Wikipedia:WikiSloth
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This is an essay; it contains the advice and/or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. It is not a policy or guideline, and editors are not obliged to follow it. |
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This page in a nutshell: WikiSloths contribute to Wikipedia for hedonistic reasons, enjoying the intellectual challenge or social interaction. They rarely engage in rows or edit wars with other editors, because then it might become stressfull rather than fun. Because they edit due to their inclination or current fad, they can be seen in varied areas of the wiki. They have a talent for WP:NPOV due to a detatchment from most subject areas. They may often be found on talk pages, as they enjoy discussions and chatting to other editors. |
A WikiSloth is a user who makes contributions based solely on hedonistic intellectual enjoyment. Their contributions are valuable because they rarely get involved in protracted disputes or edit war, due to their attitude usually being that of WP:DGAF.
WikiSloths can be found anywhere, due to their tending to edit as the mood takes them. They will disagree with other users if necessary but not get into a long exchange of nasty comments or personal attacks, as then it stops being fun.
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[edit] Differences and similarities to other Wikifauna
They most resemble the WikiOgre depending on how regularly they edit Wikipedia, but differ in that they are not inspired so much by passion and the desire for trouble, as by random interest and inclination.
WikiSloths will respect, but not feel much kinship with, WikiGnomes, because the latter carry out what appears to resemble work.
They may occasionally be found doing the tasks favoured by the WikiElves, Wikifairies or WikiGremlins, when they have a fad for the task involved.
Very rarely they edit like a WikiDragon, but this would depend if a subject interests them sufficiently. It's not often that a WikiSloth will want to invest that amount of time and energy on one particular article or protracted edit.
[edit] Conflicts and friendships with other editors
WikiSloths may be found on User talk pages because they enjoy collaborating and discussion with other editors. After editing for a while they may turn up in Wikipedia space, on WP:ANI, WP:RfA or WP:AfD for the same reason, because they enjoy sharing their opinion. They tend to dislike rude editors, unless they are amusing.
Their initial edits to an article may invite confrontation from fanatics of the subject involved, simply because they rarely have the same degree of investment in it and so are more detached.
[edit] Positive and negative qualities
All the advantages of WP:DGAF apply, with the WikiSloths having a knack for detachment and WP:NPOV.
At times, briefly mocking other editors' beliefs is what amuses them.
However, they may have friendships with other editors, which prevent them from criticizing those particular people at length. Indeed, it's hard for a WikiSloth to do anything at length. Such extended effort seems like too much bother. They slowly amble, or neatly swing, from one aspect of the wiki to another, though they may return repeatedly to articles they are interested in.
WikiSloths could be seen as one of the more down-to-earth creatures on Wikipedia, as evinced by their not being named after a mythical beast.
They can be addicted to Wikipedia but realise that in the end it's just a hobby rather than a religion. Partly for this reason, they tend to shrug off harsh language or personal attacks. Nonetheless, like their namesake they may be armed with sharp claws that can surprise an unwary predator.
If they find themselves getting too engrossed in Wikipedia, they may force themselves to engage in some other activities so as still have something to chat about with those in the real world. The wikicareer of a Sloth can go several ways;- either their contributions remain occasional or become more so, or they find wikipedia a very enjoyable hobby and become a frequent editor. They also may go through spates of editing, or move on to their next enthusiasm.
[edit] How to identify a WikiSloth
You may spot a WikiSloth by their lighthearted or laid back attitude to editing. Or look for the Userbox {{User wikipedia/WikiSloth}} on a User's userpage, or place this on your own.
A WikiSloth who is feeling particularly active long enough to do so may identify himself displaying a sloth at the top of the page next to the User's name. The following code should produce a small sloth at the top of the page {{Wikipedia:WikiSloth/topicon}}. To make use of the two optional parameters, the horizontal and vertical positions respectively. The default coordinates are (30, 8).
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