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I have been a Wikipedian since June 2003, an administrator since December 2003, and was a bureaucrat between August 2004 and December 2015. I was a member of the Mediation Committee and served as chair of that committee.

After being relatively inactive for a while, I had been greatly (re)inspired by attending Wikimania 2006 and getting quite accurately quoted in the Guardian by Gary Younge! However, the need to focus on being a parent has greatly reduced my available wikiediting time :-(

May in Northern California
May in Northern California

I live in New England, but I grew up in Detroit, hence my interest in many of the pages I obsess about -- and my interest in Canada. I spent a lot of time watching the CBC during the Trudeau years...and I'm still waiting for: The Friendly Giant, Mr. Dressup, and Wayne & Shuster on DVD. And my Wikiholic score is *only* 96 110 129 143 273/220(manual/automated).


Wiki edit

I try to keep the following queries and advice in mind as I work here at the 'pedia:

--> Working on Wikipedia
The Four-Way test from Rotary International

  • Is it the truth?
  • Is it fair to all concerned?
  • Will it build goodwill and better relationships?
  • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

--> Working with Wikipedians
Queries from the Religious Society of Friends

  • Do I approach others with respect and concern?
  • Am I concerned with community and its needs?
  • Am I an agent for tolerance and acceptance?
  • Can I forgive others easily?
  • Is there harmony between what I believe and how I act?

--> Working through Conflict
Some suggestions from Larry Sanger on what Wikipedians should do:

  • Be open and warmly welcoming, not insular,
  • Be focused singlemindedly on writing an encyclopedia, not on Usenet-style debate,
  • Recognize and praise the best work, work that is detailed, factual, well-informed, and well-referenced,
  • Work to understand what neutrality requires and why it is so essential to and good for this project,
  • Treat your fellow productive, well-meaning members of Wikipedia with respect and good will,
  • Attract and honor good people who know a lot and can write about it well, and
  • Show the door to trolls, vandals, and wiki-anarchists, who if permitted would waste your time and create a poisonous atmosphere here.

--> An outline for a Wikicovenant from Kingturtle:

  • Make others feel welcome (even longtime participants; even those you dislike)
  • Create and continue a friendly environment
  • Turn the other cheek (which includes walking away from potential edit wars)
  • Give praise, especially to those you don't know (most people like to know they are wanted and appreciated)
  • Forgive
the old desk
See also:






--> Words of Wikiwisdom

  • Be bold in using non-sysop powers. Be timid in using sysop powers. Be bold when you anticipate no objections. Be timid when objections have already been expressed. -- Martin
  • ...being an administrator places a very heavy burden of responsibility. Administrators become the brunt of all the misguided antagonism from disgruntled and problem users, and yet must always act with the utmost dignity and level-headedness. -- Mark Ryan
  • ...plus almost all actions are reversible -- unlike military force. There's no "Votes for unbombing" -- me on why there isn't a Wikijunta
  • One doesn't fight a troll. Reverse troll. Take a troll and transmute it into something positive to say about the world. Over and over again. Without falter, without anger. If it isn't a troll, then you win. If it is a troll, you win. It isn't an easy solution, but it is the easiest. Maybe instead of being an emotional cost, it will turn into a source of emotional energy. Especially if we remember that we don't have to reply right away. The faster we reply the more emotionally charged the place is. Glaciality. -- my Go-King
  • We quiet our conscience from being responsible for the death of millions of innocent, beautiful creatures by ridiculing the ones who have managed to overcome the same primitive desires. -- Xirzon speaks about vegetarians.

--> Words of unWikiwisdom

  • Romanians may accept unspeakable suffering, but they will never accept unjustice ! -- Irismeister
  • All sysops can communicate with each other using a back channel consisting of an unrelated web page and encrypted, predefined signals. -- Plautus satire
  • On Wikipedia, there is a giant conspiracy attempting to have articles agree with reality. -- Plautus satire
  • Lying is lying is lying is lying. -- Bird
  • It's obvious that your only goal is a massive edit/revert war, an armaggedon-like contest of egos that ultimately creates a firestorm. -- Mike Church after he lists me on Vandalism in progress -- a first for me!

--> Why Wikipedia is Great


My subpages and other wiki pages edit


In conclusion... edit

Talk with me here on my talk page if you'd like.

Peace,
Brian

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This user has been editing Wikipedia for more than twenty years.