Uicipeid:Administrators

Administrators, commonly known as admins and also called sysops (system operators), are Wikipedia editors who have access to technical features that help with maintenance. Wikipedia practice is to grant administrator status to anyone who has been an active and regular Wikipedia contributor for at least a few months, is familiar with and respects Wikipedia policy, and who has gained the trust of the community. They can protect and delete pages, block other editors, and undo these actions as well. These privileges are granted indefinitely, and are only removed on request or under circumstances involving high level intervention by a Steward. Administrators undertake additional responsibilities on a voluntary basis, and they are not employees of the Wikimedia Foundation.

In the very early days of Wikipedia, all users acted as administrators. While the tools that administrators are granted are technical and do not convey authority per se, the language used is that they are entrusted with tools that allow them to unilaterally affect the involvement and availability of the results of the work of other users. Administrators are encouraged to maintain an attitude that they are non-privileged members of the community. (There are currently 5 admins.)

Because administrators are expected to be experienced members of the community, users seeking help will often turn to an administrator for advice and information. In general, administrators acting in this role are neutral; they do not have any direct involvement in the issues they are helping people with.

Becoming an administrator

If you would like administrator access, make a request to the local bureaucrat. Your request will be considered on the basis of your demonstrated commitment to the Wikipedia. Normally anyone who has contributed regularly to the Gaelic Wikipedia over a period of several months will be given administrator access, unless there are serious objections from other editors.

Although multiple user accounts are allowed on Wikipedia in certain circumstances, only one account of a given person should have administrative tools.

Be careful, please! If you are granted access, you must exercise care in using these functions, especially the ability to delete pages and the ability to block IP addresses. Also note Administrators and all other users with extra tools are expected to have a strong password, (one containing letters, numbers and punctuation symbols), to prevent damage in the case of a compromised account.)

If you have exercised your right to vanish, and return under a new name, your new name can request administrator access by contacting a bureaucrat privately and producing satisfactory evidence of being the same user, provided you did not originally request desysopping under controversial circumstances.