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@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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