Wikipedia's benevolent bovine monarch.
Pronouns
they them | This user's pronouns are they / them. |
Be like Roger Ebert and Danny Woodburn
This is one of my favorite conversations on the internet. It's an email exchange between the late film critic Roger Ebert and actor Danny Woodburn:
Dwarfs, Little People and the M-word on RogerEbert.com
Woodburn is a little person, and he was upset by a word Ebert used, in a review, in reference to people with dwarfism. Woodburn comes on strong, saying that Ebert was taking away people's humanity by using a hate word. Ebert could've used this as an excuse to get angry or defensive or double down. In fact, you might've expected Ebert to be a bit haughty, since he was a Pulitzer Prize winner and also the best-known film critic in the world. Instead, though, Ebert listens. The two have a real, meaty conversation. Ebert explains he didn't know the word was considered offensive, and he ends up saying "I will retire the word...right here and now."
Be like Danny Woodburn: if you have a problem with something someone has been saying, speak up about it (if you feel safe to do so).
And be like Roger Ebert: be willing to talk and to listen.
On my future adminship
An editor I respect once told me that I'm destined to become an admin someday. Hopefully they're wrong because it sounds like a lot of work.
Bye-bye B
Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons should be moved to Wikipedia:Living people. The policy does not just apply to "biographies", and the misleading title confuses newbies and even experienced editors. (As for why "persons" should be changed to "people": "persons" is needlessly stuffy and legalistic.)
Toxic editors: kindly leave
One of the classic problems we have is...users in the community who have a reputation for creating good content, and for being incredibly toxic personalities...I have a very simple view is that most of these editors actually cost us more than they're actually worth, and we're making a big mistake by tolerating people who are causing us enormous [prolonged applause]...they should be encouraged to leave, and not in a bad way.
– Jimbo Wales, Wikimania 2014
Transphobipedia
During my years improving LGBT-related articles on this site, I've been subject to various forms of targetting and harassment from transphobic ideologues. I've been told I can't keep my editing neutral because of my identity and my personal life. I've been called a "transtrender". I've been told I'm in favor of children being harmed. I've been targeted at a hate site, where an anonymous TERF editor called me one of the "transgender activists" who are "taking over" and "destroying" Wikipedia. It's been implied I'm part of a sinister transgender cabal. Etc. And all this is mild compared to the kind of harassment that I know other LGBT editors have received.
A couple of the incidents above were dealt with adequetly by the community, but many were not. What's to be done? I'm not sure. I don't have any answers. I just plan to keep editing, and keep calling out bad behavior, so the bullies don't win.
FAQTHNABA (Frequently Asked Questions That Have Never Actually Been Asked)
What have you accomplished around here?
I'm proud of the consensus I was able to help reach on how to credit the Wachowski sisters in articles about their work.
What's the inspiration for your username?
It comes from the protagonist of Shadow of the Colossus, whose name is usually rendered as Wander but can be transliterated as Wanda. (Note: I've discovered there are several other people who share this username. If you stumble across any other WanderingWandas outside of Wikipedia, they probably aren't me. Also: I'm not to be confused with Senator Angus King.)
Your username has too many letters, think of my poor fingers!
It's fine to shorten it to "Wander", "Wanda", or "WW".
When adding signatures to the unsigned posts of IPs, why do you hide the IP address?
That's my pointless little protest against how blasé Wikipedia is about revealing editors' IPs.
What powers does Wikipedia's monarch have?
Technically, our royal person has absolute power over every editor. But these days it's mostly a ceremonial position.
Doesn't Wikipedia already have a queen?
Hey, if there can be two popes, Wikipedia can also have multiple monarchs.
Whatever happened to WanderingWanda?
As my name suggests, I am prone to wandering off from time to time. But don't worry, I seem to always come back. :)
A Wiki True Crime story
I'm slowly working on a big piece of writing. It's tentatively titled "Investigation of a Wikipedian Above Suspicion", and it will offer an in depth, narrative history of a perplexing recent Wiki controversy.
Can YOU foil WanderingWanda's PERFIDIOUS SOCKERY?
Here's a fun game to keep the members of my fanclub busy. I was, at one point, fairly sure this was my first and only Wikipedia account....and then I stumbled onto one I made as a baby calf and had completely forgotten about. I just made a tiny number of good faith (but stupid) edits with it. This MYSTERIOUS SECRET account is much too embarassing for public viewing, but I did disclose it to the Arbitration Committee, and now perhaps it is time for YOU to see it as well. If you find it, please message me privately and I will reward you with one cookie on your talk page.
Watchlist watch
My watchlist has over 2000 items. My area of focus is LGBT-related articles.
Barnstars
![]() |
The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar |
Considering we started editing regularly around the same time, I have seen you grow much faster than myself! You had a wonderful RfC, and now you've gone and already successfully navigated the landmine that is ANI!! You have my admiration for that feat. –MJL ‐Talk‐☖ 04:18, 7 May 2019 (UTC) |
![]() |
The Civility Barnstar |
Thank you for correcting me about Sonny Kiss at WP:LGBT. I will be like Roger Ebert, the one I admire, and Danny Woodburn. THE NEW ImmortalWizard(chat) 16:14, 26 July 2019 (UTC) |
![]() | ||
I hereby award you the Heraldic Barnstar for the excellence of your graphics. Thank you for uploading File:KnightBows.jpg in response to my call for aid on WP:Discord. :D –MJL ‐Talk‐☖ 05:19, 27 July 2019 (UTC) |
Userboxes
![]() | This user is a WikiKnight, valiantly protecting the Five Pillars of Wikipedia. |
I am a.. WikiVampire Slayer and vow to end their tyranny! |
![]() | This user wishes they could thank bots. |
This user is a bibliophile. |
![]() | This user is a member of the Shakespeare WikiProject |
![]() | This user is a member of WikiProject LGBT studies. |
![]() | This user participates in WikiProject Film. |
![]() | This user simplifies Wikipedia referencing with ProveIt. |
![]() | This user watches over Wikipedia with the help of Twinkle! |
![]() | This user has rollback rights on the English Wikipedia. (verify) |
![]() |
![]() | This editor is a Yeoman Editor and is entitled to display this Service Badge. |
Alt
I have an alt account for use on public computers, etc: User:WanderingWanderingWanda.