Wikipedia:WikiProject Article Rescue Squadron/Newsletter/20090901/Interview

Article Rescue Squadron Newsletter

Volume 1, No. 1

Interview with User:MichaelQSchmidt

In our first issue we are making the "Featured editor" a regular feature. This is a chance to learn more about the various editors who contribute to the Article Rescue Squadron.

Michael Q. Schmidt has been editing Wikipedia since January 2008 and has been a member of the ARS since January 2009.

Hello. I'm Michael Q. Schmidt, an actor and fine arts model from California. I have no qualms against editing under my own name as User:MichaelQSchmidt. I've rescued over 150 articles facing un-needed deletion, have myself authored a few articles, and in the process I've gained a few attaboys and shiney things... all this since January of 2008, accumulating nearly 14,000 edits.

What drew you to Wikipedia, and what prompted you to begin editing?
At first it was because of curiosity. I decided to stay and edit Wikiedia because I felt the project to have worthy goals.
How did you become involved with the project ?
Same answer as above... but my involvement in Wikiproject Films, Wikiproject Actors and Filmmakers, Wikiproject Television, and Wikiproject Biographies stems from the fact that I feel able to contribute knowledgably in those areas since I am myself an actor.
After a very difficult past few months with the squadron, how do see the future of the project and wikipedia?
If allowed to grow, the project will do so. What is always important to remember is that Wikipedia is not finished, does not expect itself to be perfect, and has no mandated rush to get it all done tomorrow morning.
What do you think is the most difficult part of editing on Wikipedia?
Frankly... the most difficult part is two-fold.
1) Unintentionally, newcomers are often treated badly. They contribute something without understanding the project's methods and usually see their works speedily deleted or sent to AfD. Their not understanding the ins and outs of Wikipedia often results in frustration and their leaving forever. It is important that we show them patience. And if this means {metaphorically) speaking slowly and carefuly and using simple words, then we should. Remember.. we were all new here at one time. Its important to treat others as we were treated ourselves. Pay the kindness forward.

2) There is a impression given by some that the project has limited storage capacity, is finally finished, and simply needs to be tidied up. The baby is barely out of diapers, so its a bit early to be choosing retirement living. Many very terrific editors are so involved in fine-tuning and cleaning up what they feel is unworthy, that they spend little time actually creating new content or improving weak articles. God bless them for their wish to make Wikipedia pretty, but it's important to not forget that growth is the goal of wikipedia and not the bane.

To quote Wikipedia:Wikipedia is a work in progress: "Wikipedia is not finished. Not even close. In fact, we're barely getting started."
What article(s) are you most proud of writing or exemplifies your best work?
My first major contributions were to author articles on Daniel St. Pierre, Gardner Loulan, and Harry Kloor in response to redlinks that at one time existed in a related article. I am rather proud of Clifton's Cafeteria... an historic Los Angeles icon, The Final Inch... a film about efforts to erradicate Polio, and the National Fibromyalgia Association article.
How do you pick the articles you save?
Well... I look at the artcle, check for sources, and make a determination as to whether or not it can be improved to meet guideline requirements. If I am unable to convince myself that an article can reasonably be saved, I am just as likely to opine a delete for it at an AfD. If I am convinced it can be saved, I do what I can to improve the article.
Do you have any special projects in the works?
Well... what I like to do is find a redlink in another article and see if I can make it a blue. Some editors dislike redlinks and simply unlink them. Me, I take it as a challenge to give something to the project. For instance, the rescue of The Legend of Gator Face left me with several redlinks. From these I placed a note on its talk page to give some ideas of where others might start if so inclined. I usd my posted notes as the tools to finish articles for Marilyn Vance and Patrick Whitley, and to flesh out the article for Alan Mruvka. More recently I helped rescue the article for Kevin Rafferty. One of the redlinks there was for a documentary about a notable football game. My authoring the newer article Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 improved the encyclopedia and futher re-enforced the filmmaker's notability. A true win-win. As for other articles, I am drawn to improve or rescue articles on independent films and horror films, as they need more wiki-love than do the big-budget, highly-hyped blockbusters.
What advice would you give to editors joining the Squadron?
Most paramount advice is that we are not life-support. We do not raise the dead. If an article is totally unsalvagable, we are not here to fight with others about keeping it in these pages. The Rescue Squad is not here to tilt at windmills. BUT if it can be saved, we try to do so. We are here to improve articles and through our efforts share an example of what is possible with just a little care and wiki-love. This means work and more work... research and digging through sources... copyedit and cleanup... but the results can be quite satisfying.
Anything else you would like our readers to know about you?
I'd like folks to know that although I am not on the welcoming committee, and am not a mentor, I am always willing to give an assist to a newcomer. If someone asks me for help, I am always willing to help.
Are you the most famous regular editor on Wikipedia?
Hell no.