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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by AGiorgio08 (talk | contribs) at 17:23, 27 April 2011 (→‎Current applicants). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

 Welcome Discuss Resources Apply 
United States and Canada
Wikipedia Education Program
100
General
Program information
Program support

Before applying, please read about the role. The Online Ambassador guidelines, particularly the description of the mentor process, outline the central responsibilities of Online Ambassadors. Wikipedia:Ambassadors describes the principles of the Wikipedia Ambassador Program and the various other ambassador roles (besides mentorship).

It is important that Online Ambassadors be able to provide high-quality help to newcomers, without intimidating or discouraging them, beating them over the head with rules, or giving them bad advice. That's the purpose of the Online Ambassador application process: to try to make sure Online Ambassadors can do that.

How to apply

There are two options for applying to be an Online Ambassador: on-wiki, or off-wiki. On-wiki applications can be viewed and discussed publicly. Off-wiki applications will be discussed by the Online Ambassador selection team.

Apply on-wiki

To apply on-wiki, create a subpage for your application using the input box below, answer the questionnaire, and transclude your application in the "Current applications" section of this page. Replace USERNAME with your own username.


Apply off-wiki

To apply off-wiki, send your answers to the questionnaire by email to
online-ambassadors-en (at) lists.wikimedia.org, the Online Ambassador selection team. Please include your username in the subject line.

Current applicants

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

Per the consensus of other editors, it seems this user isn't a good match for the ambassador role at this time.--Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 13:59, 5 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

User:Tyw7

Tyw7 (talk · contribs)

  1. Why do you want to be a Wikipedia Ambassador?
    I have been on Wikipediaor quite a long time and would like to be involve with the promotion of Wikipedia and making sure that all new editors feel welcome.
  2. In three sentences or less, summarize your involvement with Wikimedia projects.
    Edit out outdated infos, created new articles, added pictures
  3. Please indicate a few articles to which you have made significant content contributions. (e.g. DYK, GA, FA, major revisions/expansions/copyedits).
    Mesa Distance Learning Program and Everwild are the two articles I created. I have also worked on Everlost (novel) and counless other minor edits throught the project. I also worked on Norton Internet Security and Norton 360, both of which are GA. I also help revive the WikiProject Software. For more of my contributions, see my contribution page at User:Tyw7/contributions or Special:Contributions/Tyw7
  4. How have you been involved with welcoming and helping new users on Wikipedia?
    Yes from time to time. I just slap on the template {{welcome}}. If they need further help, I follow up on their questions on their user page.
  5. What do you see as the most important ways we could welcome newcomers or help new users become active contributors?
    More insentives to join and progress up the ranks
  6. Have you had major conflicts with other editors? Blocks or bans? Involvement in arbitration? Feel free to offer context, if necessary.
    No bans and the such. No major conflicts.
  7. 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 log in to Wikipedia several times a day just to see if any major activity has occurred on my watchlist. I am able to assist almost anytime. Once in a while, I hang out in the IRC to see if anybody needs any help.
  8. What else should we know about you that is relevant to being a Wikipedia Ambassador?
    I have my own blog at http://my.opera.com/Wikipedian. I also frequently participate at #wikipedia-en-help channel helping others.

Discussion

This !vote is from an indef blocked sock-puppet. --Guerillero | My Talk 22:19, 17 April 2011 (UTC) [reply]
  • Hell to the No. Tyw7 has had a track record of being generally unhelpful in #wikipedia-en-help (having been banned at least once from there, too, if memory serves me right). Just today he used the !helper stalk word to ask a grammatical question that was quickly answered via a two-second Google search. In addition, I had a discussion with him on IRC about the helpfulness of tossing links at newbies without explaining the actual reasoning behind our policies/guidelines, and the end result as this Tyw7 not understanding that handing out links is not helpful unless some explanation accompanies it. Every interaction I've had with him in -help since last year has been generally negative; I feel this user's lack of clue and level of competence have not changed since then. Pages like this, of no relevance to the project (and which I am MfDing) are not conducive to the success of this application. /ƒETCHCOMMS/ 04:13, 25 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I did that because I feel the newby would better understand our policies by reading about it themselves. So are you saying we should spoon feed all the newbies? --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 18:06, 25 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I may not be an ambassador, but newbies are exactly what they are, newbies. They don't know where a link goes, for all they know the links could be articles on a troll site (bad example, I know). It's not spoon feeding if it's only a brief summary that doesn't go too far in-depth, that's for them to do, your job as a helper is to give brief explanations then give a link to the relevant guide/policy and that alone is suffcient enough for their understanding. —James (Talk • Contribs) • 4:33pm • 06:33, 26 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
But if the link shows http://en.wikipedia.org, its obviously on Wikipedia. But problem is that the "rule" to clarify is way too long (for example our rule of notability) and too important if anything to miss out. --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 11:50, 26 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I said an article on troll websites, but that was a bad example, I'm sure you understand what I meant. Well for notability, "notability on Wikipedia is based on coverage, if a certain topic has considerable in credible sources then that enough to merit a separate article, journals and newspapers (The New York Times for example) are considered reliable third-party sources. Notability is separate from verifiability, which is whether the contents of an article can be backed up with the appropriate sources." That simple explanation would be sufficient, there are separate guidelines for different types of topics though, for example for a sportsperson to be considered notable, they must have participated in top-level national or international events, such as the Olympics or Commonwealth Games and then there's . —James (Talk • Contribs) • 2:21pm • 04:21, 27 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Many of the time, we have to point out why they are NOT notable and they repeatedly insist that their article is! So pointing to the article is usually the best way, in my own opinion. --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 11:02, 27 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  • Oppose I'm sorry, but I don't think this user is a suitable candidate;

The application above contains both grammatical and syntactical errors, which does not bode well for expectations of exemplary editing.

Every time I check over this users edits, I see problems - for example, most recently - just looking at the past few - this caused the infobox to fail (and adds unnecessary complexity for editors), this reference doesn't verify anything at all, the user put a 'hang on' rationale on an article here instead of the talk page (although OK, yes, it was removed very soon after), this was unreferenced and when a ref was added it was to a YouTube video that does not appear to mention the song name (WP:OR), AfD comments [1] [2] make no sense (per this response), and this comment on my talk was incorrect.

I do not understand why the user re-submitted a declined AfC here (also, incorrectly - because, as they'd submitted it - they received the notification here). The user has accused Uncle Dick (talk · contribs) - an editor in good standing with 38000+ edits - of having an offensive user name [3],

Creating a live article in this state does not show understanding of core policies.

Use of edit summary seems sporadic at best (except when using automated editing).

I have concerns (based on past experience) about the candidates understanding of copyright policy; on the above article I noted that File:NortonInternetSecurity2011.PNG claims the source is your 'own work' (which it is not, unless you wrote the program suite), and is too high resolution (low res, 'not sure' is not an appropriate FUR). And as another example, the candidates user page uses File:Sandbox.jpg without attribution. (As an aside, I don't think the message Vandals: Feel free to mess up this page sends out the right message either.)

In addition, the users claims to have had no involvement in arbritration, yet has filed an arbitration request [4].

The rollback user right was removed in Feb 2010 for 'excessive misuse' [5].

The applicant has made two live articles, and I have strong concerns about copyright violations;

Example:

  • Article says, The Mesa Distance Learning Program began in 1999. At that time, the course had limited data access, with student management and grade book being outsourced to a commercial company. The program was mainly used by home school students and disabled students as an alternative to attending traditional schools, and included those with disabilities preventing them from attending a mainstream school on a regular basis, and students with certain types of school phobias. Interactions between student and teacher were done through email
  • Source [6] says, The Mesa Distance Learning Program began in 1999. At that time, the course had limited data access, with student management and grade book being outsourced to a commercial company. The program was mainly used by home school students and disabled students as an alternative to attending traditional schools, and included those with disabilities preventing them from attending a mainstream school on a regular basis, and students with certain types of school phobias. Interactions between student and teacher were done through email

Example;

  • Article says, Meanwhile, Allie the Outcast travels home to seek out her parents, along with Mikey, who was once the terrifying monster the McGill. Allie is tempted by the seductive thrill of skinjacking the living,
  • Website of the book [7] says, Meanwhile, Allie the Outcast travels home to seek out her parents, along with Mikey, who was once the terrifying monster the McGill. Allie is tempted by the seductive thrill of skinjacking the living, until she learns a shocking secret.

