Volunteer Response Team/Volunteering: Difference between revisions

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====[[w:User:Happy-melon|Happy-melon]]====

*'''languages you can reply in:''' en-n, fr-3, de-1, es-1
*'''most active user talk pages:''' [[en:User talk:Happy-melon]]
*'''Email sent''': Yes

Hi, I'm Happy-melon, and I'd like to help here. My wikimedia home is en.wiki, where I'm a sysop and have 20,000 edits; although I do some article writing, I'm now mainly a 'backstage' worker: I do a ''lot'' of work with templates, and I'm also involved with a number of the more 'technical' policies. I'm also active on www.mediawiki.org, where I'm also a sysop, and I have patch credits to the MediaWiki software from my involvement at bugzilla. I think that the 'wild card' I would bring to the OTRS team is a very thorough understanding of how the MediaWiki software works and consequently how to answer technical queries. I don't know how many e-mails OTRS gets asking "how do I do X?", but while I'm sure most of the existing volunteers can answer most such queries, I could probably have a stab at many if not all. Of course technical help is not my only offer; I have a thorough grasp of most en.wiki and meta policies including BLP (one of my Featured Articles on en.wiki, [[en:Emma Watson]], is a prominent BLP). My written French is reasonably good although my German and Spanish leave much to be desired. Above all, I believe I have the temperament and patience that is needed to do OTRS work; I always endeavour to remain calm and (where possible) neutral in disputes, and usually take the role of mediator rather than participant. I feel that I am a good candidate for OTRS access. <font color="forestgreen">[[User:Happy-melon|'''Happy''']]</font>‑<font color="darkorange">[[w:en:User talk:Happy-melon|'''melon''']]</font> 23:01, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
:We don't get a whole lot of technical questions. Anyhow, are you knowledgeable with copyright and image licensing? - [[User:Rjd0060|Rjd0060]] 23:24, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
::Although it is not a focus of mine, I am familiar with the relevant policies. I am active on maintaining the [[w:WP:CSD|speedy deletion criteria]] on en.wiki, which touch on a variety of copyright issues; and I occasionally work the CSD categories which throw up innumerable real-world examples. The transfer of content between the GFDL licenses on meta and en.wiki, and mediawiki.org (parts of which is in the public domain), also involves licensing issues, which I am familiar with. <font color="forestgreen">[[User:Happy-melon|'''Happy''']]</font>‑<font color="darkorange">[[w:en:User talk:Happy-melon|'''melon''']]</font> 23:48, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

====[[w:User:Xymmax|User:Xymmax]]====
*'''languages you can reply in:''' EN-N, ES-1
*'''most active user talk pages:''' [[en:User talk:Xymmax]]
*'''Email sent''': Yes
Hello. I'm another en.wiki sysop who would like to volunteer. Essentially all of my activity is on en.wiki. I'm EN-N, and probably can muster ES-1 in a pinch, although I'd probably have the reader laughing at me. I feel I have a thorough knowledge of the BLP policy, both in terms of its strict application, and the spirit behind it. I also understand copyright and fair use policy on en.wiki (and its non-applicability to Commons and other projects not solely governed by U.S. law). I'm diplomatic when dealing with people, and don't get riled just because I've been called names, or subjected to legal threats. [[User:Xymmax|Xymmax]] 17:12, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
*Support, info-en (l) to start with, with an eye to upping once some experience is accrued? [[User:Daniel|Daniel]] ([[User talk:Daniel|talk]]) 00:27, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

====[[User:Butko|Butko]]====

*'''languages you can reply in:''' Russian (native), Ukrainian, English-1
*'''most active user talk pages:''' [[:ru:Обсуждение участника:Butko]], [[commons:User talk:Butko]]
*'''Email sent''': Yes

I am administrator in russian Wikipedia and in Wikimedia Commons. I check copyright status of various files in theese projects. I'd like to help out on OTRS [[User:Butko|Butko]] 06:53, 28 February 2009 (UTC)

* '''Endorse'''. Trusted user on Commons.--[[User:Ahonc|Ahonc]] 22:33, 1 March 2009 (UTC)
* In the permissions-ru still not enough people. I trust Butko. [[User:Lvova|Lvova]] 10:56, 2 March 2009 (UTC)
* Support. He can also help with Ukrainian mails. [[User:Alex Spade|Alex Spade]] 17:38, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

====[[User:Andrew c|Andrew c]]====

*'''languages you can reply in:''' English (native)
*'''most active user talk pages:''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Andrew_c]
*'''Email sent''': Yes

