RationalWiki:2020 board of trustees election/Campaigning



We are electing three trustees to serve a two year from 2020 to 2022. We are also electing a trustee to fill a vacant position that will expire in 2021.

"Campaigning" is for candidate promises & arguments in favor of their trustee-ship.

"Question time" is to ask candidates about their scandalous, hypocritical, and generally shitty behavior -- or anything at all you'd like to know their thoughts on.

"Endorsement sheet" is to endorse candidates.

LeftyGreenMario
There's not much I can say, is there? This is probably not going to be a controversial one. Plumbers for power!

Dysk
What I want is to get the site software updated a tad, see a few new thingymabobs installed dreckly. Oh and y'all want mobile compatibility. Since y'know the board is apparently responsible for this shite happening, nothing has been done after I outlined a plan for this a year ago, a little nudge maybe, It's entirely possible nothing will happen so no promises. 21:18, 18 July 2020 (UTC)

RoninMacbeth
I suppose I'll keep this as brief as can be expected.

I fully admit I have been increasingly inactive on the wiki, and moreover that I chose to ran only reluctantly. Someone had to do it, and it might as well be me.

My opponents are all worthy people, and will be proactive and prudent custodians of the Mission. It is my request that each and every single one of them be voted ahead of me, so that these people who deserve a full term far more than me may carry out their rightful duty. I will be content to serve out the remainder of Duce's term until the next election happens.

That being said, I will solemnly resolve to look into the issues the Board faces with enthusiasm and diligence, and I vow to be more active on the wiki itself. Thank you, for either way I shall be honored to serve as a Board member.

Questions for Candidates
WILL WE TAKE THIS MORE SERIOUSLY OR NOT? 22:41, 17 July 2020 (UTC)
 * With that in mind,, will you check the Google Groups page more often? Spud (talk) 07:23, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Yeah it's a bit off-the path IMO. I'll make more of an effort. :/ 17:13, 19 July 2020 (UTC)

Taking things seriously is for the weak and goatless. 21:19, 23 July 2020 (UTC)

Site upgrades
What is the candidates stance on sending more cookies so he installs mobilefrontend, scributo, and templatestyles? 12:11, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I would send more cookies but I ate them all. This is my position. If elected I will try to bug Tim some more though. 15:01, 18 July 2020 (UTC)

Hmmmmm Did RationalWiki establish a bank account yet? 18:10, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I, too, intend to bug Tim about this. RoninMacbeth (talk) 17:54, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Cookies will be sent Tim's way if at all possible. 21:17, 23 July 2020 (UTC)

Fix $$$$
15:43, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Math is low priority we'll see how much can be done. 20:40, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Make it high priority then, buddy.  13:27, 26 July 2020 (UTC)

Transparency, honesty and integrity
I think transparency, honesty and integrity is a fundamental role of the RM board. How will you work towards this in your communications with the RationalMedia community? —cosmikdebris talk stalk 02:49, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * We usually document what goes on during a meeting, but we *can* probably log it somehow. Dunno. 17:14, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I will push to ensure that the minutes of the Board (with usernames instead of real names) are placed somewhere on the wiki for users to examine. RoninMacbeth (talk) 17:54, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I'm about as transparent as a steel door, I suppose I/we might do something eventually and tell y'all about it. I'll have to see how it goes. 21:16, 23 July 2020 (UTC)

Can you get up early on a Saturday?
Arranging times for Board meetings via Skype hasn't been easy, what with me being in Taiwan and other members being in the United States, Britain and other parts of Europe. Most meetings have started when it's been just after midnight on Sunday for me. That's Saturday afternoon in Britain and very early on a Saturday morning in most of the States. Is that all right with you? Spud (talk) 07:23, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * How early are we talking about here? RoninMacbeth (talk) 17:54, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * What would that be in UTC? I'm in CTZ here in the US, and Lefty is in California so they would be Pacific Daylight Time for her. 18:02, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 0:00 on Sunday in Taiwan is 16:00 on Saturday UTC. It's 10:00 on Saturday morning CTZ and 9:00 on Saturday morning Pacific Daylight Time. That doesn't sound too early, does it? Fortunately for you, I am flexible. I really don't mind starting a meeting after midnight on Saturday night, or any other night of the week either since I don't usually start work until four o'clock in the afternoon. But when it's Saturday morning in the States has generally been the best time for reaching everybody. Spud (talk) 12:58, 20 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 9:00 a.m. on a Saturday? Yeah, that's easy. Barely even "early." RoninMacbeth (talk) 15:54, 20 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I should be able to make it. 20:54, 23 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I can do it unless I can't. Depends on my schedule at the time of the meeting. 21:14, 23 July 2020 (UTC)

