Let all users Rollback
editI'm sorry if this has been discussed before, but I would propose that the rollback function be made availlable to all users. In contrast to the admins' other powers, articles can be "rolled back" by normal users, even anons simply by using the history tab. Restricting rollback to admins does nothing to stem edit wars, since passionate edit warriors will take the trouble to use the history tab to save a previous version of an article. At present, IMHO all this restriction does is to discourage non-admins from doing RC patrol, for this is the only time any user would have to use rollback at a high frequency (thus using the history tab a huge hassle). If we let everybody use rollback, it will make it easier for all of us to to fight vandalism. Borisblue 17:51, 28 September 2005 (UTC)
- Yes, this issue has been discussed numerous times before, but ultimately rejected. The most recent debate is found here. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 23:16, 28 September 2005 (UTC)
- By the way, a major reason why it has been rejected is because of edit wars. Admins are instructed to only use the rollback tool to revert vandalism, because it automatically generates the message "Reverted edits by X to last version by Y" in the edit summary. The fear is that those involved in edit wars will abuse the rollback tool, using it at a high frequency without providing reasons in the edit summaries.
- Another reason it has been rejected is that, in practice, the rollback tool is not a major power. It speeds things up, but anbody can still revert a page. There are only two places where the rollback links show up. The first place is on a User Contributions page, but only on lines in which the user in question made the last edit. The rollback link is also only shown on the Diff page when viewing the difference between the most recent version of a page and the last version.
- In practice, the rollback links on the User Contributions page is ineffective because it is hard to tell from there if those edits are indeed vandalism, unless it has already been determined that this registered user or anon ip is a rampant vandal. The rollback link on the Diff page is only effective when the registered user or anon ip in question has made only one edit, unless, again, it has already been determined that this person is a rampant vandal. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 00:08, 29 September 2005 (UTC)
- Ahh... thanks for the clarification. But I'm still not clear on something- if rollback is not a "major power" then why is it restricted to admins? I checked your link, and it's very useful but it talks more about "automatic graduation" of admin powers. And forgive me if I'm wrong, but edit warriors only get to revert thrice every 24 hours anyway, so doing it manually is not much of a hassle for them, especially if they're passionate about their edit war. What the rollback restriction is a hassle to is the non-admin RC patroller.
- Anyway, if this has been discussed often, shouldn't this be put in the 'preennial proposals page'? What's the procedure for adding stuff there? Borisblue 01:57, 29 September 2005 (UTC)
- Someone, somewhere, (maybe RfA Talk? - yes, [1]) recently proposed a granulated admin rights proposal. It would take dev work and (most?) other folks don't see the need. Personally, I think the need is obvious, but meh, what do I know? SchmuckyTheCat 21:20, 29 September 2005 (UTC)