User:Poeticbent

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See also: User:Poeticbent/Richard Tylman
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ince the spring of 2006 I've written a number of articles for Wikipedia (see below) getting the chance to find out what would happen to them and also, how articles I contributed to were treated. I made a few conclusions, most of them negative. During the summer of 2007 I expanded the article on Kraków (my birthplace), with one hundred citations and two dozen new "daughter" articles (eight featured as DYKs). I nominated it for a Featured Article, as part of a concentrated effort to promote the City. However, the hostility exhibited by – get this – Polish and other European reviewers with issues of self-importance was almost vitriolic. Users who were familiar with Kraków gave vent to unreasonable demands inspired by their overexposure to the subject while deliberately disregarding accepted standards of good writing. Moreover, the subsequent deterioration of the article was so rapid, that I was forced to wash my hands of it altogether. I decided, enough was enough. I firmly believe in the conclusions drawn from a one-time experience without the need for being repetitive about it.

There are similarities between the methodological framework of Wikipedia and that of an earlier chat-room craze from several years ago. Both "open source formats" rely entirely on input from users who are hidden from scrutiny and whose participation is moderated by admins empowered with the ability to block them. The question is whether this portal can ever live up to its premise, with such high level of hostility aimed at the exceedingly small group of writers supplying actual "content value".[1]

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The most damning part of open source format is that, by design, our goal-oriented community is forced to accept otherwise unacceptable revisionist viewpoints providing that they're verifiable. Partisan groups turn to Wikipedia to endorse their prejudices. Content disputes escalate. The socio-political coverage of countries, where adults do not easily access English Wikipedia, is left to young fanatics who perpetuate chauvinism. Controversial subjects are despoiled with opinionated agendas imposed by self-appointed wardens in contempt of policy guidelines. Scholarly literature is replaced with biased propaganda. Google books are intentionally obfuscated to avoid politically inconvenient facts. Many controversial articles contradict the opinions expressed in leading encyclopedias and quieten the viewpoints of rational thinkers. – Their quasi stability is maintained with one-liners, signed by the same unrelenting monikers. The worst disruptors cause disciplinary sanctions against the not-so-calm voices of reason who oppose them. It is particularly heart-rending to observe European cities being battered by geopolitical irredentism, notable persons claimed and reclaimed, and the overwhelming majority of articles about the history of conflict inciting even more hatred. All this is done in the name of equality among anonymous editors some of whom would've never been allowed to contribute anything anywhere else outside of here. By the way, users with confrontational viewpoints are far more resilient than those editors who take interest in developing content. They get entertained by adverse reactions to their partisanship, and thrive on real-time Internet game playing with the peculiar quasi-encyclopedic twist.

The result is such that the interested parties are unable to withdraw without the sense of failure given that some countries and societies are under attack continuously. The illusion of the actual encyclopedia is the reason why concerned editors are forced to guard some articles permanently. Incidentally this is also why participating in the development of Wikipedia seems so addictive. There's the need to constantly guard ones own good name and check on every single edit related to it, from minute to minute.

There are corners of Wikipedia Main Space unbeknownst to the community of experienced editors physically unable to control the millions of constantly revised articles. Lower traffic entries stay vandalized for months. The quality of writing, away from public scrutiny is often atrocious, and the knowledge of formatting nonexistent. In the last few years Wikipedia has largely replaced the free webpage builders such as Geocities, Tripod and Angelfire; with editing access far more relaxed. Obscure articles are a travesty of special interest web tributes, which (in the old days at least) used to be fitted with Java applets for the uninformed. Some of these articles are so bad, that it is better to ignore them and turn away.

