[WikiEN-l] Re: No answer, great question

[David Gerard]

Daniel P. B. Smith (dpbsmith at verizon.net) [050815 23:48]:

> I've also opined (and got shot down on the basis of its being pure  
> speculation) that some of these "brittle" contributors are just very  
> _young._ I had a personal run-in with one contributor who  
> indiscreetly revealed (or asserted) an age in the very early teens. I  
> have to think that some of the emphasis on pop-culture, fancraft,  
> Harry Potter, and Pokemon topics is age-related. And a certain degree  
> of "brittleness" is characteristic of adolescents in general, and  
> bright adolescents whose intellectual and emotional development is  
> out of sync in particular.
> A common characteristic of that age is a total inability to let  
> things go and not sweat the small stuff. Every tiny rejection is  
> fought tooth and nail, not for personal reasons of course, but  
> because of The Principle Of The Thing.
> I am sure that if I personally were fourteen years old right now I  
> would a) be contributing to Wikipedia and b) would be one of those  
> "brittle" and problematic users.
> Instead of being the trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,  
> courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent,  
> and modest person I am now.


I don't think this requires being down on the young. Adults who do it are
probably worst to deal with actually.


- d.