User talk:Invertzoo/Archive 48

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ARCHIVE PAGE 48: December 2011

Susan,

I was inspired by your Wikipedia fundraising message; initially I was going to donate money, but instead (bigheaded as I am) I decided it may be more helpful to donate my time and knowledge. I created a username last night to attempt to help Wikipedia secure funding more effectively. I believe that their fundraising system is flawed, and that they do not have to compromise their values or the integrity of Wikipedia in order to make meeting their budget considerably easier. With that in mind, I created a page called wikihelp (which has since been taken down), not only to voice my thoughts on the process, but to compile an open source list of suggestions for helping Wikipedia's fundraising efforts from anyone who feels that they have an idea that may be helpful (and to enable those who do not have the means to contribute financially to still help).

I realize that this is not what an article is -- the page is flawed because it's rooted in my own opinion, and that is not what Wikipedia is all about (conclusively, why the page was removed). However, I feel that my intentions are not misguided, and that they were likely misinterpreted and misunderstood. I agree that this page should not be a wikipedia article, and I commend the site administrators on how hastily they took care of the issue. I feel that once a sufficient number of suggestions are submitted, the page will lose it's subjectivity (of course it's subjective and biased if I'm the only one giving suggestions). I was hoping that after reading the page, the administrator would understand what I was trying to do and make my page/article into a forum linked from the donations page (and possibly consider putting my suggestions to good use).

I was hoping to be able to give you a link to wikihelp, but since it has been removed, here is the content that I created and uploaded last night (please note that the page is incomplete without other people's opinions, and try to separate your own opinions on what I've written from my true intentions of helping Wikipedia stay afloat -- understand that our intentions are the same):

This page is intended to be a compilation of ideas to help Wikipedia secure funding more effectively, as well as a means for those who cannot contribute financially to still help out. Please do not hesitate to make a suggestion, and ensure that your thoughts are well constructed and actionable.

The following quotes were taken from the Wikimedia donation page:

"If everyone reading this made a small donation, we would only have to fundraise for a few hours. Not everyone can or will donate, but each year just enough people decide to give."

-Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia Founder)

"We only raise what we need. When we've raised our budget, we stop fundraising for the year."

Why stop? If you raise funds continuously, you would not run into the same problem of struggling to meet your budget every year. If you end up with a surplus, you can still use that money altruistically by saving for the following year's budget or enhancing the site further (servers, bandwidth, maintenance, development, people, etc.). I understand that you want to keep operations lean, and that the spirit of wikipedia is non-commercial. However, it is your humanitarian responsibility to keep this site running, and fundraising intermittently doesn't seem to helping. It's the same as waiting until the last minute to do your homework and wondering why you barely make it to class in the morning. You're better off doing a little bit each day.

"We will never run ads. Commerce is fine. Advertising is not evil. But it doesn't belong in Wikipedia."

I get it. Wikipedia is a place of research, knowledge, and learning. Ads are distracting. Well, so is a color picture of one of the Wikipedia contributors at the top of an otherwise black-and-white page. A site with this much traffic could be extremely selective about who they allow to advertise and how they choose to display their advertisements. Since ad space on Wikipedia has always been unavailable, it makes it even more valuable (supply and demand). Once a year, you could allow for one simple, black-and-white ad per page, from a single company of your choosing, and it would have a huge impact. Just something to think about the next time you're strapped for cash.

Author's notes:

The above is a collection of opinions.

Opinions are naturally biased. An open collection of opinions is unbiased.

I will not be offended if this is moved elsewhere, as long as doing so increases its visibility. I know that this is mislabeled as an article. I think it would be most valuable if linked from the Wikimedia foundation donation page (cited below).

^[1]

I hope you agree with me that this could be helpful -- not necessarily my opinions, but the concept of everyone's thoughts and ideas for helping wikipedia together in one place. If you agree, please let me know if there is anything either of us can do to escalate this, or if there is anyone else I should contact to help make it work. Thank you so much for your time.