 Chzz  ►  02:54, 28 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

a. The infobox DID NOT FAIL! I did not include the <include></noinclude> template in the transcluded page. This was done to bring the article in line with all the other software articles (clicking on the version number brought the editor to the page to easily change it). I even reverted your revert and the page is still ok!!! Also there was no arbcom AGAINST me that's why I say no major cases. Second, none of the images used are credited. So are you saying on EVERY image I contributed to the article, there should be a word "taken by Thu Ya Win"? And those copyvios would be reworded right now. And thirdly, the rollback rights was revoked due to me missidentify vandalism using Huggles. Also, I was hesistent to vote delete for the Techna Dye article cause it looks sound and all the reference look OK. However, all the other editors seems to say delete. Furthermore, how am I suppose to know what the cause of the large sig is? I initially suspect your sig (cause removing it fixes the problem). Regarding the offensive name, a skunk by any other name is just as stinky. It doesn't matter whether the editor has 1 or a million edit, if his/her name is offensive (consider "offensive words" like dick, fuck etc), it is offensive. So why should established editors be off the hook? And Jesus christ! You linked to the "initial" edit of the article! Don't you know that it would be built up later? Rome wasn't built in a day you know? Furthermore, regarding the AFC, it was done due to a request via the IRCs... And what grammar error does this application contains? Also, regarding to the impossible astronaut, that reference link to the so called prequel. --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 09:33, 28 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The above response is almost entirely incorrect, but I do not intend to waste further time on this matter; I have given diffs and information, and others can make their own judgements. I do wish you would understand my concerns - particularly in regards to the copyright issue. Changing a few words in no way resolves that. I'm sorry, but I feel I have tried hard to explain several such concepts, expending considerable time in trying to clarify, and you seem incapable of understanding what you are doing wrong - and I seem incapable of explaining it in terms you can understand. Thus I hope you might understand why I will refrain from further comment, unless it is absolutely necessary. All the best,  Chzz  ►  05:18, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Re to chzz:

Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 12:57, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I have also helped:

and many others! --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 13:06, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago.  Chzz  ►  14:20, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Might I remind you that Ambassadors are simply to help newbys... and nothing else? I have help tons of newbys and to guide them? --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 18:35, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
And as an editor I certainly don't want you giving "newbys" (sic) the wrong idea on how to go about nominating articles for deletion. Strange Passerby (talk • cont) 18:37, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Yes I know that the Pokemon article nomination would be contriversal due to the many sources covering individual species. But many of those species are not notable within the series. And as a side note, I wouldn't recommend such contriversal edits to newbys. --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 18:42, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  • Strongest possible oppose — I am so sorry, but I do not believe that you are ready for ambassadorship at this time. Your recent inappropriate AfD nominations that resulted in a discussion at ANI has given me the impression that you do not possess a sufficient understanding of Wikipedia's policies at this time. --SoCalSuperEagle (talk) 18:53, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
That is because Pokemon is a very risky topic. There is a ton of references covering each item/pokemon/object but that doesn't make it notable. --Tyw7  (☎ Contact me! • Contributions)   Changing the world one edit at a time! 18:56, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The following discussion is preserved as an archive of a unsuccessful Online Ambassador application.

This role requires more Wikipedia experience than this user has so far.--Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 13:55, 5 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

jaikanthp

jaikanthp (talk · contribs)

