Wikipedia:Administration FAQ

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How do policies get decided?

Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines describes how Wikipedia arrives at its policies and guidelines through a process of discussion and consensus. Discussion takes place in the Wikipedia:Mailing lists and in the various policy pages which form part of the "Wikipedia:" namespace. For recent discussion in the "Wikipedia:" pages, try going to Wikipedia:Utilities and clicking the Related Changes (http://www.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Special:Recentchangeslinked&target=Wikipedia:Utilities) button.

What is an administrator? What is a sysop?

Two words for the same thing. An administrator is simply a Wikipedian who can access the few restricted Wikipedia software functions: deleting articles and uploaded files, protecting and unprotecting pages, blocking and unblocking IP addresses, and running certain direct database queries.

How can I become an administrator?

It's easy. First, you need a user account. Then, make useful edits over a period of time. In this way, you prove to the community that you are here in good faith. Then, add your name to Wikipedia:Requests for adminship. Voila! Be sure to read Wikipedia:Administrators and Wikipedia:Policy on permanent deletion of pages, and use your new "powers" with caution.

Who monitors the conduct of an administrator?

Administrators monitor each other; nearly all admin powers are completely reversible by any other admin (including page deletions, lockings, and IP bannings, but not currently including deletion of uploaded files). In rare cases Jimbo Wales has to step in. In any case, you have the RightToFork and the RightToLeave.

Administrative Tasks

How can I unban an IP?

Select "Blocked IP addresses" from the drop-down box at the top of each page (Special:Ipblocklist), and click on "unblock" as required. Developers can unblock multiple IPs at once.

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