User talk:Beetstra

Why was I blocked on Meta by someone without official admin designation?

Hi Beetstra I am not sure if you remember me, I hope you do. I am contacting you here in your capacity as an admin on Meta. I posted this, and have not received a reply. I want to make sure I am not blocked on wikiquote for simply asking questions here as, it appears, I was on Meta. Thanks in advance, Ottawahitech (talk) 15:08, 1 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ottawahitech: yes, I do. How are you doing?

Regarding your question: you were blocked by a steward on the pages regarding the stewards, I presume that stewards have (some of) the admin bits as well (but I don't have those technical details either). Anyway, apparently they have the technical ability to block you, and found a reason to do so (as they explained on your meta talkpage). I guess that you'll have to talk to the meta-admins on meta (through posts on your talkpage there). --Beetstra (talk) 07:47, 3 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ottawahitech: (the {{rto}}-template does not exist here, first ping failed). --Beetstra (talk) 07:48, 3 March 2021 (UTC)

I am glad you remember me. My understanding is that Stewards have the technical ability to block Users, but are not supposed to use this power to block users on wikis that have bureaucrats. @AmandaNP:? Ottawahitech (talk) 15:22, 3 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ottawahitech: Yeah, fine. And then? You posting here suggests that you expect a meta admin to overrule the steward on bureaucratic reasons? --Beetstra (talk) 16:08, 3 March 2021 (UTC)

No I do not expect you or anyone else to overrule a steward on my behalf. As a matter of fact it appears that Stewards, including newly elected User:AmandaNP who used to sit on enwiki's highly regarded arbcom, have found a way to deal with this minor issue (see: Meta:Requests_for_adminship#Tks4Fish).

What I was hoping for was that when Stewards contravene their own policy on Meta a Meta admin, and it does not have to be you, will point it out to the community at large and allow the community to have their say. I shudder to think of what will happen to the "wmf-movement" if Stewards are given a free hand to wipe-off users they simply don't like at WQ, and eventually at enwiki itself. Ottawahitech (talk) 16:13, 4 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ottawahitech: if such a thing would be brought to our attention that would be the case (provided that it would be brought to our attention through proper channels). However, I think that it may be a thing for WMF to resolve. Here I am not even sure whether the Stewards really contravened their own policy (though it seems questionable what happened), whether this was a questionable block (I mean, whether a reasonable admin would not have performed it if they saw the situation), and whether the situation you describe is not a hyperbole for what happened in this case (but then, I did not follow the discussion, don't know the history of what happened, etc. etc.). --Beetstra (talk) 16:34, 4 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ottawahitech: That's some hell of some casting aspersions that I magically found a way to deal with this on the user's behalf. I only supported the candidacy because I trust the person behind it. I don't excuse (nor have I even looked) at the incident you referred to. So with respect, please retract your allegations, especially if you are going to keep pinging me to respond. AmandaNP (talk) 23:12, 6 March 2021 (UTC)

@ AmandaNP The Steward who blocked me on Meta out-of-process explained their request for a meta adminship thus:

I've been a steward for one year now, and now I'm starting my second term. I have mostly used my tools on meta as related to/allowed by the meta–steward relationship, but there was a recent concern that my block of Ottawahitech, which I did in my SE ElectCom member capabilities, and set it to end when the elections + confirmations do, may have overstepped that boundary. Thus, I am requesting adminship, and will also help on the admin duties around here as needed.

The Meta policy on this issue is unambiguous:

Stewards are a global group of users with complete access to the wiki interface on all public Wikimedia wikis. They have the technical ability to modify all local and global user rights, change the status and name of global accounts, and access any of the permissions available to administrators and bureaucrats. The use of steward rights is restricted by policy; stewards will not use their technical access when there are local users who can use that access, except in emergencies. This enables them to act as administrators and bureaucrats on projects without any local administrators or bureaucrats.

It is obvious the the Steward in question contravened this policy.

Are you saying it is OK for Stewards to ignore policy?

As far as casting aspersions, I am trying very hard to conduct myself as civily as possible, but still demand my rights be respected. I would appreciate it if you would explain to me why you feel I am contravening wikimedia policies. Thanks in advance and I will stop pinging you at your request, I was only doing it out of courtesy. Ottawahitech (talk) 01:04, 7 March 2021 (UTC)

@Ottawahitech: as I said in my first reply to you, please take this to meta. Discuss this with the involved parties. Stop responding here. —Beetstra (talk) 03:49, 7 March 2021 (UTC)