D, surely you won't be busy every Saturday afternoon. There has to be at least one Saturday afternoon a month when you'll be free. Spud (talk) 03:12, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Free time =/= free time with available internet connection. If everyone else sets a date I can attend it, I'm saying this to cover me back. 20:45, 25 July 2020 (UTC)

Grammarcommie
Does this mean that you're not going to leave the site? Because your profile clearly says that you do. Gunther1987 (talk) 10:54, 21 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I'm thinking on it. I only really ran because no one else seemed to want to at the time. 15:48, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Membership in the RationalMedia board of trustees is a role that is completely independent of RationalWiki, and there is no requirement that a board member be a regular user of RationalWiki (see The RationalMedia Foundation's Role in the ownership and operation of RationalWiki for details). or any other board member could drop into inactive status on the wiki and it would have no bearing on their role as a RMF board member as long as they perform the duties called for as a board member, and actively participate in the promotion and implementation of the mission and goals of the foundation. —cosmikdebris talk stalk 02:34, 25 July 2020 (UTC)

Grammarcommie 2
Since you're from Texas, have you ever seen Alex Jones? If so, did you call him out on his insane ramblings? Gunther1987 (talk) 11:14, 26 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Sadly no. He's based out of South Texas and I'm in the northern part of the state. I also don't leave the house much outside of social gatherings. I'd love to talk (not debate, that would be pointless) with him though, it would likely be a memorable experience. 03:19, 27 July 2020 (UTC)

RoninMacBeth
Do you think that the TV series Six Feet Under is pretentious and terribly slow? Shabi DOO  23:03, 24 July 2020 (UTC) I have not watched it. But I can read a Wikipedia synopsis about it, so that should qualify me to answer. RoninMacbeth (talk) 17:48, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

LeftGreenMario
Could you really call a pureed potato and chickpea lasagna...an actual lasagna? Shabi DOO  23:03, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Uh, first we gotta establish what an "actual lasagna" is. 21:26, 25 July 2020 (UTC)

Dysk
Do you think it's inappropriate to clip your toe nails on public transportation? Shabi DOO  23:03, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * No of course not. 20:47, 25 July 2020 (UTC)

GrammarCommie
¿Should English adopt the Spanish custom of using an inverted question mark at the beginning of interrogative sentences? Shabi DOO  23:03, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * No, this would be too confusing. 23:36, 24 July 2020 (UTC)

Candidate endorsement sheet
1. Yes! 15:12, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 1) ;Endorsements
 * 2) I endorse GC for staff member. — Oxyaena Harass  13:56, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Ya, why no. 16:52, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 1) -Flandres (talk) 18:08, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 2) Of course. 21:22, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 3) Yes. —cosmikdebris talk stalk 23:52, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 4) GC and I got along well when we last met, so I wholeheartedly endorse their candidacy. RoninMacbeth (talk) 07:05, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 5) Yes. Bongolian (talk) 18:13, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 6) Competent, seems like he'd be a fine board member. 18:27, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 7) Why the fuck not? Shabi  DOO  20:20, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 8) Looking forward to getting to know a bit more about who this user is in real life. Spud (talk) 13:05, 20 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 9) Gunther1987 (talk) 20:33, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 10) interested in seeing mikes reaction to finding out who GC is irl tbh.  02:52, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 11) ;Anti-endorsements
 * 12) Terrible person, terrible user, renounced their mod position before. I don't see any benefit in having them as board members considering their character.   15:47, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * — Oxyaena Harass  18:28, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * To be fair, that first accusation is probably true. I am very likely a horrible person. 20:17, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * And if we were to believe every (right-wing)troll, you're also a communist, because username!!!1!1!! Gunther1987 (talk) 23:33, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Technically GC is a socialist by his own admittance of being a left-wing anticapitalist but not a communist probably. 02:41, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * This is correct, I am not a communist. And as I stated before, Raven is probably correct, I am likely a terrible person. 14:20, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * You have a personal vendetta with GC, from what I've found in the chicken coop. Those first 2 points you're making are linked with something that occured in June. Point 3 was apparently, because of Bernie giving up and the whole site was in a "vote Blue or vote Trump" state. Gunther1987 (talk) 20:33, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Raven is the socdem version of Trump, just ignore him. — Oxyaena Harass  20:55, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I was under the impression GC resigned because of stress incurred from playing referee in a bunch a saloon bar conflicts which got very ugly very fast. I can see why one might stop wanting to sift through all of it.-Flandres (talk) 21:44, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * That actually sounds pretty awful... Gunther1987 (talk) 23:18, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 1) See here-Hastur! (talk) 18:00, 29 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 2) Second Hastur. I've revoked my earlier endorsement. Recent erratic and unacceptable behavior has changed my mind on this candidate. 21:44, 1 August 2020 (UTC)


