For years, the ArbCom has been the focal point for far more controversy than they have resolved. In recent times, that's become even more true - despite all the heat generated by their interventions on the project, they hear fewer cases and effectively arbitrate less even than that. Maybe it's time to evaluate whether they continue to serve an important function in the community. Is there a better model for resolving disputes? Something that doesn't attempt and fail to emulate court proceedings, giving people the hope for fairness and objectivity without its reality?
Now seems like a particularly good time to begin that evaluation. Several highly trafficked attempts at reform have tried and failed to restore confidence in the committee; two well known arbitrators, one a WMF contractor, have resigned in the last weeks. So let's turf it and start over. In the mean time, ad-hoc groups of administrators will continue to perform the bulk of the work as they have been for a long time. When even the committee can't claim they are contributing solutions, it's clear not much will be lost if their role is discontinued while a replacement is sought. ~Nathan _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l