Wikipedia talk:Service awards

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miscellany for deletion This page was nominated for deletion on 6 March 2007. The result of the discussion was Keep.

Contents

[edit] Smaller ribbons

I really think it would be better if there were smaller alternatives to the later ribbons which are longer in length than the first ones. -- Cat chi? 17:01, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

  • I was thinking along the lines of ribbons for honours (eg knighthoods) being twice as long as ribbons for campaign and gallantry medals when I made them up, and it's because the "medals" for the later awards reminded me of knighthoods that I made the ribbons like that. If you would like me to make short versions talk to me on my talk page and I will. A1octopus (talk) 18:37, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
It would make more sense for these ribbons all to be the same length as the barnstar ribbons. Also, the colors are pale. Bob the Wikipedian (talk) 13:55, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Transparent medals

I am inclined to use medals with transparent bg. Would it be possible for User:Herostratus upload transparent versions to commons? (please upload freely licensed images to commons rather than en) -- Cat chi? 18:51, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How long is service

Is service how long you have really been editing, 2 moths for me, or when you joined Wikipedia, 5 months for me.Blacksmith2 talkEditor Review 07:43, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

I think when you made your first edit. But it could be when you joined. Phgao 06:27, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

Well i did make a few edits when i joined, but they really only picked up in juneBlacksmith talk 09:25, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Beyond Master

Soon we are going to have many Master Class Editors and we should have a new service awards to people who have gone beyond Master Class. (Speaking of which, Are there any Master classes here?)Marlith T/C 04:53, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps we should, if you have suggestions feel free to give them. Phgao 06:27, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
How does God-King sound to you? Marlith T/C 19:47, 22 November 2007 (UTC)
That will be directly offensive to most religious people (of whatever demonination), and be good grounds for WP:TFD. — SMcCandlish [talk] [cont] ‹(-¿-)› 19:54, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
Grand Master should do the trick. — SMcCandlish [talk] [cont] ‹(-¿-)› 19:54, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
I hope the Masons don't have a copyright on this. Dr.K. (talk) 23:41, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
At this writing, only Ed Poor has claimed his Master Class. I'm having problems with the editcount tool (it keeps timing out with an incomplete total from Jan 2004), but Maveric149, TUF-KAT, Michael Hardy, Bryan Derksen are definitely eligible (they were already here when I was a newbie). Stan Shebs and Angela are a few months shy of their awards. I have the years for a Master, but the edits to qualify only for Senior class. -- llywrch (talk) 22:40, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

I'm one of those "religious types" (though I consider my faith a relationship with God, not a religion) and I find the "god-king" idea humorous. It would be quite funny and I would consider it satire. Saksjn (talk) 13:12, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

I definitely take offense. This is blasphemy against God.
Personally, I think it would be neat to say that this is simply the beginning of editing-- Once you reach Master status, you begin a new journey. It's like beating a game, and moving on to the sequel.
Titles in this "master editor series" might include colors (like in karate), elements (fire/water/ice/etc), names of animals (monkey/lion/bear/snake/etc, or even following a pattern, like guppy/carp/shark/etc), or possibly even make up some words for titles, like they usually do in fiction. Bob the Wikipedian (talk) 14:08, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] What edits do count

Do all edits on all wikis a user makes count or only the edits he makes on the English wiki? Just wondering what will happen if a user i.e. has 2000 edits there, 2000 edits somewhere else and another let's say 1000 edits on the English wiki. Does he than have 5000 edits and is eligible for the Yeoman Editor Award or do only the 1000 English wiki edits count and thus he is an apprentice editor??? --noclador 06:55, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

I believe it is only on the english wikipedia. Phgao 06:26, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Categories

Can we make categories for each rank and have the templates auto-add the users to those categories? Cause I was just thinking I'd like to see how many users are of each rank, but there's no way to see that right now.

Equazcion • argue/improves • 14:54, 10/2/2007
I'm gonna go ahead and implement this. If anyone has any objections let me know.
Equazcion • argue/improves • 16:42, 10/2/2007
All done. See Category:Editors with service awards for the current listing. Keep in mind that it won't include current award holders that haven't replaced their awards yet since the categorization, since people have mostly subst'd these templates. If you've already got an award posted on your user page via the "subst" method, you'll need to delete it and re-post it in order to become part of the category.
Equazcion • argue/improves • 17:12, 10/2/2007

[edit] Userboxes

User:Danbarnesdavies/Userboxes/Wikipedia has these converted to user boxes , should we add these to this pageBlacksmith talk 06:42, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Those look pretty good, yeah.
Equazcion • argue/improves • 18:24, 10/10/2007
Done.
Equazcion • argue/improves • 21:10, 10/10/2007
So, why were they copied (to the Template space, nonetheless, which is against the userbox migration policy!), and was I not contacted when they were? Just slightly miffed – I'd prefer my creations remain in my space... But also, wow, cheers! † DBD 01:55, 21 November 2007 (UTC)
Not all userboxes have to live in userspace; since these are tied to a mini-project that has already survived WP:TFD, I think they'd be okay here. I doubt anyone would object if you briefly blanked the copies and replaced them with {{db-move}} and an HTML comment pointing to this discussion, then moved your originals over the copies; that way your creation and other edit history on them would be preserved. — SMcCandlish [talk] [cont] ‹(-¿-)› 19:58, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Categories up for deletion

Resolved. Categories deleted.

The categories for these awards are up for deletion. All are welcome to participate in the discussion.

Equazcion • argue/improves • 04:10, 10/16/2007
Now the userboxes look like crap. Fix them! Tyler Warren (talk/contribs) 05:41, 25 October 2007 (UTC)
Ok I've removed the red links from EVERYTHING. One thing I forgot to do (D'OH!), was remove the Categories tags from every userbox. If anyone is against me doing this, say something before I do it. Tyler Warren (talk/contribs) 06:06, 25 October 2007 (UTC)
Ok I fixed EVERYTHING. Red links are gone and have been turned into bold font, categories that were deleted, but were still in the templates are gone, everything's fixed up. Please contact me via my talk page if there are any problems. Tyler Warren (talk/contribs) 06:19, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New image needed for Grognard Extraordinary

Image:Wikipedia book.jpg has been deleted. I've created a placeholder image but my graphic design skills aren't up to much - hopefully someone else can replace it with a decent one sometime soon :-). WjBscribe 04:12, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Do you have the original raw PNG/PSD for that? If so can you upload it as well? It'll be easier to work on. Thanks.
Equazcion • argue/improves • 05:42, 10/16/2007
My starting point was Image:Dante Alighieri-Das Neue Le.jpg if you want to work from that. I just played about with it a bit in a photo editor... WjBscribe 13:45, 16 October 2007 (UTC)
I uploaded my version, which I'm sure can still be improved upon.
Equazcion • argue/improves • 09:29, 10/21/2007

[edit] I am amused

I'd be an Apprentice if you count my edits and a Master Editor if you count my years of service. Dreamyshade 00:18, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Haha, I have a similar problem, only the other way around :D --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 02:45, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lining up the service badges

Is there anyway to make the service badges line up across the page instead of vertically. See my userpage for what I want to change it from. Mbisanz (talk) 01:02, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

I'd suggest a table. But you are aware that displaying these awards cumulatively is somewhat unusual? In almost all cases, one displays only one's current level... † DBD 02:44, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
Good point, though I have seen users with multiple bars, not badges. Mbisanz (talk) 02:52, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Time and number of edits mismatch

As a 3-year old editor with over 60k edits I have a few problems with that list :) With Master award being 5-years but only 40k edits I'd say it overvaluates time and undervaluates edits :) Perhaps it could be split into lenght and no of edits, with two seprate awards connected on some level, for example (brainstorming) we could create a color scheme that would be used for lenght of stay? And ummm, yes, 40k edits is way not enough for the top award... --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk 02:45, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

On an unrelated note, for a 3 year-old, you sure do express yourself well.
Equazcion •✗/C • 02:48, 12/24/2007

