Hi Wikimedia-l,
Just to say hello and introduce myself to the list. I'm a research professional seven
years experience hoping to break into the legal field. I'm not 25 or anything like
that though. I've done other stuff in my life, and I am middle-aged. How do I come
here to the list? I was a Wikipedia (English) contributor for like six years before being
blocked. I hope you do not infer guilt into that statement or that I'm somehow a bad
person. I am not here to discuss that and would also ask you not to, of course, because
it's off-topic for the list. I just say it because I'm introducing myself.
The reason I subscribe to the list is because after I couldn't edit content anymore, I
became more interested and thoughtful as to the meaning of Wikipedia and its effect on the
world. Because of the way people web-search for information, where Wikipedia of course is
so incredibly often the top result, it has immense power on the way people think about the
subjects of all its articles. The more I analyzed this, the more I became critical.
Anyhow, my interest in this Wikimedia Foundation list is really because I hold the WMF
responsible for Wikipedia. I reject the notion that Wikipedia is just some separate
construct owned by the WMF, like a copy machine or something. And for which it is not
responsible. So I come here to be informed by all of you and also perhaps to inform all of
you.
I know most on this list use their real names. I choose to maintain a pseudonym. It's
not because I am scared to own my words. I want to own all my words. It's rather
because I have realized that there is a value in online anonymity, because of the invasive
force the Internet has become in telling any random stranger about our lives. I respect
the decision though of those that sign their real name to everything, and endeavor to
consider that in any interaction I have with you.
Signature: well let me see how my nickname shows up on the list. I selected "Trillium
Corsage" as the name at the email service, but I typed "Cloaked Citizen"
when I registered for this list. I guess I'll sign after this with whichever of those
appears.