Helpingfriendlybook (talk) 23:01, 30 November 2011 (UTC)Zac Enco (user:helpingfriendlybook)

By the way, invertebrate zoology must be interesting, and the pursuit of knowledge is a noble and commendable search. You sound like an extremely intelligent person, and I am simply someone who shares the same thirst for learning (albeit, closer to vertebrate zoology - psychology / ethology). This is why I'm reaching out to you in hopes that you may be able and willing to help.

Hello Helpingfriendlybook, and once again, welcome to Wikipedia. Thank you for your long note on my user talk page. I wanted to let you know that you can copy your note and post it as a message on the talk page of the fundraising meta page, here:http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Fundraising_2011 I also wanted to say that I am just one of many thousands of Wikipedia editors. I have come across several people on Wikipedia who have written a great deal more than I have and who have made much more impressive contributions than I have. All in all Wikipedia is a wonderful project and is an impressive testament to the good in human nature.Invertzoo (talk) 21:03, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

I just wanted to let you know that I took a look at your recently created articleNational Lampoon Presents The Very Large Book of Comical Funnies-- The information is presented clearly and is easy to understand. It would be great if you could also upload a picture for the related article The Someday Funnies. — Precedingunsigned comment added by Amyxz (talk • contribs) 21:29, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

Hi Susan, not sure if you noticed. Your donation appeal has been receiving great feedback. Thanks. — Ganeshk (talk) 16:33, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

Thanks Ganesh. I am glad the appeal is doing well. I am delighted to help bring in the money that makes it possible for Wikipedia to keep running.Invertzoo (talk) 18:19, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

Great initiative. I really should have been surprised to see your photo in the banner, but actually I am not. You've been always outspoken on Wikipedia, defending its cause wherever you could. And now, you're even doing better than Jimmy Wales. I think that I'm speaking for all the others in our project when I'm saying : "We're proud of you". JoJan (talk) 09:20, 3 December 2011 (UTC)

Thanks JoJan, I'm happy to be of help to a cause I believe in so much.Invertzoo (talk) 13:45, 3 December 2011 (UTC)

Hi thanks for your comment Invertzoo items on lists of mollusks from Venezuela List of introduced molluscs of Venezuela List of molluscs of Falcón State, Venezuela. I have also made ​​changes to this article List of non-marine molluscs of Venezuela as you can see it tell me that you think the changes. As for the gastropods WikiProject now limited me a bit of both language and little time available, but even if one if I need help tell me and I see that can be useful. Regards. --Veronidae (talk) 22:31, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

Your picture is appearing on my mother's Wikipedia page, right above her name, and this upset her. I had to show her that your face also appears above Aung San Suu Kyi and Margaret Thatcher.

You may say that you are not trying to pass yourself off as other people but that is the impression that most people will get. That this confusion is intentional is made obvious by the fact that the script used makes you appear above the names of female subjects while Brandon Harris appears above the names of male subjects.

This aggressive form of solicitation, deliberately blurring into content that others have contributed, is unbelievably grass.

Please stop. — Precedingunsigned comment added by94.192.93.75 (talk) 21:33, 3 December 2011 (UTC)

That's both incorrect and a bit disrespectful. See meta:Special:CentralNotice. Notices are targeted at countries & projects, not the gender of viewers.Matthew Thompson ^{talk to me bro!} 14:53, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

While Susan very generously donated some of her time to speak to us about her experiences as a volunteer and was willing to join with us in fundraising to support the great work done on Wikipedia and the other projects supported by the Wikimedia Foundation, she is not responsible for the organization of the fundraiser and has had no input in the placement of fundraiser appeals. As Matthew points out, the fundraising banners are not separated in the way you have perceived. While you may have seen Susan's image appearing on several articles related to women, this is purely coincidental. There is nothing in the code that should increase the odds of this happening. If you have questions about the way that the fundraiser is run, or suggestions for how we may improve it, you may wish to address them toanswerswikimedia.org. There, I can make sure that they are passed along to staff people who actually are involved in these decisions. --Maggie Dennis (WMF) (talk) 16:36, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

