LoveUxoxo (talk · contribs · count) I have been editing off and on since 2007, I have previously editing under a different username, User:Lipsticked Pig (edit count here). I changed my name for a "fresh start" and to be 100% civil for then on (I don't believe I was necessarily uncivil before, but wanted to be much better). However my first real experience with an emotionally charged topic, in the case Bloody Sunday (1972), didn't bring out the best in me. Along with civility issues, the articles I have most worked on have been kinda solitary experiences. Most of my edits have been on the TWA 800 article, and there hasn't been much collaboration. Also, I ramble. So I would like feedback on how you would view/deal with me if I was involved in an article you were editing as well, and opinions on my edit summaries/editing style and talk page comments. Cheers! LoveUxoxo (talk) 18:25, 24 April 2011 (UTC)
Questions
- What are your primary contributions to Wikipedia? Are there any about which you are particularly pleased? Why?
- TWA 800, I give myself a lot of credit from changing it from this disaster to its current state. However, I am trying to make a conscious effort to back off and let other people push it in a direction they want. Don't know if I have been successful or if temptation gets the best of me from time to time.
- Have you been in editing disputes or do you feel other users have caused you stress? How have you dealt with it and how will you deal with it in the future? If you have never been in an editing dispute, explain how you would respond to one.
- I really did want to avoid conflict, but broke down and started to get involved in an article involving The Troubles, and wow, that area of WP is crazy. Having followed the talk for a while I "knew" it wasn't going to go well, but I pretty much ensured that by starting off with a whine stating my opinion that the editors and article had a strong-POV, and the article was very poor quality. All of this to me isn't just true but blatantly obvious - but so what?!? All I did was make life harder for myself, and I can't imagine doing it again. Also I went crying to teacher (AN/I) like a petulant child, I embarrassed myself. I'm rationalizing it as if we all have to have one frustrating experience to learn to deal with it well(?) - or should I have been more prepared by now?
Reviews
- I'm having trouble finding the discussion you referred to, involving the topic of "The Troubles", but your description of the conflict you were in sounds very similar to the sort I used to get into way back in the day, when I resorted more to primal instincts than anything else (a little joke, there ;). I rarely participate in active discussions now, so I probably can't be much of an example on how to behave when the going gets hot, but from looking at the way level-headed discussion participants used to deal with me, reading over what a user says in their comments carefully, rationally explaining your viewpoint while taking theirs into consideration, and also pointing out any WP policies which might tie into the topic and support characteristics of either viewpoint usually fills the bill. If you ever feel steam flowing out your ears over something, the beauty part of a discussion on Wikipedia is that, unlike in a face to face conversation, you don't have to reply to a comment the second after it's been made. You can take a length of time (though not too long if the discussion is very active) away from the screen to get cooled down, and think things over, before deciding your best approach. I hope that helps. :)
- Also, looking at the Bloody Sunday (1972) discussion you mentioned, I didn't detect any incivility in your comments; seriousness at the worst, and with all else put aside, there's nothing wrong with taking your work seriously. Also, your edit summary record and overall contributions are very good and very valuable; in particular I think you've done a marvelous job with TWA 800; good luck with your new username and please keep up the good work! :) Wilhelmina Will (talk) 03:05, 30 October 2011 (UTC)