  1. Why do you want to be a Wikipedia Ambassador?
    Wikipedia, for me, has always meant access to free and instant information. The future of this world will be dictated by the knowledge acquired in the present, and that makes the case of Wikipedia even stronger. And I want to be a part of this process.
  2. In three sentences or less, summarize your involvement with Wikimedia projects.
    YOUR ANSWER (OPTIONAL)
  3. Please indicate a few articles to which you have made significant content contributions. (e.g. DYK, GA, FA, major revisions/expansions/copyedits).
    A few minor edits only. I have just begun using Wikipedia as an editor.
  4. How have you been involved with welcoming and helping new users on Wikipedia?
    I have encouraged people at my college, and my family members, to look at Wikipedia as an reliable source if information.
  5. What do you see as the most important ways we could welcome newcomers or help new users become active contributors?
    In a country like India, there has never been a problem with getting people to use Wikipedia. But the challenge is getting them to 'edit' Wikipedia. I used to never do any editing myself, but I have started doing it recently. The most important thing is to involve the younger generation. India has thousands of Engineering colleges, with a huge student population. They have to be made aware of the importance of free information. For this, on-campus programs and workshops are the key. Although I think things are getting better, the pace has to quicken.
  6. Have you had major conflicts with other editors? Blocks or bans? Involvement in arbitration? Feel free to offer context, if necessary.
    Nothing of that sort.
  7. 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?
    A few minor edits only. I have just begun using Wikipedia as an editor. But I am ready to take a more active role, and yes, I will be available for two hours+ per week.
  8. What else should we know about you that is relevant to being a Wikipedia Ambassador?
    I'm an amateur writer, and have even won a prize for a Science fiction story. I have good editing and proof-reading skills, and am an amateur blogger. I have good knowledge of current technology. My blog is at www.aoak.wordpress.com.

Discussion

  • Oppose you have only 9 edits and less then 24 hours of experience. --Guerillero | My Talk 10:25, 14 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  • This is the application process for becoming an Online Ambassador, a role for experienced Wikipedians. If you're interested in applying to be a Campus Ambassador for our upcoming pilot project in India, you can do so by following the instructions here. The Campus Ambassador role is open to people without a lot of prior Wikipedia editing experience. Cheers --Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 15:20, 14 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Application questionnaire

  1. Why do you want to be a Wikipedia Ambassador?
  2. In three sentences or less, summarize your involvement with Wikimedia projects.
  3. Please indicate a few articles to which you have made significant content contributions. (e.g. DYK, GA, FA, major revisions/expansions/copyedits).
  4. How have you been involved with welcoming and helping new users on Wikipedia?
  5. What do you see as the most important ways we could welcome newcomers or help new users become active contributors?
  6. Have you had major conflicts with other editors? Blocks or bans? Involvement in arbitration? Feel free to offer context, if necessary.
  7. 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?
  8. What else should we know about you that is relevant to being a Wikipedia Ambassador?

Evaluation of applications

Applications are reviewed by the Online Ambassador selection team. When a new application is received, the selection team will discuss it until reaching consensus. The criteria used, in a nutshell, are: whether the applicant is competent and friendly enough to make an effective ambassador.

Relevant considerations (an applicant need not satisfy all of these criteria, but rather, they are factors to consider holistically):

  • Content development:
    • Creation of high-quality content (demonstrating knowledge of what good Wikipedia articles look like and how to achieve them)
    • Participation in DYK, Peer review, GAN, and/or FAC (as reviewer and/or nominator)
    • Participation in activities which demonstrate an understanding of relevant Wikipedia guidelines, policies, and norms.
  • User interaction:
    • No significant concerns about behavior or interaction with other editors (i.e. appropriate responses in disputes), esp. in relation to content development
    • History of being helpful with individual newbies
    • Experience helping on IRC (with positive reactions from other IRC helpers) or onwiki (WP:FEED, etc.)
  • Activity level:
    • Contributes regularly
    • Responds quickly to on-wiki discussions

Well qualified applicants will be immediately admitted as Online Ambassadors. Applicants with less experience or for whom there are areas of specific concern can be admitted as Online Ambassadors-in-training and go through a training program before becoming a full ambassador.

Closing application discussions

I've been closing these discussions when it's clear that there is consensus about it; I've usually tried to make sure at least four people have weighed in, or at least a week has gone by. Other ambassadors are welcome to close application discussions as well. (I'll be mostly off-wiki from 23 February through 6 March, so please do close discussions and welcome new ambassadors as appropriate.) Here is the welcome message I've been using to welcome new ambassadors. Feel free to edit it, or suggest changes; I'll try to keep it up to date.--Sage Ross - Online Facilitator, Wikimedia Foundation (talk) 16:02, 22 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

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