Wikipedia:Online Ambassadors/Apply/Cindamuse

The following discussion is preserved as an archive of a successful Online Ambassador application.

Clear support from all discussion participants. Welcome to the Ambassador Program!--Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 15:25, 18 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Cindamuse

Cindamuse (talk · contribs)

Why do you want to be a Wikipedia Ambassador?
I enjoy mentoring and working with new editors. I have a background in teaching and training on a corporate level and would enjoy the opportunity to work with individuals as a Wikipedia Online Ambassador. Both quality and consistency are very important to me. Working with students would help to foster and enhance the quality of articles found on Wikipedia. I fully support this program.
In three sentences or less, summarize your involvement with Wikimedia projects.
Primarily the GOCE, Wikify, Biographies, Peerage and Baronetage, and NPP. Overall, I participate in WP:NPP, WP:AIV, WP:UAA, WP:RFF, WP:CSD, WP:AFD, WP:MFD. As far as the backlog, I'm working on clearing out the [[Category:Wikipedia articles needing reorganization]], resulting in clearing eight months of about 85 articles.
Please indicate a few articles to which you have made significant content contributions. (e.g. DYK, GA, FA, major revisions/expansions/copyedits).
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 10th Earl of Shaftesbury (GA) and Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury. My editing interests center on the Earls of Shaftesbury. I'm also working on the Wimborne St Giles article, as well as one for the Shaftesbury Estate. My goal is to get all the Shaftesbury articles to FA status. While I have recognition for the DYK for Jamila M'Barek, I didn't submit it. Another editor did a copy/paste of the content that I wrote in the 10th earl's article, then created a separate article and submitted to DYK. I let him know that he violated the guidelines for attribution and after some discussion, we began working more as a team, rather than adversaries. He also made note of attribution and recognition for the DYK, which I appreciated. That said, while I wrote the content, I didn't submit it to DYK.
How have you been involved with welcoming and helping new users on Wikipedia?
I generally go to WP:NPP and look for red linked talk pages. I have also gone to WP:RFF to review articles and help new editors with any questions or concerns. At WP:NPP, I verify the article that was written to ascertain whether it was appropriate or not. Then I welcome them accordingly on their talk page, making note of the article written. I also make note of new users and write a comment encouraging them to contact me if they ever have a question or concern about the policies and guidelines pertaining to Wikipedia. I've also gone back to their pages periodically and let them know I was just checking in to see how things are going and to remind them to contact me if they have any questions.
What do you see as the most important ways we could welcome newcomers or help new users become active contributors?
Focus on the positive; mentoring/adoption; and refocus efforts of borderline/troublesome editors to Wikiprojects. Generally, stating something like, "Welcome to Wikipedia. Unfortunately, the article that you wrote about yourself was deleted due to a lack of significant reliable and independent sources. Please don't be discouraged, there is much more on Wikipedia that you could be involved in. I noticed that you are a [doctor, math teacher, photographer]. Were you aware that we have a team of professionals that focus on developing quality articles in [the medical field, mathematics, photography]? I would like to invite you to check it out. You would certainly be more than welcome to join the Wikiproject team. I think your knowledge and expertise would be a tremendous asset. You can find out more information at (WP:MED, WP:WPMATH, WP:PH)."
Have you had major conflicts with other editors? Blocks or bans? Involvement in arbitration? Feel free to offer context, if necessary.
No blocks, bans, or arbitration. Conflicts? Sure, we all have conflicts, but I haven't been in any major ones. Most of the conflicts that I have experienced have been due to my placing a deletion tag on an article. I generally respond with thoughts that validate their concern and frustration, along with links to Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. I make attempts to reason with frustrated editors. If the conversation does not bear fruit, I just let him speak his mind. I don't feed the fire. It'll burn out eventually. I admit to getting a bit riled when an editor creates an article strictly for promoting their latest project, it gets deleted and then recreated and deleted and recreated again. And the entire time, they refuse to communicate with other editors. It's a vicious cycle that I really don't enjoy. Sometimes, I want to shake someone and yell "Enough already!" But I don't. I just follow the process and eventually they get it. It's nothing personal, we're all just working to maintain compliance with Wikipedia guidelines and policies. It's all good.
How often do you edit Wikipedia and check in on ongoing discussions? Will you be available regularly for at least two hours per week, in your role as a mentor?
I'm generally on Wikipedia every day. I live on Wikipedia. It's really sad.
What else should we know about you that is relevant to being a Wikipedia Ambassador?
Nothing, really. I think I just about covered it all.

Discussion

An easy yes for me. --Geniac (talk) 03:12, 14 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
So many reasons to say "yes" here. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 08:37, 14 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Yep, looks like a solid user with a lot of positive experience working with newcomers and helping them understand what it will take to create an article that sticks around.--Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 17:08, 14 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, very good candidate, Sadads (talk) 12:08, 15 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
no issues --Guerillero | My Talk 21:42, 17 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]