User talk:ToastGuard/Orcanami/Archive 1

Welcome

Welcome, to get to know you please answer these questions.

• What are some of your hobbies?

-- Reading. Especially books on World War I. 
-- Gym. Not intensive training; more "sound body, sound mind".
-- Knitting. Got into it as part of physical therapy.   

• What do you see yourself doing on WP in 2 years?

-- Organizing and aiding in the development of WikiProjects, particularly small ones that may be less well supported for a variety of reasons.
-- Serving as a link between people needing access to references and a local library.
-- Writing scripts to aid in the automation and management of Wikipedia broadly.
-- Editing articles.

• How would you rate your knowledge on wikipedia policies and guidelines on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being least knowledgeable, and 10 being the most?

-- 5, book-smart but not practiced
-- Details: I have read several policy pages in whole, and many in part. I am aware that there is a distinction between policies (e.g., WP:OR) and guidelines (Manual of Style). I understand that one of the most important policies is possibly verifiability predicated on reliable sources; without reliable sources backing verifiable statements, there is no article, so to speak. I know shortcuts to various policies and guidelines and have referenced them in discussion pages such as this. I also understand there is quite a bit of grey area with respect to policies and especially guidelines (e.g., npov and notability, respectively), so good judgment is a requirement for proper application. I am familiar with assessment processes (PeerReview, B article, A article, Good Article, Featured Article) and aware they may have their own superset of criteria. Fun fact: the WikiProjects Fungi and Plants are two of the most successful projects when it comes to FAC submissions. With that said: I honestly doubt I will ever see every page of the MoS. There are minutiae of policies such as no ownership that elude me. It's disavowed, but I feel as though I see it in many articles. Your help in navigating these details would be greatly appreciated.

• Would you be able to respond to my messages within 48 hours, (extenuating circumstances not withholding)?

-- Yes. I am slow to write (often because I write a lot and spend time summarizing). 
-- I do have a rather involved work schedule, so I will give you a heads-up when I might be slow to respond. I will also post a notice on my userpage.

• Can you explain how you would positively contribute to Wikipedia?

-- My goal is to expand knowledge in particularly underserved WikiProjects I take a shine to. This could reduce bias in Wikipedia's coverage and generally promote trust in it as a resource.
-- On a more functional side, I hope my scripts could be used to benefit many folks here. 

• Who are you? Tell me about yourself and anything you wish for me to know.

-- I am a grad student, finishing up. I have access to a decent library. Let me know if you want or need parts of a book scanned. Maybe they'll have it.
-- Direct communication is preferable. Obviously, please don't berate me. But if you have to give negative feedback, err on the side of harsh but clear rather than kind but vague. 
-- I probably come across as a long-winded stickler. I swear I've had fun once or twice in my life though.