User blog comment:Brandon Rhea/Tips for being a great admin/@comment-452-20121025235412/@comment-452-20121027071558

The default text for MediaWiki:User-identity-box-group-sysop is "Admin" and MediaWiki:group-sysop-member is "administrator". While sysop is indeed the technical term for the user group, that does not mean the term "Admin" is incorrect.

"no need to think up other names like janitor or helper." The idea behind saying that "perhaps the title should be changed" was to suggest a way to take away all possible preconceptions about the position that new users might have that may make them act differently towards "admins". The term "system operator" is no better than "administrator" in this regard, as it would still sound like a "big scary position of power" to a new user who hasn't been told that all users are equal. (Especially if they have had any experience with wikipedia bullies)

The term "helper" is more "friendly" and describes what an admin should be, and "janitor" much better describes the actual function of the role. Both of these suggestions take away any connotation of "authority" or "leadership". Perhaps a middle ground between the two would be the word "maintenance", which still doesn't imply power, but communicates the function of the role sufficiently.

edit: I don't think I've ever seen it changed on any wikis to be "less scary", the only time I've ever seen it changed is to be some in-universe term for a position of power. Does anyone have any examples of the title being changed to be more friendly?

edit:
 * wiggles.wikia - can't get much more friendly than that!

Unfortunately, my google search hasn't found any other good examples, but quite a few bad ones, such as "Ruler" and "Sheriff". It's hard to "downplay the idea that admins are rulers" when that's what some literally call themselves.