I [[en:Wikipedia:Media_copyright_questions#What.27s_up_with_Wikipedia:OTRS|heard]] that there is a backlog and that there is always a need for "fresh volunteers". I'm an administrator on the English Wikipedia and an active, trusted user on the commons. I consider myself quite knowledgeable with the English Wikipedia and the Commons image use policy (and en.wiki's non-free content guidelines, along with various image tags and fair use rationales). I believe some of the areas I work in on wikipedia would help me out with OTRS, namely [[:en:WP:MCQ]], [[:en:WP:IFU]]. I'm experienced in closing [[en:WP:PUI|possibly unfree image]] and [[en:WP:IFD]] requests, and I've helped out on the help desks of the Commons and en.wiki, and the en.wiki non-free content talk page. I believe I have a solid understanding of BLP, in addition to the image stuff, and I believe I have experience being patient, kind, and informative with new users who may have questions or concerns, all qualities that I believe would help me to be a useful, appropriate OTRS volunteer.[[User:Andrew c|Andrew c]] 14:12, 9 March 2009 (UTC)
*Endorse: trusted, calm and intelligent. [[User:KillerChihuahua|KillerChihuahua]] 14:26, 9 March 2009 (UTC)
*Endorse for permissions. [[User:Daniel|Daniel]] ([[User talk:Daniel|talk]]) 19:59, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

====[[da:User:MGA73|MGA73]]====

*'''languages you can reply in:''' Danish (native), English-3, German-2, Norwegian-1 og Swedish-1
*'''most active user talk pages:''' [http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:MGA73]
*'''Email sent''': Yes

I'd like to help out on OTRS because I check all new files on da-wiki and it would be a big advantage if I get acces to "info-da" so I will not have to wait for OTRS-people to check if a permission has been reviewed. I am admin on da-wiki and on Commons. [[da:User:MGA73|MGA73]] 20:25, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

: Endorse: Very patient, also with inexperienced users. Another person interested in taking care of image permissions will be much appreciated by me (who'd rather not deal with it). - [[User:Kaare|Kaare]] 20:33, 10 March 2009 (UTC)
: Endorse: MGA73 is even patient with experienced users. --[[User:Palnatoke|Palnatoke (this is not my primary wiki, so please contact me on dawiki)]] 20:37, 10 March 2009 (UTC)
: Oppose. This moves ahead a little too fast. I appreciate MGA73 for his cleaning-up efforts, but would certainly prefer him to gain more experience before being entirely "trusted".--[[User:Sir48|Sir48]] 21:16, 10 March 2009 (UTC)
: Comment:For what it is worth: I've communicated a bit with this user in Norwegian, and no-1 is way too modest. He is perfectly able to understand and communicate with Norwegian speaking users as well. [[User:Finnrind|Finn Rindahl]] 22:40, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

{{comment}} This is not a vote. If you have something to add that believe would help the OTRS administrator get to know the candidate better, add it. Please do not oppose, support, endorse, et cetera. [[User:NonvocalScream|NonvocalScream]] 01:10, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

: I'd doubt any of the above think this is a vote, and I'm certain that all OTRS administrators are able to make decisions regardless of a comment's direct or indirect support or lack thereof. If it's a problem to have comments from current queue members (I expect this is looked into), to point out patience in a person who wants to deal with users, or to think a person has a lack of experience, then I don't know what is looked for here. - [[User:Kaare|Kaare]] 16:05, 11 March 2009 (UTC)
::Please forgive, you are doing the correct thing with the comment. I'm only attempting to discourage the "support" and "oppose" parts. More for the benefit of the candidates rather than the otrs administrators. Cheers, [[User:NonvocalScream|NonvocalScream]] 18:42, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Revision as of 12:31, 12 March 2009

Volunteer Response Team

For prospective volunteers

OTRS volunteers are always welcome, but there is a fairly selective application process, given the nature of the work. Generally, OTRS administrators must be familiar with you and your work on Wikimedia projects before accepting you as a volunteer and issuing you an account. It may take some time before you receive a response in regards to your request, so please be patient.

If you are truly interested in helping out with OTRS and have not yet received a response as to that status of your application, please feel free to join the IRC channel and introduce yourself to some of our members. You still may be able to help out without an OTRS account (for more information, check out OTRS/IRC channel).

Before applying to volunteer, please read OTRS/info-en recruiting and make sure that the following statements accurately describe you:

  • you're willing to work on difficult, sensitive, and at times hostile messages;
  • you're courteous, skilled at resolving disputes, friendly even in the face of hostility, sensitive to the needs of those outside Wikipedia, and have exemplary discretion;
  • you're willing to provide identification to the Wikimedia Foundation (please see Access to nonpublic data policy for why we ask for this).

Please note that there is a firm recommendation of 16 as a minimum age for participation in the OTRS system, to ensure people have adequate real life and Wikimedia experience before taking on what is a considerable and important responsibility for the Foundation and the projects.

====[[User:Example|]]====

*'''languages you can reply in:''' Zulu, English-3, Inuktitut-3, and Sinhala-2
*'''most active user talk pages:''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Example]
*'''Email sent''': Yes

I'd like to help out on OTRS because . ~~~~

Feel free to specify if you are entrusted with any special tools on wikis (sysop, bureaucrat, checkuser, etc.). You may also add to your application links to archives of help desk posts, or identification on active mailing lists if you think they are relevant.

Please also send an email to volunteers-otrs(a)wikimedia.org linking to your application on this page and giving your age, each time you apply. Thanks.

Note: Additional language skills are a plus. Currently, additional help is needed in: German (Deutsch), Spanish (Español), Portuguese (Português), Dutch (Nederlands), and Hebrew (עברית) queues (in order of backlog). Please make sure you mention any language skills you have.