142.177.114.228: what it is, who should do it, why those who do it should NOT be those trusted by the sysop power structure

2004-01-07T22:12:39Z

what it is, who should do it, why those who do it should NOT be those trusted by the sysop power structure

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'''Refactoring''' is to choose or change [[wiki page title]]s to resolve a [[terminology dispute]] or try to minimize the chances that one will arise.

The more titles need to be changed, the more likely someone will dispute one or more of the changes. Usually an [[ontology]] or at least a ferocious [[troll]] with a vast capacity to remember conflicting meanings of words and overloads of terms is required to resolve disputes. Such trolls make reasonable [[editor]]s because they lack technological powers. Larry Sanger for instance was a not-perfect but not-bad Chief Editor of Wikipedia from its founding for over a year, and he always refused sysop powers and relied wholly on persuasion. As Larry was grouchy, he always had lots of enemies to keep him from abusing his paid position...

The main problem with such a position is if the editor is friends with the owner: It is a bad thing if the editor who resolves refactoring issues is also in, or trusted in, the [[sysop power structure]]. This is as undesirable as letting a judge who is the cop's brother try a case where the cop testifies...

A good [[reputation]] with the sysops is bad, as it decreases the odds that any error in refactoring will be notice. A hated troll fighting off various [[inquisitor]]s tends to be the best refactor, as they can do literally nothing, even simple corrections of errors, without scrutiny placed on it. This logic breaks down, along with all other sanity and purpose, if [[ad hominem revert]] and (worse from the point of view of refactoring) [[ad hominem delete]]s occur. Such [[simple vandalism]] by [[sysop vandalism|sysops]] often leaves a "black hole" or [[permanent open link]] in the midst of an important set of articles, which no one is likely to fill in, to avoid attracting the attention of the [[inquisitor]] or being caught up and accused of "being the troll" in a [[witch-hunt]] led by them or by anyone else.

Refactoring - Revision history

142.177.114.228: what it is, who should do it, why those who do it should NOT be those trusted by the sysop power structure