On 6/3/05 9:50 AM, "Poor, Edmund W" Edmund.W.Poor@abc.com wrote:
Your behavior must be exemplary (like mine ;-) and then everyone is bound to treat you well.
Why does this work? Well, take me for example. My personal views are considered "extreme" (even offensive) by many other contributors - including admins and arbcom members. But I avoid PERSONAL ATTACKS, and I'm gracious and yielding at all times.
Except when I lose it! And when I'm having a bad day I withdraw, mull things over and undo or take back what I did or said. Generally with copious, self-abasing apologies.
Exactly. Ed's always gracious and polite, except when he's a total nitwit and obtuse blowhard.
Just like me.
I've been called a lot worse than "jerk" by others here at Wikipedia, and I haven't called for "personal redress". I do try to understand why people get upset with me, and act accordingly, but I also recognize that that Wikipedia is not the center of my social universe and a little intemperateness is not a big deal.
By the way, I think that there are lots of people who can be jerks here at Wikipedia. But it doesn't mean they can't also be humble and helpful.
Remember the virtues of a programmer: laziness, impatience, and hubris.