[Gendergap] vulgar jokes and sexualized environments on Wikipedia

[Sarah Stierch]

So I've been asked by a few people to run for admin on Wikipedia, all people
we know here. And to be honest - and I haven't been with them - I *want* to
be admin, I want to be admin on Commons also (yeah right :( ) but I know,
because I am who I am, I feel like I'm going to have an extra hard time. I
know the vocal minority who will speak up. I'm lucky that the guy who
stalked me who is a Wikimedian is at least banned from Wikipedia...

I hate to say it...but, the idea of getting crucified just so I can clean up
some pages and have authority makes my heart race. And I can handle a lot,
but honestly, some of these people make me so uncomfortable, nervous and
anxious, that I have no desire to go through the administrator nominator
process because I fear I can't "make it" with the large group of
technologically capable people and those who have perfected their
Wiki-persona by being assholes who like to "put baby in a corner."

I lied to the two people who asked me to run, two people I consider very
close friends and colleagues - I told them I had no clue what I'd even use
my administrative "buttons" for. I guess I still don't, but, I know I could
make a difference. But honestly, I don't want to go through torture to have
a symbol on my user page when I know so many people who seem to have a
problem with me, and I'm sure Carol understands that.

Sorry to be all "boohoo" "feel sorry for me" about this, but, I often start
to question the culture I'm surrounding myself with when I, a fairly
confident, capable and badass person, find myself "afraid" to apply for a
volunteer position within a culture that I value so much because I think
people will just be assholes for the purpose of being assholes.

On a positive note, I did get OTRS access and I now look at Commons stuff
and general "info-en" it's actually been pretty laid back, but, I cleared
out a queue of about 100 things that had been waiting for responses for
upwards of 2 months. So I feel rather productive thus far =) (And the thank
you's people send you are really nice!)

-Sarah


On Sat, Oct 1, 2011 at 10:24 AM, <carolmooredc at verizon.net> wrote:

> To beef up women's assertiveness so they protest, or to give more power
> to some authoritarian editors to delete and block reverters, that is the
> question.  Why not do both?? :-)  Or just get more assertive female admins.
>
> A job I myself shrink at the thought of. I already have enough problems
> just trying to edit the controversial articles I so often end up
> editing.  But then I am a glutton for punishment - or is it merely
> negative attention??
>
> On 9/30/2011 3:35 PM, Ryan Kaldari wrote:
> > Twice recently I have been reverted for removing vulgar jokes from
> > article talk pages on the English Wikipedia - most recently for removing
> > a joke who's punchline was "A woman's anus after she was sodomized!".
> > Although I appreciate the use of humor on Wikipedia, and support the
> > inclusion of potentially offensive material within appropriate contexts,
> > I think these type of jokes are not appropriate on talk pages and create
> > a sexualized environment that is often unwelcoming for women (as well as
> > people from other cultures/religions/backgrounds). I think this issue is
> > pertinent to the gender gap (unlike my other recent posts), and would
> > like to hear other people's opinions. I've also started a discussion at
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Civility#Vulgar_jokes for
> > broader input.
> >
> > Ryan Kaldari
> >
> >
>
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>



-- 
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Wikipedian-in-Residence, Archives of American
Art<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:SarahStierch>
and
Sarah Stierch Consulting
*Historical, cultural & artistic research & advising.*
------------------------------------------------------
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