Hoi, Jake there are plenty of us beavering away for our own private purposes. Some have noble ideas of sharing the sum of all knowledge but realistically there are far more for whom Wikipedia, Commons, Wikisource, Wikidata name them all is a coping mechanism.
This is important to understand.
Coping mechanisms help people cope. Our projects can be a wonderful place where you can be recognised for the work that you do. It makes you feel good with yourself and it makes life passable, It is just those bleeding others. Those others who for whatever reason do not understand this those who are mostly blissfully unaware.
Our community consists for a large part of people who get their sense of self worth out of our projects. What they do can be anything. There are many aspects to this, one of them may be mental health and another is passing time and not considering mental health at all. We could do so much more.when we understand our value for the people who are coping and understand what it brings them.
The question should never be one of pity. The question is how we give proper attention when applicable. When we consider this, we will become more healthy as a community. Thanks, GerardM
On 18 May 2016 at 20:21, Jake Orlowitz jorlowitz@gmail.com wrote:
Hi,
In light of yesterday's public call for help from one of our editors, I'd like to share something I wrote last winter.
It's called, Journey of a Wikipedian.
https://medium.com/@jakeorlowitz/journey-of-a-wikipedian-c2890e3a8d0c#.o2hyp... < https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JRXqb6IcsVi3nEpXnN1FBSVLveAJgazJxPJj1tlF...
-- It reminds me of a few things worth stating:
- We are a community of very real people with deep emotions and human
complexities. 2. We are deeply invested in this project, so much so it hurts us at times even if it is also a passion or refuge for many. 3. You never know what someone has been through, or is going through. 4. We all need help at some point. There is no shame in needing help, asking for help, or receiving help. 5. If you are ever feeling completely hopeless: Wait. Things really can get better. Talk to someone about it. 6. Mental health carries a powerful stigma. The more we are open about it, the less that weighs all of us down. 7. If we listen, we can learn from each other. 8. We need to be kind. This is a higher calling than civility, and entirely compatible with rigorously sharing knowledge. 9. Our movement depends on its people. We are our most valuable resource. 10. We are not finished products. With time, space, support, and practice--people can, and do, grow and change.
Hugs, Jake Orlowitz (Ocaasi)
p.s. If you ever see someone in need of help, or are seeking it yourself, please contact emergency@wikimedia.org. _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe