better than a self nomination (although both approaches are possible). The good news is that for content development you don't need the custodian tools at all. Maybe you can start with "help orientate newcomers, assist members with inquiries, clean up vandalism, and generally tidy Wikiversity" and re-apply in a few months again. I am sure that if you build up a good background here at WV it won't be a problem to get the probationary status, but this time I feel it is a bit early to do this. But for sure I will follow the advances in the anatomy resource! :) --Gbaor 10:03, 23 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

That's a good call actually. I should take part a lot more in the community before applying for this position. Basically I'm just after the tools for deleting and moving pages while creating and testing so much stuff. In fact, if you could help me out with these pages: Topic:Department of Regional Anatomy of the Human Body, Department of Regional Anatomy of the Human Body & Anatomy refectory I would be greatly appreciative. I have checked that no pages link to them via Special:WhatLinksHere. I will definitely begin to "help orientate newcomers, assist members with inquiries, clean up vandalism, and generally tidy Wikiversity" for now, as thus far, I have done little of this. Thanks for your handy advice, and sorry if you feel I have wasted your time.

All the best,

=Benjamin= ( t ) · ( c ) · ( e ) 11:59, 23 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

No time waste at all! All of us is here to learn and collaborate. Btw. you can move pages also now as a non-custodian as well with the "move button" (meta:Help:Moving a page). Also you (and anybody else interested) could sign up for How to be a Wikimedia sysop here at WV. For the other stuff we can continue on your talk page. (Sidenote: Everybody wants the Delete button

I wanted it as well back in the Custodian days! It seems to give real power, but at the end it is taking more about taking decisions and more work... ) Cheers, --Gbaor 13:33, 23 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Please feel encouraged, Benjamin - as Gbaor says, basically, keep on getting involved, build those anatomy resources, engage with others, ask questions and learn your way around etc. (as you are already doing) so we get to know you know a little more. Then I doubt it will be too much problem for either a mentor to emerge or for your self-nomination to be accepted. WV needs willing content creators and those keen to help manage the wiki content. -- Jtneill - Talk - c 10:38, 25 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

BTW - there are no official guidelines about this but a very rough guide might be ~1000 edits as solid ground for a custodianship candidacy - [1]. Of course much depends on the nature of the edits (and previous/other experience with wiki), but the way you are editing, I don't think there would be too many concerns at all about good faith and intent, etc. So its really about just getting more experience and knowledge with the non-custodian functionality (which is almost everything). Keep up the editing and engagement and you're well on the way in my humble opinion. -- Jtneill - Talk - c 10:46, 25 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]