User:Michaelsanders

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I was a sixth-form grammar school student in North-West England; I am now a history student at University. I am passionate about politics and history (though as yet I haven't written anything significant on these subjects). I am also a fan of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. I respond to criticism according to tone and subject: if I can see I am in the wrong, I will willingly back down and apologise. If I believe that I am right, I will fight. And if I am offended, I will not back down. “Victrix causa deis placuit, sed victa Catoni” (“The Cause of the Conquerors Pleased the Gods, That of the Conquered Pleased Cato”) Lucan on Cato the Indomitable

What I approve of:

Tenacity and conviction - if you believe in something, you should fight for it.

Directness - if you have something to say about a person, you should tell them.

Die-hard attitude - a willingness to continue with a cause past hope of achieving it - in the case of the Harry Potter Marauder Generation, whilst there is no reason any longer to believe the 1959 or 1960 dates rather than the 1958 date, nonetheless, I admire those who are willing to fight for what they believe is the right date.

What I detest:

Hypocrisy - If you claim to support a cause, you should push it completely. You can not claim Original Research as an excuse to oust a detail you do not like, without applying it to the entire article. If you do disapprove of a detail, you should say so directly (unless it is clearly a rubbishy detail, such as 'Harry Potter is actually a reincarnation of Lord Voldemort who became Ron Weasley and went back in time', or 'Labour won its last election by installing mind control chips in the electorate' - such obviously fraudulent data doesn't deserve to have its removal justified).

Whispering - I detest those who whisper behind peoples backs - my own back or others. If you are discussing an editor, you should tell him or her: it is not fair to discuss people when they cannot defend themselves, or to assume that you can say what you like because the editor doesn't know. If there is a chance the editor you are discussing doesn't know, you should tell him, and you should never assume that he does know; if you can't say such things in front of him, you shouldn't be saying them.

People who don't *explain* things - it NEVER hurts to give a clear explanation of an issue, or one's view. And failing to do so can cause a massive fuss.