I just entered two articles had the opposite result. Tell your mom (lol) its completely random. screenshot--Neo139(talk) 18:59, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

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Many thanks for your work on the fundraiser. I see you've already received some unusual messages as a result, but I thought I would also mention that ithighly likely that you have been mistaken for Anna Curtenius Roosevelt, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois.--Demiurge1000 (talk) 09:50, 13 December 2011 (UTC)

dear miss Susan Hewitt, I heard you are called snail lady, and: "Ever since I was a girl, I’ve been a total nerd about seashells and snails. " I've had that same disturbed up-growing too, please have a look at: one link the other link I'm sorry its in Dutch , merry Christmas , happy new Year , Frank Ribot — Precedingunsigned comment added by80.61.206.250 (talk) 08:42, 22 December 2011 (UTC)

Invertzoo! Clark found a Trivia pediculus this morning at the Sanibel Lighthouse. It's probably our first.... well, it's our first one that we've identified. I did just a little research to find out what he had and Wikipedia popped up so I was way too curious to see if you have edited this gastropod listing. Of course you had!!! It's a beautiful little shell. Merry Christmas Eve! ILoveShelling (talk) 16:05, 24 December 2011 (UTC)iLoveShelling

Hey, hello ILove Shelling, what a nice surprise to see that you signed up with Wikipedia!!! And thanks for leaving me a message on my talk page, it was pretty cool to come on and see that, what a surprise. As you will see, in your message on my talk page, I took the liberty of putting the Latin name (or scientific name) into italics and giving the species part of the name a small "p"; that's the correct form. And in case it is helpful for you to know,Trivia pediculus has recently been placed into the genus Pusula, so it's now known as Pusula pediculus. I see it is on Jose Leal's SW Florida list, and yes, all the trivias are great little shells I think, it's one of my favorite families. I see that surprisingly we don't yet have an image of that species here on Wikipedia. All our very best wishes to you and Clark, and Happy Christmas Eve to you too, Invertzoo (talk) 16:41, 24 December 2011 (UTC)

Invertzoo (talk) wishes everyoneSeasons Greetings! Whether you celebrate your hemisphere's summer or winter Solstice, or Xmas, Eid,Diwali, Hogmanay, Hannukah, Lenaia, Festivus or even theSaturnalia, this is a special time of year for almost everyone!

You are invited to the National Archives ExtravaSCANza, taking place every day next week from January 4–7, Wednesday to Saturday, in College Park, Maryland (Washington, DC metro area). Come help me cap off my stint as Wikipedian in Residence at the National Archives with one last success! This will be a casual working event in which Wikipedians are getting together to scan interesting documents at the National Archives related to a different theme each day—currently: spaceflight, women's suffrage, Chile, and battleships—for use on Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons. The event is being held on multiple days, and in the evenings and weekend, so that as many locals and out-of-towners from nearby regions1 as possible can come. Please join us!Dominic·t 01:21, 30 December 2011 (UTC) 1 Wikipedians from DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, New York City, and Pittsburgh have been invited.

Hi Invertzoo!!! I wanted to give you a BIG thank you for all of your help, mentoring, and collaboration in my work, particularly with the Cone snails. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate everything you have done. Collaborating on articles is quite rewarding. I'd give you another Barnstar, but as you said that might be just too much. You are a true friend and a gem.Shellnut(talk) 20:16, 31 December 2011 (UTC)

Hi Susan, I ran the bot last week. Chemnitzia was the only genus that it could find. I think we are done with that task for now. Happy New Year! — Ganeshk (talk) 23:34, 31 December 2011 (UTC)