User talk:CDN99

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Wikipedia is run by children. Vandals and trolls are made to feel welcome, and legitimate editors are given no respect. I won't be back. --CDN99 00:45, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

You are absolutely correct BMurray

I'm not sure it's run by children, but I believe I've come across many young adults. I don't see that as a bad thing, as Wikipedia is a serious and major undertaking, and is an excellent social environment in which to learn about responsibility, cooperation, and social contribution. (I've learned a great deal about these things here myself, and I'm not fresh out of highschool). Most of the young adults I've run across have behaved in a very responsible manner. The vast majority of them take their role in developing Wikipedia very seriously.

I can't agree that vandals and trolls are made to feel welcome. It's a guaged response system. Wikipedia has both crack teams of vandal fighting fanatics and a gentler approach to deal with casual offenders. The belief is that if you treat people nice, they'll come into the fold willingly. But some people are just plain mean and wish to do Wikipedia harm however nicely they are treated. Those are the real trolls, and Wikipedia's WP:CVU members and other vandal fighters show them no mercy, and fight them relentlessly wherever they appear. Wikipedia is in good hands.

Respect is given to those who deserve it. I've received plenty of pats on the back (called barnstars, but also got a couple kicks in the shins when I disregarded the community's best interests. Eventually I learned the essence of Wikipedia, and it's been smooth sailing ever since. It just takes some time to learn the nature of the wiki.

I hope you reconsider and come back. If you'd like, I'd be glad to give you the grand tour.

Sincerely,   The Transhumanist   08:34, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Some interesting areas of Wikipedia to check out, IMHO

• Wikipedia's navigation system
• Meaning of life
• Wikipedia:Esperanza - Hope defeats Despair, and the Wikipedians who belong to the Esperanza organization specialize in Hope.
• List of mathematics articles - the front page to one of the best run academic departments anywhere on the internet.
• Wikipedia:Bad jokes and other deleted nonsense - the lighter side of the operation.
• List of cycles - a fun little project.
• WP:AWB and WP:TOOLS - some tools to transform you into a power user on Wikipedia. These'll give anyone who masters them confidence in the project.
    The Transhumanist   08:34, 23 October 2006 (UTC)