User:HighwayCello/Admin coaching

Place in the project

First of all, you should make sure your email works. That's a requirement for a lot of people at RfA. And it's useful.

You asked, What do you do as an editor, (adminly tasks or otherwise) that makes you notable, helpful or unusual?

I've never thought of myself as notable or unusual, but I am helpful. I try to help new users. Wikipedia can be a strange and confusing place, and new people need all the help they can get. So I try to keep that in mind. I try to explain my actions, so when I delete an article it's not like some hidden force from on high zapped a newcomer's article.

I try to foster goodwill and concord between editors. If editors can't work together, then we won't have an encyclopedia.

On the writing/editing side of things, I do quite a bit. I've written numerous articles, edited some thousands of others, deleted nonsense pages, helped clear a massive backlog at WP:CP, blocked vandals, created Wikiproject Figure Skating, etc. I do a bit at AfD, participate at Esperanza,.. just whatever needs doing and whatever I feel like doing. --Fang Aili ^talk 15:48, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

RC patrolling gets kinda lame. One thing that I like to do is use use the random page function (on the navigation bar, or by hitting Alt-X) and nominate articles for deletion through AfD or ProD. There's a script in my monobook called AutoAFD which works brilliantly. You can also check out new pages for things that should be speedied, and help with cleanup. Like it or not, a lot of people at RfA like to see more than just vandalism reverts. Get an article up to FA quality, and you'll be all set. -Mysekurity ^[m!] 20:19, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

I think I got some name exposure/recognition by doing RC patrol for a couple of weeks (there was a period of time when I was out of work and could spend several hours a day whacking vandals). People also got to know me, and determined that I knew how to post on WP:AIV and be civil to vandals/well-meaning-screwups. I think this went a long way. I definitely agree that getting an article up to Feature standard would be huge, and some people have started opposing because the nominee hasn't done that one thing. Also, if you're not adverse to IRC, I've found it to be a great tool in RCing and community building. --Fang Aili ^talk 21:36, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

If you've got a lot of time on your hands, go for it. I found that I physically couldn't spend too much time without feeling that I was missing other things. Yes, people like to see dedication, but get your homework done. (I'm guessing you're a student based on your pokemon interest). You don't need me to tell you this, but let yourself have a life. Use tools to make things easier, talk with people, and have fun. And in the words of Essjay, Leave if it's not fun anymore. Other than that, enjoy. Try to get a Featured Article, and work for the betterment of mankind. -Mysekurity ^[m!] 21:08, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, I have Exhibit A. I used to do quite a lot of speedying, (but how does anyone know?) I've turned more to image pruning, I do a lot of fair use tagging, template writing and unused image deleting in the Pokémon area. (Organistion gone wild ;) Thanks for the input, Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 22:29, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Be Brutal

Could you both please rate me, as a user, in my editting worth and friendliness, and general ready for adminness. Which is miles away. Yeah. Cheers, Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 20:33, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

I'll get on it. --Fang Aili ^talk 20:51, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 20:56, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Is there something specific you'd like me to look for? --Fang Aili ^talk 15:50, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

Faults. Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 16:09, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

Your header could be interpreted as hostile or in some manner uncivil. --Fang Aili ^talk 14:25, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Gone Highway ^Batman! 14:28, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

You do a pretty good job with descriptive edit summaries, but I saw this one. That's a real nit pick though. You're doing a great job with edit summaries. --Fang Aili ^talk 14:36, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

It isn't a opinion thing, it's just when the character was released. It was either vandalism or an error when the new infobox was implemented. Thank you anyway, Highway ^Batman! 14:39, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

I mean putting in a descriptive edit summary, like "second not first" instead of "umm not really". Though i do stuff like that too sometimes. :) --Fang Aili ^talk 14:42, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Previous RfA

I was looking at your previous RfA. Have you started using edit summaries more? --Fang Aili ^talk 20:58, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

99% (I hit the enter key accidentally) for major, and 100% for minor. Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 20:59, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Groovy. --Fang Aili ^talk 21:01, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Indeed. XD Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 21:03, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

not coaching related, but..

I like your categorization system here. I might use it for WikiProject Figure Skating. --Fang Aili ^talk 21:06, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

I believe credit goes to User:Celestianpower, but I do update it a bit (and write the articles ;). Highway ^{Rainbow Sneakers} 21:07, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

By the way, did you judge the articles' status yourself, or did another person/project do that for you? I was noticing the system used on Wikipedia:Version 1.0 Editorial Team/WPHobbies, and I don't know if they're the ones who rate the articles, or if the projects themselves do, or what. --Fang Aili ^talk 14:47, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

As far as I know, the leading members who can be bothered to judge them do so. I've not seen any message dropped off at WT:PCP, but other projects get messages. The only way I found actually was checking "What links here". Highway ^Batman! 14:50, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, I found out about it by seeing their boilerplate message at WP:Star Trek. I just left them a message asking what happens next [1], but I think I'm going to start a rating system of our own, just to get something moving. --Fang Aili ^talk 14:57, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Sounds good. Highway ^Batman! 15:01, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Edit conflicts?

