User:Miranda/96:FEW

This is an essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

's 96:FEW -- Fairly Enhance Wikipedia
Here are my views on Wikipedia policies, and shouldn't be representative of the community as a whole.

Everyone is not a sockpuppet

Everyone who comes on Wikipedia is not a sockpuppet or has the intention to vandalize Wikipedia for his or her own gain. Currently, there are seven billion people in the world, and a certain percentage edit on Wikipedia. When I first edited on Wikipedia, I took policies seriously. I read the welcome message, WP:AIV, and some associated template pages detailing how to warn a vandal and how to enhance a user page and an article. Soon, I became labeled as a sockpuppet, and have a check user case. As expected, the check user case came back negative. For future check user cases, if there is a CLEAR comparison of vandal/new user, this should be shown as well (i.e. writing analysis, page contributions, user page style, etc.). If and when the case comes back inconclusive, the plantiff needs to immediately apologize to the defendant.

Warning Users

To be fair to users who have vandalized pages for the first time, use {{subst:test-1}}. For example,

Original: The girl walked to the candy store and bought a lolipop.

After (vandalism): The girl ran to the mall and bought a dress.

However, if users are clearly vandalizing pages to disrupt Wikipedia, use {{subst:blatantvandal}}. For example,

Original: The girl walked to the candy store and bought a lolipop.

After (vandalism): THIS PAGE IS WACK! THE BITCH IS A WHORE!

Personally, I would use (in the future) the 1, 2, 3/4 test system for warning users. After third or fourth level warning, disruptive users should be reported to Administrator Intervention against Vandalism, where the block should be determined by the administrator.

Identifying IP addresses before reporting to WP:AIV

Make sure appropriate warnings are given before reporting to WP:AIV

If the user has made disruptive edits via an IP address, the IP should be 1.) warned with the appropriate vandal warning and 2.) have IP location checked to see if the IP address is not shared.

When School IPs strike

Generally, school vandal edits (elementary through high school) occur from 12:00 to 1:00 (UTC) in America. Also, the benefits of placing a Shared IP upon an IP page will decrease collateral damage. College and university vandals can strike anytime. In this case, use {{subst:SchoolIP|Name of School or University}}.

When Shared IPs strike

A disruptive IP was blocked for editing on Wikipedia for a month, even after one user claimed that the IP represented the entire nation of Qatar. Identifying IP addresses before blocking will lessen the capability of collateral damage. In this case, if it is for a company or a region, use {{subst:SharedIP|Name of Shared Organization}}. For more Shared IPs not to be blocked, go here.

Submitting to Protecting Pages

If a page is being constantly vandalized by different IPs, go to Request for Page Protection. Although quicker, please don't bother administrators on the Wikipedia channel (#wikipedia-en) for protecting pages. Some of the kinder admins will feel sorry for you and protect. Otherwise, just go to WP:RPP.

User Sandboxes are Legal

Sandboxes are legal in order for a user to test or to improve, without using the main Wikipedia:Sandbox. Please see this incident for more clarification.

Free Pictures!

When you are creating or improving a Stub-class article to at least a Start-class or to a B-class article (see the assessment scale to know what I am talking about), Wikimedia Commons provides free-use and GFDL images which can be used in order to improve articles. For example, I used about three images (pearl necklace, ivy, and a pink tea rose), as well as extra updates provided by the sorority in improving Alpha Kappa Alpha from a Start-class to B-class (as of the time of this writing 14:33, 18 May 2007 (UTC))). I have also found public domain related images on the internet and adding the pictures to Commons as well as a part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha gallery.

As of July 17, Alpha Kappa Alpha article is approximately a good article, with the addition of a new rose. All I need to do is make articles for 18 or so founders and six Delta Sigma Theta founders as well as expand the history section as well as add controversy sections in order to make this article a featured article.

How do you make those ads?

Question (which is frequently asked): How do you create those ads for Wikipedia ads?

Answer: First, I use GIMP (free to download) to create "layers" to 468 by 60 pixels. I save the different layers as separate images (GIF) to my computer (i.e. image1.gif, image2.gif, etc.). I save the main GIMP file that I am working on as a .xcf, in case changes need to be made. Afterwards, the images (image1.gif, image2.gif, etc.) are later merged with a program called Microsoft GIF Animator. Note: image1.gif is opened as the base image. I set the time per frame to about 200 ms and the final image to 250 ms. "Transparency" is not checked and "Undraw" is set to "leave" on the image panel. The banner is "looped forever" to create a continuing effect. The banner is later saved as "Qxz-ad#.gif, where # represents the number of the ad. Afterwards, I upload the image to Wikimedia Commons with the description of the ad, additional public domain images used, and a distribution license (CC-BY-SA). Later, I follow the instructions here to add the ad into rotation. Each ad takes 1-2 hours to make (depending upon the decorative pattern, number of layers, and my CPU speed and internet connection). For example, this image took me four hours to create due to positioning of images and layers. So far, I have made 21 or so ads for the project. Below are two of my favorites.

WikiProject New Mexico

WikiProject Oregon

Twinkle Abuse

The antivandalism tool Twinkle is good for reverting vandalism. But, when most of your edits are Twinkle reverts and warnings, and not encyclopedic content like writing or improving articles, you may want to rethink your purpose on Wikipedia. First and foremost, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a Shakespeare drama theater. Also, Wikipedia is not a race or a contest. You are not getting paid to participate on Wikipedia, under the GFDL clause.

Plaintiff v. Defendant

If someone does wrong by biting a new user, or is assuming bad faith for whichever issue, warn them politely, not with automatic usage tools such as twinkle, because this is templating the user. Another user can be bitey, but another user can be bitey as well by the responses. Also, do not stalk users that you disagree with by following them around on articles, harassing them when they have done nothing to you, as well as get your friends to tag team on them to harrass them. Actions such as stalking may warrant a block or a ban from the community and/or the arbitration committee.

What these numbers mean

Also, people on Wikipedia have been wondering what 0/0-0-0 means on my Wikipedia userpage. I will explain below.

0 - number of AKA founders to create.
0 - copyvios to rewrite:

Ethel Hedgeman Lyle

Norma Elizabeth Boyd

Nellie Quander

0 - featured list (List of Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters)
0 - featured article (Alpha Kappa Alpha)