View source for ProleWiki:Stewards role and permissions

You've probably been linked this page as you received your Steward role on the wiki and [https://discord.gg/ZQTBNRU9v5 Discord] server.

This quick read will bring you up to speed on what this role is and does inside ProleWiki.

(Feb 2026 update: ''this role was previously called Trusted Editors, is now called Stewards'')

<small>Reading time: {{#invoke:Reading time|estimateReadingTime|ProleWiki:Trusted Editor Permissions}}</small>

== What you do as a Steward and getting started ==
When you become a new steward, don't instantly jump into looking at all the new things you get access to. '''Take the time to read both this page and the threads on our discord server (found in the new channels you get access to) to understand the role.'''

Your first task:

# Read this page in full.
# Check the threads titled "NEW STEWARDS READ THIS FIRST" in the '''#english''' channel on the Discord. It will guide you to the other threads.
# Then, read those other threads too please.

Ask other stewards about how we do things and get some time to understand the processes. This group has existed far before you joined ProleWiki, trust in your comrades that our way of doing things has served us well. However, also remember that you are equal to other stewards.

Stewards are:

* theoretically competent enough to vet editors
* theoretically competent enough to define ProleWiki's standards
* capable of crit/selfcrit to make collective decisions
* capable of representing ProleWiki publicly (as editors, not stewards)
* capable to not just follow, but uphold ProleWiki's principles for the project
* certain degree of investment in the longevity and development of ProleWiki

Inside the stewardship, we discuss things openly and clearly. We perform criticism and self-criticism. We may disagree at times, but that is because our common goal is to ensure ProleWiki's longevity as a whole.

Stewards are also:

* '''Responsible''': They understand that the tools they have are not for personal gain but for the maintenance and protection of the project. They follow through on tasks and own the outcomes of their decisions.
* '''Impartial''': A steward applies the rules and standards of ProleWiki consistently, without favoritism or prejudice. When mediating disputes or vetting editors, they set aside personal feelings about the individual and focus solely on the content and the principles of the project.
* '''Vigilant''': watchful against attempts to undermine ProleWiki, whether from inside or outside. Does not grow complacent.
* '''Disinterested''': make decisions based on what is best for the project. Disinterested is not uninterested!
* '''Principled''': understands not just the application of the rules and processes but also why they exist, and where they can best effect progressive change. They can be trusted to make judgment calls when appropriate.
* and (hopefully) '''active''', though we understand real life takes priority over online engagements.

You will likely grow into your role so don't be scared if some of this doesn't entirely make sense yet.

== Who the Stewards are ==
''Stewardship - the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.''

Inside ProleWiki, Stewards are editors that decide on policy, finances, and other 'growth' projects. They are responsible for maintaining project health and cohesiveness and help shape the ideological and organizational line of ProleWiki.

To that end, they are entrusted with the ability to vote on account applications (both on the chatrooms and wiki), discuss and vote on finances, approve or reject anon edits, mentor new editors, manage language instances or other services we offer, and serve as 'moderators' (closer to facilitators, in most cases) on the chatrooms and wiki. They know the project well and have been invested in it for a long time.

Generally most actions are voted on by the stewardship as well. Along with the editorship at large, they are a motive force behind the growth of ProleWiki as a harmonious, healthy project. Stewards are also editors.

For this reason, the stewardship grows as the editorship itself does - the more active editors there are on ProleWiki, the more stewards there will be.

== How to become a Steward ==
New Stewards are proposed from inside the editorship by other stewards, and then voted on in a yes/no choice. It's a role with a lot of responsibilities and as such, new Stewards are picked carefully on various criteria, and tested on these criteria before joining.

You may indicate that you would like to become a steward to the stewardship, and we will remember you when/if we are looking to add new stewards, but there is no guarantee you will ever be approached about it.

The steward role may be removed if one contravenes the role and spirit of stewardship.

== History of Stewards ==
(Optional reading)

For a long time Stewards were known as the Trusted editorship. Before that, in the early days of ProleWiki, they simply had the Comrade role on the wiki. That role was initially rolled out to combat against spam accounts and recognize real contributors. As the project evolved over 5 years of existence, the Comrade role became too constraining: firstly because many users had Comrade in their name which made it difficult to differentiate, secondly because it wasn't just about differentiating bots from real contributors but also giving them permissions to do deeper edits (such as uploading images or creating new pages).

The trusted name stuck for a few years and over time, this segment of the editorship became an important part of moderating and defining ProleWiki. Over time, new permissions were added to the then-trusted editorship such as moderating anonymous edits, voting on account requests, or managing individual language instances. For a period of time the trusted editorship existed in a sort of limbo, having both wiki perms and moderating permissions. This created a contradiction between the intention behind the role and its material basis, which existed due to ProleWiki not having equal development in all areas of activity. Trusted editorship was given to people who needed the editing permissions or had participated long enough in the project due to all it encompassed, while the role itself was taking on more of a leadership role and was not solely technical anymore.

Finally, as the whole of ProleWiki became more democratic and demcent was more thoroughly established across the board, the trusted editorship took the emergent, organic decision in February 2026 to add new stewards by vote for the first time. At the same time, it decided on its own name change to become the Stewards.

From then on the proper name for the group is the Stewards, and the Trusted name, which did not entirely reflect their role or the fact that they were necessarily trusted, is no longer in use.
[[Category:ProleWiki official pages]]