User talk:BDD/Mentorship/Leucosticte

What you said on my talk page about helping you deal with unfair accusations is a good launching point to talk about what the mentorship is and isn't. I'm assuming you've already looked over Wikipedia:Mentorship, which I've been relying on to get an idea of how this is supposed to work. You're right about a few things: your actions will likely be more scrutinized than the average editor's. Recognizing that you've done wrong in the past, this is a natural consequence you'll have to deal with. And I will speak up for you if such accusations are being colored by your past behavior. But this doesn't apply for future transgressions, of course. I think the second paragraph of the Mentorship page summarizes the relationship well. You're also right that either of us can terminate this relationship at any point, although I hope it doesn't come to that. I think the best way to make sure those "future transgressions" don't happen is, for now, to ignore the sacred guideline of WP:BOLD. I don't think it will be necessary to confine yourself to userspace, but until we make some progress here, be cautious. I'd recommend against creating any articles at this point, for example. I'll cover that in the mentorship process. Tread lightly, and proceed. --BDD

The language against mentors being advocates probably is due to the backlash that occurred against organizations such as AMA and Esperanza as subverting the normal power structures of Wikipedia. I think they wanted to make sure that mentorship didn't become an institutionalized means for creating cabals, factions, etc. I would say mainly their concern is that they don't want organized groups showing up as flash mobs at various forums to cause outcomes that aren't representative of the community, and they don't want people to unite to overthrow community discipline. That could happen if, say, an organization were formed whose members stuck up for each other, or even unblocked one another, regardless of policy, whenever they got into trouble with the community.

I don't ask for the subversion of policy, except to the extent that I request some mercy for past transgressions. Hopefully I won't need to ask for much more mercy. There have been long periods in which I did fine (see, for example, User:Rad Racer) and I think I can do fine again. I think that the mentorship may help everyone feel more comfortable with the situation. E.g. if people have a problem with my behavior, and I don't agree with them, we can perhaps get your feedback on how best to resolve it to everyone's satisfaction without having to go to ANI right away, as people have done in the past sometimes. Leucosticte (talk) 23:53, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

Well, you definitely have some things to teach me! I actually didn't know about MFD before you mentioned it to me. It does look like pretty ugly business, and it's a shame the only times people have nominated MFD itself for deletion were satirical April Fools events. I also didn't know why the AMA went defunct. All I knew is that I was a member, didn't edit for a few years, and it was gone when I came back. I understand the Article Rescue Squadron has drawn similar concerns recently. At any rate, I do think you're learning from your past mistakes, and I'll argue for giving you the benefit of the doubt as long as you maintain good faith. As long as you act like a new editor (as in fresh start, not newbie), I think it's only fair to treat you as such. --BDD