There is a positive side to Wikipedia as well. Even though vandalism, ignorance and bad faith edits resemble doodling in elementary-level textbooks, users who cause damage intentionally or otherwise, have to read what they change, and so they learn more, even if only by proxy. School children turn to Wikipedia in overwhelming numbers lured by search engine algorithms and self-empowering secrecy surrounding their age and aptitude. Students who choose to contribute, get a chance to work on improving their cognitive skills, regardless of the condition of affected articles.[2]

  1. ^ "An ongoing study by University of Minnesota researchers has revealed that only one-tenth of 1 percent of Wikipedia editors account for nearly half the content value of the free online encyclopedia, as measured by readership." Robyn White, Rhonda Zurn, Mark Cassutt, Report on Wikipedia Authorship and Vandalism, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis / St. Paul, November 5, 2007.
  2. ^ "The vast majority of Wikipedia contributors and editors are under the age of 25. Many of the administrators (senior editors) are in their teens. This has been established by a survey conducted in 2003 and in various recent interviews with Jimmy Wales." Sam Vaknin, Can Teenagers write an Encyclopedia?, September 26, 2007, by former United Press International Senior Business Correspondent.
    ^ "Search and Internet behavior data provide alarming insight into this powerful but volatile resource — alarming because one of the core groups of Wikipedia users are school children." Bill Tancer, Look Who's Using Wikipedia, Time Magazine in partnership with CNN, March 1, 2007, by general manager of global research at Hitwise.
Exceptional newcomer(1).jpg The Exceptional Newcomer Award
I award you, [Poeticbent], 'The Exceptional Newcomer Award'. The title says it all.
Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  15:50, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

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BoNM-Poland.png        The Polish Barnstar of National Merit,
 2nd Class
In lieu of a Kraków-specific award, [Poeticbent], please accept The Polish Barnstar of National Merit, 2nd Class, for your outstanding and continued expansion of Poland-related articles in general, and Kraków-related articles in particular.
 Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk  20:34, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

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DYK medal.png       The DYK Medal
Awarded to Poeticbent for meritorious contributions to Polish articles on Did you know...
Blnguyen (bananabucket) 08:49, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

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BoNM - Poland.png      The Polish Barnstar of National Merit,
1st Class
I, Tymek (talk), as of 18:18, 4 January 2008 (UTC), am awarding you, Poeticbent, this Barnstar in appreciation of you excellent work. Keep up the good job!

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BoNM - Poland.png      The Polish Barnstar of National Merit,
1st Class
I, Partisan1 (talk), as of 12:00, 3 March 2009 (UTC), am awarding you, Poeticbent, this Barnstar in appreciation of you excellent work. Keep up the good job!

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Peace Barnstar 6.png The Barnstar of Peace
In much appreciation of your spotting a War and attempting to bring about Peace today, you are, with much pleasure, awarded this Barnstar for your even-handedness and fairness! --Ludvikus (talk) 19:37, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

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Christian Barnstar.png The Christianity Barnstar
In praise of your excellent article on the life of Anna Borkowska. Ecoleetage (talk) 13:23, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
"Thank you for bringing her deeply moving and truly inspirational story to Wikipedia."

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Dyk25.svg The 25 DYK Medal
Congratulations on your steady stream of well-researched Polish-related articles, in which more than 25 have appeared on the Main Page. You have done the community of the DYK and Polish editors proud! Well done! - Cheers, Mailer Diablo 03:00, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

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The Purple Star The Purple Star
I, Piotrus, award Poeticbent this Purple Star, for wheathering many unjustified criticisms including mud-slinging during ArbCom, regular vandalism and slander of his real life persona as a notable Wikipedian.
Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 20:33, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

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Dyk50.png The 50 DYK Medal   
For all of your effort to accomplish 50 DYK articles, I hereby award you the 50 DYK Medal. Readers throughout the world have benefited from your generosity! Your efforts are appreciated. Royalbroil 04:39, 18 June 2009 (UTC)

I'm happy to see that I did the crediting on some of the articles that you worked on. Royalbroil 04:52, 18 June 2009 (UTC)

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Goldenwiki.png For Good Works on Kraków related articles
For Good Works on Kraków related articles
Presented by SilkTork *YES! 12:39, 25 July 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Selected articles created and written by Poeticbent

[edit] Important contributions to selected articles


Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Poeticbent&oldid=395038122"
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