Oppose, I don't see a need for another admin, you already have the tools you need to be a great editor (which you are). I also don't necessarily like the way you communicate and I don't feel you have the right temperament.

Oppose. No offense, Raff, but I think two admins is enough.

I don't really have much else new to add here but I agree with many of the points raised by the opposition. I do think Raff can certainly prove himself to be worthy of the position with time but for now my formal vote is oppose.

I think there are a lot of things to like about Raff. He has a strong edit count and has held several moderation roles since he started in the last four to five years. I’ve known him for a long time. Raff is an accomplished community member, is approachable, and has played a large and meaningful part in several efforts to improve different aspects of the site. But while contributions and tenure are very important, as Raff has successfully demonstrated, they’re not the only metrics I use when evaluating a candidate for adminship. I’d like the voting committee, the applicant, and other voters informed, or otherwise, to read this carefully.

I agree with others that I don’t see the need for a third admin at this time, and the application doesn’t clearly justify why that is necessary. The application also seems to suggest an administrator might be needed specifically for the DA, but no specific raised issues were brought up to support that claim, nor does it explain why Raff in particular would be suited for that role as opposed to another member of the DA staff. I personally can’t speak to any temperament issues; I’ve never had problems with Raff on that front.

Since this was not addressed in the application, I do feel it’s relevant to note I really disliked how he backed Shabook's administration during 2023–2024, a period fraught with issues such as poor site governance, controversial creative decisions made with no community input, and the enabling of oppressive behavior. All these issues have been resolved since the current administration. While that is not Raff’s fault, his specific backing of the leadership that originally allowed it during such a problematic period is something I find concerning about his judgment. Others can attest to this. Simply put, I don’t feel comfortable supporting a candidate who backed that system.

Finally, a factor influencing my decision is that of the current voting pool, which is admittedly more critical than I originally expected. The volume of other folks who have voted in the opposition are long-standing active editors with verifiable site experience. I put more trust in the opinions of those who provide stronger arguments and more detailed feedback, and in this case, those voices are largely against Raff’s candidacy.

All that being said, I cannot, in good conscience, vote in favor of his promotion request for administrator. The onus of administrative leadership involves not only technical ability, but a level of responsibility and judgment that I don’t believe Raff has fully demonstrated yet. However, I do believe Raff has clear strengths and potential, and will have a better shot at eligibility in the future if the other feedback he has received is improved upon. I hope my feedback helps inform any future candidacy. Oppose.

As a moderator, my interactions with Raff have been positive and cooperative. I have no concern with him being promoted to admin. If people feel like there should not be more than two, I understand. If Admin is open to a third, then I support Raff being the third. 

I support. 

I support.

I, for one, appreciate how stoic and serious Raff is in his dedication to the wiki. While I can't say I pay much attention to his edits, I know he holds the wiki's infrastructure and layout to high standards to make it look clean and easy to navigate for viewers. All the edits he made have been appreciated in my eyes, and I would love to see what he could do as the "swing vote" between the other two admins in terms of decision-making.

Over the course of my time as a general editor and during my transition to a member of wiki staff, Raff has always been a supportive and helpful voice to turn to. Raff has a pretty long history of making worthwhile contributions to this wiki that have helped improve it for the better, and I, for one, have really appreciated his commitment to this wiki and to helping others like myself hold ourselves to the same standard. While I do agree that our current admins have been doing a wonderful job and thus there’s not a strong need for a third admin, I do think Raff would do a very serviceable job as an admin in terms of continuing to improve this wiki, so I add my support as well.

I oppose for the points listed above. Raava.

Voting has now ended. 17 eligible votes were cast, of which 10 opposed Raff's ascension to administrator while 7 were in support. Candidate would have required 80% of the vote to be in favor, with the final total only having 41.2% votes in favor. Candidate Raff2159 will therefore not be promoted to administrator.

I am humbled to have been the first person eligible for such a promotion through the pathway system and I hope future candidates can learn from my application and the comments in here. And I accept the outcome with no complaints.

Thank you to everyone who responded, both those who supported and those who opposed. I will take your critiques into account and create a better environment from me to you guys.

I hope it is understood that I hold no issues with anybody who opposed and everything will continue to operate as usual. I am here to help anybody in the wiki and hope there is no hesitation to contact me despite the outcome here.

Thank you all for your replies.

Raff