QandA with Classical Esther

For this edition Pmlineditor interviewed Classical Esther.

• When did you first discover Wikipedia and how?
  • I always saw Wikipedia come up when I searched for information on Google, and I enjoyed reading articles there. One day my sister Belinda showed me how to register, and I did. At first, I mostly experimented and edited a little on literature articles, but I was afraid of doing anything big because English Wikipedia was so well polished. Then I found out about Simple English Wikipedia, and after being adopted by Peterdownunder, I began editing more. It was fun there because there weren’t so many articles, so I could actually create articles of my own and begin finding a place in the community.
• What do you think is the greatest difference between English and Simple English Wikipedia?
  • I think English Wikipedia is like a great city, as Sonia once said. Pulsing, vibrating, crowding, it is very well made, and very interesting – but there’s not much to do there. I see the Simple English Wikipedia as a quiet country, where I can breathe, actually help in a worthwhile way. So the great difference, in short, is the work you can do. Of course, it depends on the people. But for me, Simple is a place of quiet simplicity, where people truly come together to write an encyclopedia.
• What places do you most edit here?
  • I often edit or make articles about books I've enjoyed, such as Evelina, The Brothers Karamazov, or Uncle Tom's Cabin. I also enjoy helping out in DYK and trying to promote articles to GA status. Vandal fighting, too, is always worthwhile.
• I agree, DYK and GA are certainly important but vandal fighting is important too. What is the best and worst thing about Wikipedia according to you?
  • The best thing about Wikipedia is the treasure of knowledge you can earn from it. It's also pleasant to see anything that you’ve written in print – or, well, on the screen. It makes Wikipedia a grotto of wisdom and collaboration. On the other hand, it makes me sad to think of the need to block, or even worse, ban anybody. Vandalism seems to be increasing in proportion as kind and selflessly helpful people join this amazing project. It also surprises me how easily people can get offended at each other and make a discussion a dramafest. If we could improve on these points, little by little, Wikipedia would be such a sweet resource of knowledge and an ornament of teamwork to humanity!
• Is there anything particular you would like to change about Wikipedia?
  • I wish we could all conduct ourselves with more delicacy and understanding towards each other. It can be easy to forget that it’s a fellow human being behind a computer that we’re talking to.
• Okay. Any final comments; anything else you'd like to say?
  • I can't think of anything, but that I hope God will bless Wikipedia and everyone in it.
• Thanks for the interview, Esther :)
  • No, thank you for interviewing me. It was very fun. :)

Well, thanks for that! Join us next time for more interviews! Pmlineditor ∞ 09:38, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]