There are two cases that concern me a lot because of the characteristics exhibited by the main editors involved.
Maoririder, whose case is before the arbitration comittee and is still in the evidence phase, is not an obvious vandal or troll. He has made large numbers of vanishingly small stubs, some of which have grown into very impressive articles, and also asked intriguing, childlike, questions in an appropriate forum.
Wiki brah, who has been subjected to many blocks from his earliest appearance in mid-August, has written articles that have been identified as "nonsense" by RC patrollers, but a discussion with fellow administrators they tended to the opinion that the articles were acceptable newbie stubs and did not merit the vandalism warnings that they provoked:
06:56, 14 August 2005 Lucky 6.9 deleted "Keyboard dust bag" (content was: 'You might have seen this little dillio at the automatic repair garage or any other place where typist have dirty or greazy hands. This is the thin ty...' (and the only contributor was 'Wiki brah'))
06:55, 14 August 2005 Lucky 6.9 deleted "Cellshell" (content was: 'this is that colored plastic pice that fits over your cell pohne. It changed its colors, see? These things are not all that populbar anymore with th...' (and the only contributor was 'Wiki brah'))
06:50, 14 August 2005 Lucky 6.9 deleted "Altimeter calibration knob" (content was: 'THIS is the small dial or knob on the console of an airplane that lets you adjust the altimeter to set the barometric pressure that is cruical to the ...' (and the only contributor was 'Wiki brah'))
For some time I have had a strong suspicion that Maoririder may be autistic. Wiki brah's contributions also fit the pattern.
The above reminds me of an early response to Maoririder:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Maoririder&diff=1973...
"Those "bloody-nosed beetle" and "big-eyed bug" nanostubs are tantamount to vandalism. If you'd like to experiment, please use the [[Wikipedia:Sandbox|sandbox]]. Thanks."
While the stubs in question were indeed tiny, they were hardly vandalism.
Big-eyed bug, for instance, read as follows:
It is a type of bug.
Template:Bug-stub
Today Wikipedia has coverage for both of those insects, mainly thanks to Maoririder's stubs and the good faith expansions performed by other editors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody-nosed_Beetle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-eyed_bug
Another of Maoririder's stubs was Portland High School. Later moved to "Portland High School, Portland Maine" Maoririder's original stub read:
It is located in Portland, Maine
Template:Maine-stub
The article was listed on AfD four days after its creation. The article was expanded--the school, founded in 1821, turned out to be one of the first public high schools founded in the United States after the Revolution, and the article was expanded in a few minutes and, via a premature speedy delete or two, the result of the debate was keep, with only one vote to delete.
Both Maoririder and Wiki brah have been labelled, variously, trolls and vandals, although I do not see strong evidence to support either label.
Both of them have expressed a strong wish to produce work for Wikipedia. Both of them produce articles that appear weird to non-autists. In my opinion, neither represents a threat to Wikipedia commensurate to the treatment they have received.
Should the world's first encyclopedia that anyone can edit continue knowingly to alienate, abuse and reject autists?
Should the world's first encyclopedia that anyone can edit continue knowingly to alienate, abuse and reject autists?
HUH? I'd say it does the opposite. Redwolf24 is one of the most tolerant admins I know, if he really blocks you for two weeks, then you probably deserved it.
Maoririder, whose case is before the arbitration comittee and is still in the evidence phase, is not an obvious vandal or troll
I mean how is
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/ index.php?title=User_talk:Maoririder&diff=prev&oldid=25001203
acceptable?
Speaking of which what does this have to do with Autism? I couldn't find it mentioned here.
More to the point I work with lots of autistic people on the autism-related pages. Its just like a lot of other pages - some are whip-smart and more or less are easy to work with - others exist to do annoying things (push original research, push their organization etc.).
Thinking deeper though, I was diagnosed with Kanner-style autism myself at a very young age, and rather resent being categorized like this (esp. since I've never flipped anyone off, LOL). Fact is, there are a lot of factors at work here. People, esp. autistics, mature in different ways and in different speeds. For those who read my user page you'll find some of the criticism from my days as a wx-developer - I didn't exactly fare too well there and it was a rather stressful two years (counting hair pieces lost here...). Basically, people are situated for different things - some people get along better at some places then others.
At some point people have to move on. Maybe someday they will come back to Wikipedia and become valued contributers, but as is it sounds like (at least in Maoririder's case) they need a break, most likely for their own good. There are aspects of psychology that play in here too (something about people going back to the same place and acting similarly as before even though they have grown up past the situation). The supposed "discrimination" part here might be unfortunate, but if they are unwilling to stop the nonsense then maybe its best for them to find a different place to go (and yes, its a difficult thing).
Oh, and I've never made a stub - I don't believe in the things. I only write real articles, LOL :).
Thanks, Ryan
[[User:RN]] at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:RN Ryan Norton at wxforum: http://wxforum.org
On 10/11/05, Ryan Norton wxprojects@comcast.net wrote:
Maoririder, whose case is before the arbitration comittee and is still in the evidence phase, is not an obvious vandal or troll
I mean how is
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/ index.php?title=User_talk:Maoririder&diff=prev&oldid=25001203
acceptable?
Yes, alas. If I were treated as Maoririder has been, I'd probably lose my rag a bit. I'm shocked that his loss of composure (which he removed) is being treated here as evidence of his being a troll of vandal.
More than shocked, actually. I'm fucking livid. But never mind.
On Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 03:17 AM, Tony Sidaway wrote:
On 10/11/05, Ryan Norton wxprojects@comcast.net wrote:
Maoririder, whose case is before the arbitration comittee and is still in the evidence phase, is not an obvious vandal or troll
I mean how is
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/ index.php?title=User_talk:Maoririder&diff=prev&oldid=25001203
acceptable?
Yes, alas. If I were treated as Maoririder has been, I'd probably lose my rag a bit. I'm shocked that his loss of composure (which he removed) is being treated here as evidence of his being a troll of vandal.
More than shocked, actually. I'm fucking livid. But never mind.
I don't think the user is a vandal or troll (and indeed the block-quote implied otherwise which I apologize for :)), but Lucky spent nearly an entire month trying to help with him only to end up getting personally attacked like that. It's more sad then anything I suppose, and after reading the "You're back" part of the user's talk page and the hope it had there its quite disconcerting that it would end up that way.
Thanks, Ryan
[[User:RN]] at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:RN Ryan Norton at wxforum: http://wxforum.org
Tony Sidaway wrote
Should the world's first encyclopedia that anyone can edit continue
knowingly to alienate, abuse and reject autists?
That would be a rhetorical question?
No, and no one else either. WP is not here 'abuse' or 'reject' anyone; not, for example, those with bad English writing for wiki-en.
Personal abuse is not acceptable. Some people do use it to try to drive away posters whose postings they dislike. But those engaging in abuse always put themselves in the wrong.
The correct, effective approach was worked out long ago: sanctions are against behaviour, not content.
Charles