 * Just check the coop cases involving mainly Oxy and HBC and you will see something of the matter. 02:41, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I know by now that Oxy isn't a saint either (edit-warring, lots of LANCB's that take as long as a weekend, gets pretty defensive about anything related to Communism & Anarchism (she pretty much sounds like some politicians over here that don't mind if you criticize stuff, as long as it isn't anything that they support or like), she and Ace don't seem to get along either (and the misgendering in the past didn't help smoothening thing either) and that HBC is a troll who, for some reason, is liked by many old guarders like, for example, Nutty Roux & Scream!! (based on their reactions). I also learned that reading archives consumes lots of time, food (because entertainment and that internet drama is still the same as 10 years ago) & made me wonder why this site never reached HCM Level 0 (might get rid of all the shit that has happened in the past months). This site has problems, but it's not the site that's a problem, it's the userbase that has problematic members in it. And I personally think that some people should take a look in the mirror, before judging someone else of shitty behaviour (some people have links with three garbage sites, for example. Make of that whatever you want, but I don't think you can create a good community based on that. You can't support this site's mission and at the same time being a member from those sites knowing fully well(You're not going to tell me that they're not aware about how those sites think about us) that they have pages on us filled with hate, bullshit & how much we suck because we're a "bunch of Spergs"..
 * By the way, when looking up Uncyc's page on us, I got a warning from Malwarebytes. It blocked images.uncyclomedia.co. Reason? Trojan Horse. Gunther1987 (talk) 11:32, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I'm an uncyclopedian and I've been a contributing member to both that site and here for years and I've never felt the slightest conflict, not for a second. How does writing parody articles affect my contributing to the annotated quran, alt-med articles or rationalwikifying articles? The rationalwiki article wasn't that funny. I rewrote it and posted a new article today. I hope it's a little funnier. You're a cranky ole bit sometimes Gunther. You talk about hate but you come across as a hateful person sometimes. Shabi  DOO  12:15, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Why am I cranky? Because I put pressure on the wound that's there, but that others don't see/don't wanna see? Because I don't think the internet (shit like that) is funny? Stand-up comedians are funny. John Cleese is funny. Louis de Funès is funny. Tonight shows are hilarious. 10 hours vids on YT about one thing (like "10 hours trololololol") is not, it's dumb. Someone on YT making a video that is supposed to be funny, yet in reality consists only of nit-picking is also not funny (several video's from Cinemasins and a few recent one's from Dartigan) and meme's are overrated (a handful of them are funny, while the majority of them are, at best "wtf's?" and at worst this. Video's that are, in a nutshell: "damn, bruh. You just got roasted! lolzorz!" is dumb BS and I don't even know the purpose of commentary channels on youtube, other than to criticize some popular youtubers, while white-washing others ones. Sites like ED only exist to fuel the flames and make the internet look bad. Apparently that makes me "cranky" (got criticized in the past on other sites for pointing out stuff and being called "cranky" aswell, so nothing new there)...
 * "You talk about hate but you come across as a hateful person sometimes." Care to elaborate on this one? Gunther1987 (talk) 13:57, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * How does any of this relate to endorsing or anti-endorsing myself? 14:17, 25 July 2020 (UTC)


 * You spent an enormous paragraph railing against uncyclopedia (a website dedicated towards satire and humour) because a small portion of the content doesn't reflect your values and the general humour doesn't meet your own subjective standards of whats funny (as though you are some divine arbiter of homour) and a tongue-in-cheeck article about rationalwiki...all in a section which is meant to support or criticize a candidate for a board elections. Try coming down a notch will you? Shabi  DOO  17:42, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 1. That paragraph was not just about UC, but whatever floats your boat. 2. "some divine arbiter of humour". Bullshit, I've never said that. + that toxic post of yours is perfect proof that you can't handle critique against a website that you love (UC), even though most of my post was about YT, the internet in general and some coops. Only a small portion is about UC, so you only read what you wanted and you're lying. 3. "Try calming down a notch will you?" Same goes for you aswell. Gunther1987 (talk) 18:53, 25 July 2020 (UTC)