Have you been involved in any edit conflicts or had any major problems with other users? --Fang Aili ^talk 14:44, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

*nods* User:Minun, and his sockpuppets, have been trying to put me through hell. He keeps getting blocked for block evasion, and he's at Arb Com but he's just crossed a line. He posed as his father yesterday, claiming I had made death threats against his family. I haven't really provoked any of this, I stopped him changing his website from one depend on greatly for references, and it hasn't... really... stopped. I'd ask Smurrayinchester if you want to know anything (he's been helping me) or check the the Arbcom case. Cheers, Highway ^Batman! 14:54, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Good grief. I'm sorry you have to deal with that. It looks like you're handling it really well though. --Fang Aili ^talk 15:12, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

It's just turned to noise. Every time he builds a bit of respect from people, another skeleton falls out the closet. It's just tedious. But otherwise, no. ;) My last RfA generally made me sound like Jack the Ripper, (this is Minun's source of evidence against me), but I don't think I'm that vicious. Highway ^Batman! 15:15, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

I was reading your previous RfA again. Briefly looking through your contribs, I don't see any recent examples of incivility (or perceived incivility). Just avoid cursing, and try to be civil/friendly at all times. Civility is one of the major things people look for at RfAs. --Fang Aili ^talk 15:29, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Tell me about it. ; ) Highway ^Batman! 15:35, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

RC patrol

Have you done much RC patrol? Do you have VandalProof? --Fang Aili ^talk 15:26, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

I don't have VP, I do some patrolling. I mainly just watch my watchlist, which contains Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pikachu and Pokémon, three of the most vandalized pages in the video games category. If I come across a vandal (happens now and again, fairly regularly) I will go through their contribs and warn them accordlingly. Highway ^Batman! 15:38, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

How about AfDs? --Fang Aili ^talk 15:39, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Occassionally. Normally I won't bother unless it's noted on the WikiProject noticeboard. *hides* Highway ^Batman! 15:45, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

It'd probably be a good idea to vote on one or two each day. That's one thing a lot of people look for. --Fang Aili ^talk 20:09, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Will do. Thank you! Highway ^Batman! 20:18, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

RfA = not happening

Dear Fang, and other coach who disappeared in June, I have came to the decision that I do not wish to be nominated/nominate myself for RfA, due to the following reasons -

1. At present I don't need the tools, I have wonderful friends who do though ;)
2. Wikipedia, and life, is a popularity contest, and most users strongly dislike me
3. I edit Wikipedia because I like to edit, and the admin tools would be great in aiding me. However, I do not want, or will I, jump like a puppy at all the demands candidates are forced through, like RC patrolling or AfDs. I revert a fair amount of vandalism, and vote in AfDs relevant to the articles I edit.
4. Due to what I edit, my opinios, the way I act, or the people I am friends with, I get harassment like hell, at present I am getting screamed at my newbs several times of the correct pluralization of Pokémon names, there are a scary amount of fat 10-year olds that have a PhD in Pokémon grammar, and frankly, to back down on my opinions, would be against all I believe in. I will not let newbie editors who think they know better get their way because I'm trying to play happy families for a group of people whom I do not only dislike, but don't know. I am quite a civil person, but there's a big gang of people that try and shove my rage up beyond normality, but no one notices it.
5. Admins and favoured members of Wikipedia, get away with absolute shit, and I won't do any of the things above just to try and fit in with the crowd of people above the rules, who are supposed the ones who maintain NPOV and NPA, but are often the ones who shove it more than regular users, primarily because they have the power to do so.

I, by no means, am referring to the whole of the Wikipedia community, or the admin community, but there is a small, very loud, portion of them that are driving the kind, honest, happy bunch up a creek. Insanely so. Anyway, I know AC is not about preparing editors for RfA, but that's generally what all the tips are for, so I've decided that it's up to both of you whether you want to continue coaching me. I love the help, but if you would rather spend your time helping a near-future admin, then by all means do so. Thank you, Highway ^Batman! 23:24, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

I respect that. We can certainly keep communcating. If you have a question, don't hesitate to ask. How's that? I don't really know what to coach on particularly. Cheers. --Fang Aili ^talk 13:16, 20 July 2006 (UTC)