User:Shadow2

This account is retired under protest

I have been helping (or at least attempting to help) improve Wikipedia and add information for many years now, but after multiple recent incidents I am no longer concerned with the well-being of anything on this site. Why? Elitism.

Wikipedia cultivates elitism among its more experienced editors, to the point where many of them feel like they can do whatever they want without consequences or regard for the rules. I have witnessed editors who have lots of experience and work to their name step in and make huge, sweeping changes to a page without consulting anyone, certainly not the group of users who actively upkeep said page, and then immediately lash out at anyone who disagrees with them. The more "elite" their account is, the more they can feel that they are right, everyone else is wrong, and arguments are not worth their time.

I have seen privileged users lash out at smaller users or IP users. I have seen mass reverts that take place without any edit notice or explanation. I have seen threats to have accounts permanently banned for daring to have a differing opinion or trying to simply be BOLD. I have seen countless instances of pure hypocrisy by these users who think they're above smaller users, who think they're better than users who don't have as much on their Wikipedia resume. Attempts at communication are shut down with rude, dismissive language, and legitimate questions are always ignored. Lately I have also seen countless instances of more experienced editors citing "Vandalism" on edits they simply disagree with that are in no way, shape or form vandalism. An IP editor will change innocuous wording to something that is equally valid, an experienced editor will then revert it with the note "Vandalism" and might even place a warning on the IP's talk page to stop their vandalism. That's intimidation and false accusations, and it's NOT vandalism.

Having a lot to your Wikipedia history does not make you better than everyone around you. Aside from actual trolls and vandals, a user with 100, 10 or even 0 edits to their name is worthy of just as much respect, but this respect is never given. Low-edit users and IP users are treated like nothing they do matters, like their opinions or questions don't matter, like everything they do is wrong. What a disgusting atmosphere for a place that touts itself on being an encyclopedia that "anyone can edit".

I always try to engage in conflict resolution, usually with the use of Talk pages, but it never goes anywhere because these elitist users get it in their head that their new ideas are 100% right and everyone else is wrong, discussion on the matter is not needed because they're always right, questions don't need to be answered because they're always right, and if anyone should try to fight back, well then we'll just slap them with a ban warning. That'll shut 'em up.

I'm sick of this behaviour. Do whatever you want to Wikipedia. See if I care.

Goodbye.