User:Rick Block

Lately I haven't been very active (real life intrudes) and don't do much other than run Rick Bot (which mostly runs itself).

I have worked on the Japanese prefectures, towns and villages articles (see WikiProject Japan/Gappei), created and helped with various geographical infoboxes (see Geographical infoboxes), created List of Wikipedians by featured article nominations (and its siblings WP:WBFLN and WP:WBFTN - WP:WBFPC is a work in progress) and was for quite a while a regular responder at the Help desk and Village pump.

I shepherded Monty Hall problem through the Featured articles process and was instrumental in the adoption of Naming conventions (categories) as policy.


 * First edit: February 20, 2004.
 * My contributions (current count: >9999)
 * Admin since August 21, 2005
 * Barnstars

What I think

 * Wikipedia's newcomers are undoubtedly ignorant of many local rules and conventions, but some of them are experts and we desperately need them. Don't piss them off.  Most of them mean well.
 * Wikipedia's most active editors generally aren't suffering from terminal editcountitis. They just like editing and spend far too much time at it.  They should take a break before carpal tunnel syndrome sets in.
 * Wikipedia's administrators deal with obnoxious vandals and do whatever it takes to keep the place running. They deserve our utmost sympathy.  Sometimes, some of them might be a little cranky.  You try dealing with assholes for a few hours and see what kind of mood you're in.
 * The MediaWiki software developers are lazy bums probably out drinking while the rest of us try to work around bugs in their lousy software.  OK.  So, I don't really think this.  But I think some people do.  The main thing to realize is ...

... everyone here, newcomer to developer, is a volunteer. Let's all try to get along.

Favorite quotes

 * I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out. (attributed to Bill Hicks).
 * All extremists should be shot (don't know the original source of this one).