User:Singularity/Considering adminship

This is an adminship handbook, created by Sr13. If you are reading this, you are likely considering adminship in the near future, or just about to file an adminship request, but not quite sure on your decision.


I would like to make several points on what to consider when thinking about adminship.

Read what adminship is not

Adminship is not a trophy, entitlement, or game. This means that you shouldn't think of adminship as someone with more power, authority, or a reward. Rather, the role of adminship carries an heavy obligation to not abuse the extra tools. Also remember that administrators can be de-sysopped and even be banned indefinitely for misuse of the tools.

The status of adminship is simply like being a janitor. A janitor has more privileges than the regular person because he has the keys to all of the rooms. Now, a janitor could lock everyone in or out of the building. But he doesn't, because there is a huge responsibility on the janitor not to do so. In a similar way, adminship is a privilege given through consensus of approval by users.

Remember that adminship is no big deal

Don't think of adminship as very special. It's simply a couple of extra tools that you get which would be harmful to Wikipedia as a whole if everyone had them. Admins simply are normal users with a mop and bucket. Nothing special.

Do you have the sufficient experience and think you are a well-rounded Wikipedian?
Do you need the tools now?
Apologize, explain
Participation in backlogs
Editor review yet?