User:AutomaticStrikeout/W is for Wikipedia
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Wikipedia is multi-faceted project, with many different aspects that off remain behind the scenes. Perhaps the majority of our readers will never realize that Wikipedia is more than just a free encyclopedia, a quick source of information. It is a real-life community, made up of real-life people from all over the globe who have collaborated together to provide the information we see. In this essay, I will seek to alphabetically encapsulate some of the many details of Wikipedia. I certainly won't be able to mention everything that I should, but I hope that the information below with help to explain a little bit about what Wikipedia is.
- A is for Articles: Articles are the lifeblood of Wikipedia, what this place is really all about. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, designed to share knowledge and this knowledge is primarily expressed by Wikipedia's 7,022,393 (and counting) articles.
- B is for Barnstars: Here is something that the average Wikipedia reader probably knows nothing about. Barnstars are one form of "WikiLove", a way for fellow editors to congratulate each other on a job well done and promote a friendly working environment.
- C is for Consensus: Wikipedia decisions are made based on consensus.
- D is for Deletion: Not every page on Wikipedia actually belongs here. The CSD, PROD and XFD processes are all used to remove inappropriate pages.
- E is for Editors: They are the foundation of Wikipedia. Without the content-creators, there would be no content. Without the maintenance workers and the janitors, Wikipedia would fall into disrepair. The editors of Wikipedia are its most important part, even more so than the articles. For there can be editors without articles, but there can be no articles without editors.
- F is for Featured Content: Wikipedia's Featured Content, such as its Featured Articles, Featured Lists, and Featured Pictures, is it's finest work. It is the part of this encyclopedia that its editors should be most proud of, a representation of the many hours of labor that thousands of volunteers have donated to improving the quality of our project.
- G is for Guidelines: The Fifth Pillar of Wikipedia clearly states that Wikipedia does not have any firm rules. However, it does have plenty of guidelines that prevent the place from descending into utter chaos.
- H is for How To...: In addition to its many guidelines, Wikipedia has multiple "How to" pages to help newer editors learn the basics of editing.
- I is for an Introduction: If you are relatively new to this place, the Introduction page should be a helpful resource that will ideally answer at least some of your questions.
- J is for Jimmy Wales: Jimmy Wales (or Jimbo, if you prefer) is the man we Wikipedians recognize as our founder.
- K is for:
- L is for:
- M is for Manual of Style: One of Wikipedia's guidelines, the Manual of Style (MoS) is the guideline that pertains to style and formatting.
- N is for Neutrality: One of the Pillars of Wikipedia, neutrality is essential to Wikipedia's credibility. This is an encyclopedia and we must report the facts, not personal opinions.
- O is for Original Research: As a part of Wikipedia's emphasis on verifiability, original research is not permitted. Information, particularly in a biography of a living person, should have a source.
- P is for Pillars: The Five Pillars of Wikipedia state that Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, that it must be written from a neutral point of view, that it is free content, that Wikipedians are to be civil and that Wikipedia actually has no firm rules.
- Q is for Quality: Quality is important. If Wikipedia's material is of low quality, it will be given low credibility by its readers. Therefore, editors must strive to produce high quality content.
- R is for References: As mentioned above, original research is not to be allowed in our articles. Therefore, the information used by this encyclopedia should generally be supported by sources, although there is some disagreement as to whether or not everything must be cited. (See Wikipedia:You don't need to cite that the sky is blue and Wikipedia:You do need to cite that the sky is blue.)
- S is for:
- T is for the Teahouse: The Teahouse is a place where inexperienced editors can get help from friendly Wiki-veterans.
- U is for:
- V is for Vandalism: Wikipedia's naughty word. This is an encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and no everyone will do so with benign intentions. Anybody that has been around here for any length of time has probably came across and (hopefully) reverted vandalism. Vandalism is likely the biggest reason that Wikipedia sometimes gets a bad name, but this community has devised many tools for fighting back at vandals. (See Wikipedia:Counter-Vandalism Unit/Academy, WP:Protection, WP:Rollback, WP:STiki, WP:Twinkle...)
- W is for Wikipedia: A free online encyclopedia. A heavily populated community. Which is it? It is both, but many people will only know about the first. They won't ever discover what happens behind the scenes. But if you are reading this page, then you know that Wikipedia is truly a whole lot more than meets the eye.
- X is for XFD: One of the specific deletion processes, the XFD process seeks to find consensus in determining if a page should be deleted.
- Y is for your first article: We all have to start somewhere. Even the most respected admins were once Wikipedia newbies. If you are just getting started here, don't be overwhelmed by how big this project may seem. It may take you a while, but if you have good intentions, you should expect to eventually grow in an established member of the community. Even if you have already reached that point, don't forget to look back from time to time and remember that you were a newbie once too!
- Z is for: