Daniel P. B. Smith (dpbsmith(a)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.