[edit] Proportionality

Is there anything for five months & 6000+ edits, apart from, er, perhaps Zopiclone or Mogadon? --Rodhullandemu (Talk) 03:02, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Sure, there's also Valium, Barbital, Social interaction, and Sex. Equazcion •✗/C • 03:07, 12/26/2007

[edit] Authority

While there is no formal division between veterans and new users outside of administrator privileges, veteran users often have some informal authority due to their experience. Λυδαcιτγ 05:42, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

That's not called authority, it's called respect. Equazcion •✗/C • 05:46, 2 Jan 2008 (UTC)
Agreed. Plus when authority is informal it really does not exist. It only exists in the mind of the beholder, (much like beauty). It does not even cover the cases of experienced editors returning under new names. Dr.K. (talk) 18:04, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Number of edits

Is it going on solely Mainspace edits or on the Edit Total? I'm simply asking as there is rather a gap between mine, possibly due to me participating in AFDs. ŞůṜīΣĻ¹98¹Speak 04:50, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

It's the total number, no matter where they were made. Dr.K. (talk) 06:33, 12 January 2008 (UTC)
Ah I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me. A new service medal my way comes HIYO! ŞůṜīΣĻ¹98¹Speak 07:19, 12 January 2008 (UTC)
Anytime. Congratulations by the way. Take care. Dr.K. (talk) 10:54, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Take too long to earn

They take way too long to earn. I mean, I have 4,850 edits and I could only earn the journeyman badge today. That's more than twice the requirement. I suggest making it say "X number of edits or X number of months service" rather than "X number of edits and X number of months service". Woould be much better :-)--Phoenix-wiki 14:27, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

I'm saying the opposite. I've been here for a year and a half and log on every day. I only have about 860 edits even though I edit every day. Saksjn (talk) 13:09, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

I think the time is important. This way you are encouraged to stay an editor for a longer period of time. In my case, I was a member for well over two years before I really got into editing, so I'm having a hayday changing my medals these past 4,200 edits. Number of edits doesn't mean everything...it only shows you contribute a lot. The amount of time you've spent here really makes you a more valuable editor, and these are the editors we want holding medals. Bob the Wikipedian (talk) 14:14, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] novice...

The term novice is a bit belittling, and a bit awkward for a badge. I suggest the term be changed from novice to something a little more encouraging. Here are a few suggestions: Tyro, Protégé, Apprentice, Recruit, Novitiate. Cheers, Kingturtle (talk) 16:09, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

