User talk:SoWhy/Not everyone is an artist

Nice piece. I think you should put more emphasis on that each task is just as important as each other.... Well, you do seem to, but what I mean is, you're saying that "everybody wants to be that artist, but some just can't", but it might be good to mention that "some users may actually prefer being 'security guards', rather than artists" :) - Kingpin13 (talk) 17:59, 8 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Comments from Kingpin13


 * Good point. If you think you can phrase this nicely, feel free to put it in there. :-) Regards  So Why  18:02, 8 July 2009 (UTC)
 * On a second thought, maybe that would stretch this essay too far. It's not meant to be about the fact that all jobs are equally important or that some people just don't like to write content but about that some people just are unable to do so but will still be "punished" for not doing it. But I think your thought would make a good essay on its own, separate from this one's narrow scope. Regards  So Why  18:05, 8 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Ops, I just added it without reading your update. Anyway, see what you think, I tried to make it not change the essay too much, so maybe it'll be okay. Feel free to revert/change - Kingpin13 (talk) 18:13, 8 July 2009 (UTC)

I like this. To be honest, I had doubts for the longest time about being able to contribute to Wikipedia. I "read" for years, but it wasn't until I noticed multiple spelling errors, punctuation, the wrong use of your and you're, our and are, to-too-and two, etc. that I thought I might be able to help a little. Not that I think I'm a bad writer, but most of my experience has been at a more ... prose and poetry style than the objective NPOV technical level. I've learned a lot, and maybe gone from "stub ability" to C or even B class ability (only one GA so far). I think it's a skill many people can learn, but I don't think it's a required skill to be a productive editor here either. We all contribute to the best of our abilities (I suppose that would even apply to vandals? ...lol). Everyone has different strengths in life, and it's the "sum" of those abilities that make the whole of Wikipedia what it is. IMHO — Ched : ?  14:48, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Comments from Ched Davis

Yes, I have to nod in agreement with much of what you write here. It is not easy, and the implicit language barrier sure is a hindrance when you're trying to express yourself with accuracy and clarity. However, I don't at all think it takes an artist to write at least a GA. If you can find a topic that really interests you, and have access to a lot of source material, it isn't so hard. We are not making stuff up, after all, we are merely paraphrazing the sources.
 * Comments from decltype

I also have to agree that everyone should be encouraged to contribute in the areas they like to work in, and where they can have the largest possible positive impact on the encyclopedia. The reason I almost didn't contribute at all from late 2005 to 2009 is that I couldn't find an area in which I could do any good. decltype (talk) 18:28, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

Great essay, one could even argue it has the touch of an artist! ;) I totally agree though, upkeep is just as important for the project as is content creation, and we should never forsake at their RfAs those who dedicate their valuable time and effort to maintenance work. -- &oelig; &trade; 19:18, 11 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Comments from OlEnglish