Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2025-05-14/Debriefing
Goldsztajn's RfA debriefing
While each RfA will be unique in some way, I'm not sure I can add much to what previous RfA debriefs have touched on in terms of the experience itself, but what I would like to reflect on are my feelings about "mop work", how they changed over the last 15 years and how that led me to being interested in being an admin.
To my experience at least, there's now a more or less overwhelming admin culture of remaining civil and responsive, as against uncivil and unresponsive. There's a greater consciousness for and enforcement of admin accountability. I won't pretend it's perfect but compared to when I first started editing almost 20 years ago, there's a noticeable culture shift. To be simplistic, we're far closer now to being staff at a public library than brothers in a fraternity house. That shift was important for me in deciding to make a run at RfA.
My first period of intense engagement with Wikipedia was around 2008–2010 and I often found admins lacking in civility; there appeared to be a culture of combativeness associated with the work (which was not necessarily the admins themselves, but the culture in which admin work had evolved).
To be blunt, it was not attractive in the sense that it was something I thought I would enjoy doing. I felt there were more than a few admins who acted in a privileged manner, who viewed their status as admins as proof of their correctness. Wikipedia feels very different now and, to misphrase Groucho Marx, I found a club I'd hope would have me.
I think if there's any advice I'd give others thinking about this process, it would be to sit back, read and watch. For as long as possible.
If you think you're ready to run, wait another six months or a year. I waited two years before fully deciding after being asked. I didn't feel underprepared for the RfA — I’ve stalked the noticeboards probably far more than I should (in the sense that maybe I should enjoy real life more!). I was aware that there are areas I'm not strongly familiar with, but I felt I had a strong knowledge of Wikipedia’s core tenets (thank you AfD!) and having followed RfAs over the last six or so years, it's clear that being an admin is about having the honesty and self-recognition that one will never be a master of everything.
When admin elections were first announced, I had thought of participating but hesitated. I realise there's quite justifiable criticisms of RfA, but for better and worse, I decided that RfA's particular brand of transparency appealed to me, warts and all. I'll continue to support admin elections, but for me, an RfA felt the right approach. The start of the RfA was fairly anxiety inducing, but the fact that a couple of editors and admins who I respected a great deal were quick, early supporters, gave me a lot of relief.
Ultimately, I was surprised how much I appreciated the comments from all those who participated; it reinforced my sense of the positive contributions that a supportive culture can create. We really underestimate (underappreciate!) how much human kindness and collective effort basically keeps Wikipedia going day after day.
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