I do strongly agree with you. -- Niaz(Talk • Contribs) 17:40, 27 January 2008 (UTC)
Do we assume that Novice editors don't know Latin? Because Novitiate is novice in Latin. Dr.K. (talk) 20:12, 27 January 2008 (UTC)
You'll get at least one person in this list and that's me. :-p -- Niaz(Talk • Contribs) 19:24, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
I agree with a another name.... Apprentice sounds good. LanceBarber (talk) 07:20, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
But we already have Apprentice. I am however opposed to using Apprentice for any editor grade because the word carries a connotation of needing a mentor. That does a disservice to all these editors who, independently, learn the ropes without relying on a master craftsman/editor. Same goes for Protégé (too patronizing). Also Recruit (too militaristic plus Wikipedia is a voluntary project with no recruiting activities. Tyro sounds like Spyro (the video game). Dr.K. (talk) 17:34, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
Not to mention that Tyro could be confused with Tyra as in Tyra Banks. Dr.K. (talk) 17:43, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Well, bureaucrat is used on Wikipedia to describe something that it isn't exactly, so how about calling the new editors something that they aren't exactly. How about swashbuckler? vanguard? sleuth? barnstormer? (might be cool to give barnstormers a barnstar!) Kingturtle (talk) 17:49, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Great idea. Especially Barnstormer captures ideally the way frosh editors can sometimes bust their way into the barn (Wikipedia). It also possesses energy and is action oriented. I really like it. Dr.K. (talk) 17:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
Well, novice is kind of OK, after all these are pretty new editors. However, some of the other suggestions are fine too. But I think barnstormer is too informal for the left column, which is kind of the more straight, stuffy, formal terminology. "Recruit" strikes me as the best, maybe.Herostratus (talk) 01:01, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
Awards are controversial as it is, (as proposed deletions and discussions in the past indicate). Changing from Novice (civilian) to Recruit (military terminology) will make this grade even less accessible and more controversial. Plus it will impart an air of recruiting to Wikipedia, which is simply not case. How about Initiate? Initiate denotes "new" but with respect to time not necessarily level of knowledge. Still the term is not perfect because it, unfortunately, has been linked to secret societies. --Dr.K. (talk) 15:36, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
Barnstormers were gutsy trailblazers in the sky. Such a term would be great for newcomers here. Kingturtle (talk) 15:44, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
I completely agree. Barnstormer is a term that doesn't have to sound stuffy like the other grades because it refers to new editors. It is refreshing and also playful as befits a new editor learning the ropes and trying the buttons in a new environment. So it could be included with the other grades without harming their value. I proposed Initiate because I was simply trying to find some consensus. Dr.K. (talk) 15:55, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
I don't have much problem with 'Novice' as it is, but I very much like the name 'Barnstormer' for the newest editors. It seems an accurate description in more ways than one. :) (If it's seen as too informal, we could always switch to 'Initiate' or something equally bland and inoffensive.) Terraxos (talk) 05:45, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
Let's see what I can dig up from Morrowind: Associate, Retainer, Oathman, Agent. How about Young and Eager? Or Beginner?
Most websites seem to use the term Beginner, Newbie, or Rookie. Bob the Wikipedian (talk) 14:17, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Question

The requiements say length of service and number of edits. Can we change this to and/or? What if there is a user that has done so much edits, but little years of service. We have to recongnize that editor.--Nothing444 (talk) 00:12, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

This question has been raised before. The current combination seems to be a compromise. There are also long time editors with few edits who also deserve recognition. I think this is some kind of ballpark figure average. Others have raised the point that the years-number of edits figures don't increase linearly and sought to remedy this by decreasing the number of years for some of the higher grades but there is no consensus. Dr.K. (talk) 00:46, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

So is it a yes or no?--Nothing444 (talk) 02:14, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

In the absence of consensus, currently it is no. Dr.K. (talk) 02:16, 28 February 2008 (UTC)
Agree, even as I'm going to hit 16,000 edits about 4 months before I hit 3 years I do think there is a correlation between both experience and edits. Lots of edits means you don't screw up much. Lots of time means your dedicated to the project. MBisanz talk 06:10, 28 February 2008 (UTC)
As good and brief an analysis as I've seen to date. Dr.K. (talk) 13:28, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

I think we should change thisNothing444 (talk) 22:56, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

Lots of edits means you don't screw up much? I don't see how that follows at all. Anyway, I think people who have both the time and the edit count under their belts deserve special recognition, but perhaps there could be other awards added for pure edit count or time alone. Until someone feels like creating those, though, anyone is really free to post whichever award they think they rightly deserve, despite the criteria specified here. This page isn't a policy. You can post a Master Editor award right now and no one can say anything about it. These are just for fun. They don't mean anything. They would mean even less if they were as easy to attain as you suggest. Equazcion •✗/C • 01:02, 29 Feb 2008 (UTC)

True. "Lots of edits mean you don't screw up much" doesn't mean too much, (except if you really did screw up too much you would normally be told to slow down and in some cases you could be discouraged from editing altogether through peer pressure). Any other explanation for the number of edits is not markedly better so just pick your favourite definition. Same goes for awards displayed. Choose your own criterion, fake or otherwise. Dr.K. (talk) 01:34, 29 February 2008 (UTC)
Even though I did see in the discussion above somewhere that a few sticklers for details actually asked (harassed) editors about awards improperly displayed. Dr.K. (talk) 01:39, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

