RationalWiki:Constitutional Convention, April 2008

Step 1: Identify the problems

What are our problems?

Anyone can add one, just check to make sure it hasn't already been added. Please place each submission in its own subheader, using three equal signs, like so: ===header===.

Make sure to cite specific examples.

Submissions which are snarky will be removed, as they are unhelpful and distract from the purpose.

Purpose of Rationalwiki

Rationalwiki started as a meeting point for editors booted from Conservapedia or anyway in contrast with Conservapedia's management. RW's purposes are written somewhere. Now that this has become a melting pot of new and old emigrèes from CP, funny or funny Uncyclopedians and even people from Wikipedia, I'd say that a review of RW's purposes are in order. For example, should it focus mostly on CP (specific example: WIGO)? Should it mostly be a place for Lulz (specific examples: you provide them, RA)? Or should it be a haven for Rational articles not only opposed to CP, but to other irrationalities in this world, see the wonderful effort about that ID movie. These can all live together, but some rules and thoughts on RW's future are necessary in my opinion. Superstitious animist^{Ed at CP} 12:15, 31 March 2008 (EDT)

Rational = Atheist

There are both atheist and religious editors here. And even if they were all atheist, it doesn't mean that atheist equals rational. Since we have lost some editors because of this, some rules should be devised. While I'm not particularly religious, I tend to sympathize with Catholics when they are, irrationally in my humble opinion, called Superstitious Animists (as you can see from my new nick). I also find some "atheist" edits of dubious quality and rationality, such as those of an unnamed female contributor (not Susan). Besides, I know many very rational people who happen to be religious. I don't know Akjeldsen's religious views, but at least he is rational, isn't he? Superstitious animist^{Ed at CP} 12:21, 31 March 2008 (EDT)

Powers & Rules

The history of RW is complicated. As a result, there are many "groups": there are the Sysops; there are the founders; there are the members of RW 1.0 and those of the non existant cabal. For discussion, there are the forums, there is the IRC channel, the cabal has its own meeting place and there are RW's talk pages. In addition, we officially are a mobocracy. We started without blocking anybody ever. Then the first compromise was to give short blocks to bunch-of-numbers vandals. Now, besides Lulz blocks, clear vandals are blocked - and TK. Another point of discussion is reversion of contributions by editors. I myself have reverted a couple of contributions - without really knowing were I in the right or in the wrong. There are no rules, there is no identified power hierarchy, there are no procedures for determined controversies between editors. One could argue that they are not needed - but recent problems show otherwise. Superstitious animist^{Ed at CP} 12:27, 31 March 2008 (EDT)