[WikiEN-l] Thank you RickK

[Matt Brown]

On 7/9/05, Tony Sidaway <minorityreport at bluebottle.com> wrote:
> I object strongly to the characterisation of RickK as an unstable
> administrator.  He was one of the best we've had, he worked long and hard,
> and he finally decided he'd had enough.  I wish he would come back, but if
> he's had enough then we should be thanking him for his long and faithful
> service.  Which I do gladly.  Thank you RickK.

While overall I believe he had a greater positive than negative impact
on Wikipedia, and worked tirelessly for the project, I do question the
willingness to paint him in a wholly positive light without negatives.

RickK was a very volatile personality, and not just recently.  I
remember him being similar when I joined the project.  He was always
very prone to taking things personally and regarding statements not
directed at him specifically as personal attacks.  He bit newbies,
including many who meant no malice, but were simply unfamiliar with
the Wikipedia way.

I regard him as displaying a form of the Wik disease; slowly becoming
convinced he was the sole bulwark against the teeming hordes of chaos,
and becoming possessed with the conviction that he was important and
unappreciated simply because others were not as fanatical as he.  He
excused rudeness and sharpness and carelessness because there was
simply too much work he had to do, and not enough time to do it.

IMO, he was headed for a burnout for a long time, and it was a largely
self-inflicted one.

-Matt (User:Morven)