I'll just say that since this isn't a Wikipedia policy, users should just use discretion as I did. I have 26,785 edits at the time of this comment but only 1½ years' service. I'm using "Senior Editor" instead of "Experienced & Established Editor" which says 6,000 edits and 1½ years' service. I'm a lonnnnnng way from 6,000 edits. - ✰ALLSTAR✰ echo 03:49, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

I just find this amusing. I for one will not personally award myself a higher service award even though I meet the # of edits but not the time. Being here longer and being consistent (which I think is the key) has to count for something. I personally believe that edit counts are not a true reflection of an editor's value to the project. There are some amazing editors out there who have been here for years but are pretty much unheralded because of some low count. At the same time there are still editors out there who are a bit green on Wiki policy who have a huge count in which the majority of their time is spent on AWB, reverting vandalism, etc. Even I'm amazed how fast huggle is. Don't be in such a hurry to get a service award. What's the rush? It'll come. Now get back to editing! =) ----Ðysepsion † Speak your mind 00:31, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Well said. Λυδαcιτγ 06:06, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia:List of Wikipedians in order of arrival states:

...we Wikipedians abhor the idea that the amount of time spent working on this website is any sort of indication of how well one can write an encyclopedia article. Indeed, we distinguish ourselves by our ability to write good articles, which is what really matters. We ought to do our best to underemphasize seniority, which can be used, often illegitimately, as a way of deciding whom to accord how much respect. Of course, sometimes how long someone has been here does bear on, for example, how well they understand Wikipedia policy and why Wikipedia works as it does. But it doesn't bear on much else.

Just to keep things in perspective. Kingturtle (talk) 11:47, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Communist?

I find it quite disturbing that the images for the lesser medal ribbons are apparently made from Soviet labor medals . Is wikipedia making a political statement here? I can has Red barnstar? MickMacNee (talk) 00:28, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

  • Actually no, I made the lesser medal ribbon images form the lesser medal's ribbons (by cutting and pasting a section). A1octopus (talk) 20:41, 20 April 2008 (UTC)
    • Shouldnt we have the option to choose between different designs? I'd quite like a Spanish style medal (C.1800) as they are rather glitzier than the aforementioned Sovietesque medals and much less likely to be made of scrap iron. JaneVannin (talk) 18:43, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

Oh get over it guys! I don't like communism at all, but I see it as a parody, not an endorsement. Saksjn (talk) 13:05, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Using Bots

Some editors have incredible high edits in a very short time, for example 16.000 edits in 4 months! Subsequently they have the corresponding service award. Do they use bots to manage that? Is it allowed to boost the amount of edits with bots, and on merit of that claim your Service award? Demophon (talk) 09:51, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

All edits are "allowed." The number of edits is mere raw data. Edits are edits. There is no direct correlation between number of edits and usefulness to Wikipedia or to an editor's importance. In 1970 Horace Clarke had 686 at bats (at the time the sixth highest amount in Major League history) but batted a meager .251. Kingturtle (talk) 11:55, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
I think he means is it right to claim a service award when your edit count is the result of a bot rather than the effort of manual edits. I'd say no, but service awards are far from an official policy, so anyone is pretty much free to interpret and use them however they like. Equazcion •✗/C • 12:00, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
There is no enforcement of Wikipedia:Service awards. They have official meaning. They hold no authority. They are self-granted and mean only what anyone wants them to mean. As far as I can tell, they are meant to be fun. Kingturtle (talk) 12:03, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Graphic designer needed

I'm looking for a skilled graphic designer.

I need an image for a non-barnstar Wikipedia award with the theme "World Traveler".

I was thinking perhaps the following image, without the barnstar, and with the globe (or another one) superimposed over the Wikipedia globe (or the Wikipedia globe superimposed over it) - I'd like to see the world's countries and the puzzle pieces (with the continents more prominent).

The image also needs a passport laying on the surface beneath the globe stand (where its shadow is, but the shadow should be retained as well). The image's background must be transparent (not white like the background of the image below).

Image:Interlingual Barnstar.png

Is this something you can do?

If so, please contact me on my talk page.

I look forward to your reply.

The Transhumanist    17:17, 16 May 2008 (UTC)