User blog:Flamefang/Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more

I am writing, here today, because our wiki faces a crisis. I am sure you have heard similar lines uttered in some of my previous blogs addressing similar issues, but let me assure you now that this one stands alone and separate from its kin. Our wiki has always prided itself in its sleek and efficient administration, its dedication to an organized and asthetic environment, as well as its strong and dedicated userbase. Today, all three of these things we hold so dear are greatly at risk.

As I should hope you are all aware, our long standing Bureaucrat Bachlynn23 stepped down from her position under the unrelenting physical and mental strain imposed by her workload over the past few months. Days later we witnessed the decimation of her department, leaving a single administrator standing, as well as a two rollbacks. This final administrator will soon be leaving us for a short while, and one of the rollbacks mentioned is considering stepping down also. Despite the tasks undertaken by my own department, and that lead by Ghost, it is an undisputed fact that our administrative department stands as the wikis core. Without its dedication to the maintenance of our wiki-space, our wiki would most likely not have made it as far as it has. The concern now, however, is whether it can make it any further.

What we face at present is a deficit, a deficit in the work required to keep this wiki running; the gas to power the car, the grease to move the joints, or the coal to fuel the furnace. Just to give you a general idea of the scale of this defecit, here is a quote from Bach herself outlining just how much she does on a weekly basis:

1. I check regular claims that need to be checked

2. I check the recetnly approved claims to add them to the user/char forum,

3. I check the recently approved claims to see that they were renamed properly,

4. I check recently checked claims to make sure they were renamed properly and have the correct heading,

5. I check over what was said by the other users in comments, making sure it's being done properly

6. I check bc claims

7. I check to see if leaders have looked at any I've approved recently, make sure everything is named right

8. I check pet claims, make sure everything is named right

9. I check all 3 claim forums for old claims that haven't been edited in more than 2 weeks to send a reminder notice and/or delete

10. I always keep an eye on the help desk, debates and suggestions forums for any updates or new posts

11. I check the quests forum, for any quests that need to be approved

12. I go through all active quests to make sure they are staying active, and if not, check to find out why

13. I check to make sure all quests waiting on things, like mods, objectives, etc are on track

14. I check the image voting panel for anything that needs to be voted on or finalised

15. I check the counsellor challenges making sure everything is named right, and everyone who's challenged has done all the proper steps

16. If anything needs to be judged I find judges

<p style="text-align: left;">17. I check the 2 voting forums for anything open that needs to be voted on or finalised

<p style="text-align: left;">18. I check the to do list,

<p style="text-align: left;">19. I check to see if what users are helping that said they would

<p style="text-align: left;">20. I keep the user/char forum updated, by checking the activity of all users, seeing who is due to level up

<p style="text-align: left;">21. I watch over adoptions, make sure everyone is staying in their character limits

<p style="text-align: left;">22. I help code character pages

<p style="text-align: left;">23. I check for broken codes

<p style="text-align: left;">24. I keep the regular location pages coded properly

<p style="text-align: left;">Please remember, that's just an outline. On top of this she did a variety of other tasks, roleplayed on a regular basis, and assisted in making administrative decisions. At present, with a mere fraction of her department still standing, we cannot ensure the completion of these tasks. At least, the administration can't. This, is where you come in.

<p style="text-align: left;">You see, this wouldn't be too much of a problem if most of the Administrative department remained intact. In fact, it wouldn't be a problem at all. We would simply be able to educate new members and fill in the gap left by Bach. However the number of experienced members here is decreasing by the month, while the number of newer users seems to increase daily. Therefore it is IMPERATIVE that newer users put their best foot forward and strive to improve their knowledge of the wiki while contributing as much as possible to tasks that need to be completed. Experienced users, find someone new, help them out, and make them into the dedicated wiki members that you are. Remember, you were in their place at one point. In order to encourage this process, I will be pushing this legislation.

<p style="text-align: left;">As I have emphasized in the past, fixing the wiki is not something I can do alone. No measures I enact, no legislation I pass, and no action I take can put us on the right track again. I will not stand down and accept the inevitability of a dark future, but one man cannot half an avalanche. All that stands between us and a bright future is the ever prominent specture of apathy. We need to kill it, not with swords, but with dedication. Through work and toil we can reform what was destroyed and rectify what was corrupted. If we do not, dark days may lie ahead. Thus I urge you, do not stand aside and let things pass as they always have, for the acceptance of defeat is only an invitation for its repetition.

<p style="text-align: left;">Thank you,

<p style="text-align: left;">Flamefang 22:08, February 3, 2012 (UTC)