2.
 * 1) ;Endorsements
 * 2) I like.  15:00, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 3) Was a pleasure to work with. 15:12, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 4) She's one of the most level headead people here and clearly has the best interest of RW in her mind.Coigreach (talk) 17:55, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 5) Flandres (talk) 18:08, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 6) Heard is pro-furry. 21:22, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 7) Absolutely. —cosmikdebris talk stalk 23:52, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 8) Levelheaded and responsible, very good fit for the Board. RoninMacbeth (talk) 07:05, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 9) Apart from all the good qualities you all already know about, having a little chat with her is very nice indeed and I look forward to doing it again. Spud (talk) 07:23, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 10) Yes. Bongolian (talk) 18:13, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 11) Solid, levelheaded and seems like she knows how to resolve problems. Nice to work with. 18:27, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 12) There isn't a better candidate.  Shabi  DOO  20:20, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 13) 15:47, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 14) Gunther1987 (talk) 20:45, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 15) ;Anti-endorsements
 * 16) Is generally quite a good moderator, both patient and reasonable with good judgement. Ergo one might assume she'd make a good board member.  However she is suspiciously tolerant of furries and admits to being lefthanded therefore the only reason I would possibly vote for her is to make sure Donald Trump loses.  #Bernie2020-Hastur! (talk)  17:00, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Anti-endorsing me for the sake of a furry denigrating joke is not cool at all. Seriously. 17:05, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * You must be drunker than I am if you think that was a furry joke-Hastur! (talk) 17:08, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * You're an idiot. — Oxyaena Harass  18:04, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Crass remark. 21:22, 18 July 2020 (UTC
 * Lamest anti-endorsement ever Shabi  DOO  20:22, 19 July 2020 (UTC)

3.
 * 1) ;Endorsements
 * 2) They seem good with technical stuff, and we sorely need some updates to our site. RoninMacbeth (talk) 07:05, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 3) Sure, seems fit for the job. 17:15, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 4) Yes. Bongolian (talk) 18:13, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 5) Perhaps I'll get to ask him what happened to Wikilivres. Spud (talk) 13:05, 20 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I had a mental breakdown and during the approximately 4 month period I was unavailable, Wikiliveres ran out of money cause I was paying for the whole thing and the person I left as backup sysadmin was broke. This caused the hosting provider to discontinue the hosting account due to $150 (circa) unpaid charges, which in turn resulted in the site being lost because there was no working redundancy. I tried sometime later to restore it from a backup but said backup was corrupted in some way I couldn't determine, I gave up and let the domain expire. And that was the end of the site... I couldn't remember exactly who was running it before and didn't have their contact details and made zero effort to find anyone else to reestablish it anyhow. 21:30, 23 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you for the explanation. You know, the site is back now. Kind of. The main pager is there and a few of the links work. Most of them don't. Anyway, I won't be editing it again. Its entire history has been far too unstable. And I was an admin on more wikis than I could cope with. I was really quite happy to lose one. Spud (talk) 03:25, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 1) Good with technical stuff, and wants mobile version. --RWRW (talk) 14:58, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 2) 15:47, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 3) ;Anti-endorsements
 * 4) smells  02:48, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * So, you're anti-endorsing someone, because of bad personal hygiene? How would you know? I've heard of a monitor or smartphone that let's you smell the odor of the person you're talking too... Gunther1987 (talk) 11:50, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * It's a joke, chill. D is Z's brother. 14:45, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * No U. 20:51, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 1) Nuked the old RW support chat Discord server over a Coop case, thusly demonstrating poor judgment. If the candidate has changed, so be it. 21:30, 31 July 2020 (UTC)

4.
 * 1) ;Endorsements
 * 2) — Oxyaena  Harass  04:03, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 3) Yup, I won't mind working with this person during the meetings. 17:15, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 4) Yes. Bongolian (talk) 18:13, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 5) He gud 18:52, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 6) Looking forward to getting to know a bit more about who this user is in real life. Spud (talk) 13:05, 20 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 7) Yep. 21:34, 23 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 8) --RWRW (talk) 18:07, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 9)  02:48, 25 July 2020 (UTC)
 * 10) ;Anti-endorsements

Goat
What happens now that there are four vacancies and four candidates? What exactly will this election determine?-Flandres (talk) 00:55, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Goat.22.Sep.2015.jpg
 * Hopefully, that we don't take ourselves too seriously here. —cosmikdebris talk stalk 02:33, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * that democracy once again worked perfectly. 02:47, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * The candidate with the least votes gets the 1 year seat, the other 3 people get the 2 year seats. See, it's valid. 21:35, 23 July 2020 (UTC)

i still fail to see the purpose of an election where all we have to go on is on wiki behaviour for positions that would ordinary be filled after considering the CVs of candidates. AMassiveGay (talk) 15:16, 26 July 2020 (UTC)
 * the board doesn't really do anything it's just required to keep the legal status for donations to maintain the site. All this process is, is an annual dare for the peeps here to dox themselves on a public registry website in exchange for a staff role that does literally nothing anyway. CVs and stuff would be overcomplicating it. 19:49, 26 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I mean, nominally the board handles the finances to some degree, as well as pushing for site upgrades. 02:58, 27 July 2020 (UTC)