User:Ed Poor

Archives: 01

Hi, my name is Ed Poor and I'm a former developer, admin & bureaucrat from Wikipedia.

I know quite a bit about the internal workings of Wikipedia: the database structure, formatting, templates, dispute procedures, content and style guidelines; and, oh, yes, all the politics and gossip of the first few years.

Wikipedia

I was one of the earliest members of the Wikipedia project (UserID #188). I helped institute the following practices or software features there:

• Marking edits as 'patrolled' (co-conceived with Maveric who in one marathon period personally checked every Wikipedia edit for vandalism!)
• Ability of blocked users to edit their own user talk page
• Community ban - i.e., increased authority for sysops to block a disruptive user
• The practice of bureaucrats "running" for office (I was the first one elected, when as a developer I could simply have granted myself the rights)

Pages I'm proud of there:

• Wikipedia:Avoid personal remarks

Dpbsmith asked me to come over, so here I am. I'm finding the environment much more congenial.

My chief aim here is to facilitate the highest standards of encyclopedia development.

Favorite contributors

This is a partial list. Don't get all bent out of shape because I haven't placed your name here (yet). :-) And it's not in any particular order.

• TK (talk • contribs • count) - straight to the point
• MountainDew (talk • contribs • count) - refreshing, like a can of soda!
• RSchlafly (talk • contribs • count) - forthright
• Aschlafly (talk • contribs • count) - erudite
• Dpbsmith (talk • contribs • count) - out of sight!
• Hojimachong (talk • contribs • count) - all right!
• Sid 3050 (talk • contribs • count) - a big help
• Jaques (talk • contribs • count) - a lot of interesting stuff

Troublemakers

• Bob2 (talk • contribs • count) - 2 large unexplained deletions, right after signing up
• Huey gunna getcha (talk • contribs • count)
• ilikebigbibles (talk • contribs • count) - was on "Conservapedia:probation" - an experiment which did not work

A new role

To my surprise and pleasure, I was voted in as a sysop here - reportedly it was unanimous. Thank you for your support.

I believe that users who are here to contribute should get a helping hand, and those who cannot or will not make useful contributions should be shown to the door. But since, "His mercy is forever sure", I don't like applying infinite bans; it's always possible for a person to make up his mind to take a new direction.

I've unprotected a handful of pages and am watching them. I have hopes that eventually all content pages can be freely edited, once they reach a mature and stable state.

Welcome

Welcome, I'm Dan. I see that you have made many great article improvements in your week here. MountainDew 17:45, 26 March 2007 (EDT)

Thanks, Dan. I try. And I've learned a lot from watching you. --Ed Poor 18:50, 28 March 2007 (EDT)

PF Fox

Why would the use of a single standard NOT help in the writing of an article? Do you consider double standards desirable? --PF Fox 14:32, 29 March 2007 (EDT)

Alphabet

Excuse me, what was wrong with beginning stubs on the letters in the alphabet? And why did you block me for it? Not very fair in my opinion. Flippin 14:58, 29 March 2007 (EDT)

Mr. Schlafly has asked for more substantive articles. We need better articles on history, literature, science, economics, religion, etc. MountainDew 14:58, 29 March 2007 (EDT)

That seems very short-sighted. Is this supposed to be comprehensive or not? Flippin 15:00, 29 March 2007 (EDT)

blocked "Flippin (contribs)" with an expiry time of 1 minute (too many new articles)

• That was to get your attention. In your case, please go for substantive over comprehensive. --Ed Poor 15:11, 29 March 2007 (EDT)

We don't need to be so comprehensive as to state the obvious. I think anybody who's on this site knows that A is the first letter of the alphabet. MountainDew 15:14, 29 March 2007 (EDT)