Stewards' noticeboard/Archives/2015-12

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We are now past accepting votes to Free Bassel/Banner/Straw poll. I think it would be really nice if an uninvolved third party with experience in closing requests for comments or community discussions—such as a Wikimedia stewards—volunteered to evaluate the straw poll. If I recall correctly, there are a few Wikimedia stewards who have experience in closing RfCs, including here on Meta, which is why I am leaving this message here. Thanks in advance for volunteering :-) odder (talk) 20:11, 28 November 2015 (UTC)

I would like to ask if this "third party" is forced to make their decision before 14.00 UTC tomorrow when the campaign is set to start? What if they need more time? Is the start of the campaign set in stone so that if everything shakes and twists, the H-hour won't budge? I'm not neutral at all, but I think that the timetable for closing the poll should not be rushed because of the "threat" to start the campaign on Sunday at 14 UTC. --Pxos (talk) 20:36, 28 November 2015 (UTC)
There is no "threat" as you put it. If a decision has not been made, I am not aware of anyone that will push go on the banners anyway. --Varnent (talk)(COI) 22:32, 28 November 2015 (UTC)
At least the straw poll was forced to close before the deadline, and it could not be open e.g. for a week. I have the impression of there being a certain deadline, and I hope that I haven't been mislead in any way. Well, if Sunday can come and go without any action, that sounds just swell! --Pxos (talk) 23:41, 28 November 2015 (UTC)
Anyone? odder (talk) 07:53, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
As far as I count, only 4 stewies voted, that leaves us with a lot of non-voting stews. I am surprised though, how soon you're asking to close it, it just started 4 days ago, and with very little information on the page itself. Bennylin 15:56, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
I am not sure what you mean by little information, as I felt odder did a fair job explaining things given the constraints. The timeline, as stated, was expedited given the urgency of the case and request. I recognize that one week or "no specified end date" are the norms, but exceptions have occurred. Plus, at this point, it is closed. --Varnent (talk)(COI) 21:11, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
I have read the Free Bassel and Free Bassel/Banner, but I don't find information other than from other news website, for example, and the banner missing information on whether they plan to make the banner worldwide or select target countries and their reasoning for the banner. Bennylin 02:35, 1 December 2015 (UTC)
IMO four days wasn't nearly enough for a cross-wiki vote with implications for how the site is perceived. I would have preferred to see a couple of weeks of open discussion. Setting a deadline is good, but such a close one is less good and then closing it off even without an outcome in place seems strange. Ajraddatz (talk) 21:20, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
The reality is that two weeks from now, the case may be over, and not in a way we would like - or it could be months - no one knows. I am not sure what you mean by "without an outcome" - the outcome is pending assessment - hence this request from odder. The outcomes are either the banner campaign proceeds - or it does not. --Varnent (talk)(COI) 21:23, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
Neither of those outcomes has been implemented (the "in place" part of my sentence there). I just don't think that a four day discussion among those who immediately knew about it gives enough legitimacy to the straw poll to close it and implement anything based on it. But maybe I'm just off my rocker, I'll give it a look later today if nobody else has got to it by then. Ajraddatz (talk) 21:47, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
Basically neither outcome has been implemented yet because there has not been an assessment on the community's consensus for which to proceed with. Just proceeding with the banner without closure on the straw poll seems unwise, in my humble opinion. --Varnent (talk)(COI) 21:51, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
Just a note that I have now closed the straw poll as "not done", with a quick run-through of the rationale on the top of the page. Apologies for the time it took to do this, and please do raise any concerns you may have with the outcome. Ajraddatz (talk) 09:07, 2 December 2015 (UTC)
Hello Ajraddatz and all, friends of Bassel are organizing public outreach on December 10, UN's Human Rights Day. So a longer discussion makes sense, with a target of a short-lived banner on that day. A short-duration banner may be more appropriate here in any case than the initial proposal. SJ talk  19:58, 2 December 2015 (UTC)
In case of further request or reopening of request, please also clearly describe the reach of the banner, whether in select pedias, all of them, or to be further discussed in each project. Bennylin 09:54, 3 December 2015 (UTC)
Good point, @Bennylin:. SJ talk  04:57, 6 December 2015 (UTC)

new OTRS admin: User:Emufarmers

Dear stewards. Just in case this is important for you, I'm happy to announce that Emufarmers has become OTRS admin today. Please support him especially regarding changes of the global OTRS member right. Thank you. --Krd 20:26, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

:> --Rschen7754 19:29, 6 December 2015 (UTC)
I hear he was immediately busy creating accounts! :) Nemo 07:01, 7 December 2015 (UTC)

It would be great if this RFC could be closed before the start of the 2016 elections. I can't do it, as I started it ;) It probably doesn't even need to be done by a steward, a Meta admin might suffice (though maybe someone is of a different opinion about that?) --MF-W 16:53, 27 December 2015 (UTC)