User:NinaOdell/Tips for the angry new administrator
Appearance
- Don't paint every sock with the ugly stick until you have a chance to see their edits. It could be a poor man's "right to disappear" from a formerly abusive or disruptive user. In other words, WP:AGF
- Do some kind of main-space editing every day. Quantity doesn't matter, it's quality and necessity that counts.
- Don't be a meanie, ever. Not to anyone for any reason. Remember that you're not just an admin, you're a role model for other users, whether you like it or not. You're also the editor a first-time user is most likely to "see". Make that interaction count and recruit more people to this project.
- Read something from the main page every day. Start your day out there, in fact. Remind yourself why you're performing this service for the community.
- Make half of your job education and information. If you see an editor who is obviously struggling, help them out. You know it, they don't. If you don't know it, ask somebody, or look for it yourself. Let people know you're learning too.
- Remember Wikiprojects. Half the time a "problem child" can be helped out/overseen by the appropriate Wikiproject.
- Enjoy your time here. Do what makes you happy as an editor at least 95% percent of the time. Life is short and the project big.
- If an editor, even a "vandal" has no welcome template on their page, always give them one. Preferably, give them the most appropriate one for their particular "interest". See Wikipedia:Welcome templates, and get to know them well.
- When you're wrong, know it, show it, and apologize.
- Set yourself up for editor review every once in a while, particularly if you're feeling "disgruntled".
- Feel the love when you get it, because it doesn't come around that often, especially for an admin. Consider spreading some love, too.
- That's it.:)Nina Odell 17:05, 31 December 2006 (UTC)