This is my general RFA criteria, which has been the basis for most of my RFA !votes. I don't usually participate in RFA's where the outcome is obvious (<50% or >95%), unless I have something I need to say; so if you see me in your RFA, then you probably knew you'd be getting opposition from someone. Whether that includes me depends on what follows here.
Things I care about, in no particular order.
- Regular editing over a consistent period of time. I want active admins, not on again, off again admins.
- Knowing the fundamentals of the policy areas you intend on being most admin-y in. I need to be able to trust you with the button you plan on using the most.
- Some experience, and an overall good record in admin-y areas. This is why you want to be an admin, right?
- Civility. This is a very subjective criteria and others at RFA are better at finding examples of incivility than I am, but users who have EVER been blocked or banned will face tough scrutiny on this measure from me.
I generally default towards a support !vote if you do well on these and have no major failings, but a big failure in one can lead to a neutral !vote, and failing in 2 or more will probably lead to a neutral !vote if you strongly pass the other 2, otherwise it will be an oppose !vote.
Things I don't care about, in no particular order.
- Number of edits. RFA isn't about who has the better set of numbers, it's about giving you access to extra buttons and whether you can be trusted with those buttons.
- Content creation. I don't care about FAs, GAs, DYKs, or number of articles created. If this is your biggest strength, focus on making more great content for the encyclopedia please.
- Who you're nominated by. I'm !voting on YOU, not your friends and colleagues. I also don't care if you self-nominate.
- That one mistake you made a few months ago. We all make mitsakes, and we all make edits that go against policy every now and then.