Wikipedia:Administrators without tools

Wikipedia administrators, also called admins or sysops, are experienced editors who have earned the community's trust and been given extra permissions, commonly called "tools" or the "admin-bit". For example: they are able to block and unblock users, delete and restore pages or change their level of protection, and grant or remove user permissions like rollback and template editor.

Because of their experience, depth of knowledge, and breadth of project involvement, they are often asked to interpret consensus in discussions that require a formal close or moderate a discussion involving matters of dispute resolution. They may even settle a matter by the authority and competence of their uninvolved opinion. These activities do not necessarily involve using the admin toolkit.

A significant number of Wikipedia users who do not have administrator privileges are seen throughout the project performing similar tasks on the periphery of an administrator's role. Some of these users (called "awot" below) may have determined, on varying grounds, that they will never actually be a Wikipedia administrator. But the positive effect of their presence is highly relevant and a necessary aspect of our project's overall success. And they should absolutely be thanked and told about this!

Awot

Awot is an acronym formed from the unofficial title of a highly qualified prospective admin candidate whom this essay endearingly calls an administrator without tools. It is used as a complimentary term when differentiating a prospective administrator from an administrator, which it is hoped that they will become.

They are users who bring reason into a discussion with timely additions of well thought commentary, or they might comment on reports posted at various admin noticeboards like WP:UAA, WP:AIV, and WP:ANI. They give direction and guidance at an eclectic array of important discussions throughout Wikipedia and their credibility is known project-wide. At times, they assist admins by closing requests for comment; even certain deletion debates. They use tact to gain cooperation and masterfully demonstrate its effectiveness.

They maintain unwavering standards and garner respect among the most esteemed administrators the community knows. Often, their lack of title and tool goes unnoticed by colleagues who believe they are admins already. Their actions are consistently worthy of emulation, and because of their demonstrated capabilities, they would likely be excellent administrators. While they are already assets, Wikipedia would further benefit if they were granted administrator privileges. Hopefully, many will be after receiving this call.

Reaching out

This essay can assist in reaching out to qualified users, to thank them for all that they do for the project, and encourage them to consider their own RfA candidacy. Because they are the antithesis of candidates not quite ready yet, they are asked to transclude a request as soon as possible (ASAP), wherefore: WP:ASAP redirects here.

Any editor may use this essay to send these encouraging accolades to a deserving "awot"; it is hoped that many editors will. With random kindness, always en vogue, and good administrators in such demand, it is important to tell these administrators without tools that we've seen what they do, that we know what they can do, and that we admire their integrity, competence, and clue. So tell them, ASAP!

Instructions and coding

Copy the wiki-code directly below:

{{subst:Administrator without tools}} <!-- insert an optional message here --> ~~~~

paste the code to the bottom of the user's talk page. Then remove insert an optional message here and replace it with An appropriate message that you want to include. This will produce a new section with a level 2 header and a stylized message box with your custom message below it and your signature at the end; like the one shown in the example section below. To learn more, visit the template's documentation page.

Collaborating with others

It is now possible to receive notification on your talk page whenever the template is used to send someone this message so that you can consider endorsing it with your own encouraging words. To receive these notifications, sign your name on the list at /Endorsers.

Example

There is a mop reserved in your name

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You are a remarkable editor in many ways. You would be a good administrator, in my opinion, and appear to be well qualified. You personify an administrator without tools and have gained my support already!

An appropriate message that you want to include. Example (talk) 07:27, 8 September 2021 (UTC)

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Check to see if the editor you are about to nudge has already received this accolade. While you can post it again at a later time, review the previous posting(s) to ensure the user has not given an clear answer already. It is also recommend that you check if the user has expressed that they do not want to be an admin. Conversely, reviewing the list of administrator hopefuls is a good place to find prospective candidates who have expressed interest in becoming an administrator. Please consider signing Administrators without tools/Endorsers to receive a bot notification whenever the template is used, hopefully so you can consider endorsing the original posting with your own encouraging words.

See also

• Really simple guide to requests for adminship
• Advice for RfA candidates
• Administrators' reading list
• Optional RfA candidate poll
• Request an RfA nomination
• Request to become an administrator