User:Mirlen

I'm retired, but I'm not. All this means is that I'm probably heading off to retirement in all due course, but am not ready for it completely as of yet. So, I might pop up now and then to contribute...but most likely nothing major.

Talk page • Userboxes • Gifts and awards • Sandbox • Contribution summary • Contact

"It matters not what a person is born, but who they choose to be." —J. K. Rowling

Attention: This section is still under construction!

Userpages I designed: I also, if requested, design talk pages as well along with userpages as a set. Currently, I am not taking requests, as summer is a busy season for me.

• Ryu Kaze: Before → After
• UkPaolo: Before → After

Membership

"The value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose." —Richard R. Grant

Counter Vandalism Unit • Digimon Systems Update WikiProject • Esperanza • Final Fantasy WikiProject • Kindess Campaign • Middle-earth WikiProject • Star Wars WikiProject • Welcoming Committee • Version 1.0 Editorial Team • Wikiquote • Wookiepedia

Userboxes

This user tries to do the right thing. If they make a mistake, please let them know.	This user believes that a user's edit count does not necessarily reflect on the value of their contributions to Wikipedia.	This user watches over Wikipedia with the help of Twinkle!
Warning to Vandals: This user is equipped with Lupin's Anti-vandal tool.	This user welcomes new users with Twinkle!	This user edits with the gadget wikEd.
This user is a member of the Counter-Vandalism Unit.	This user is a member of the Welcoming Committee.	This user is a participant in WikiProject Middle-earth.
This user thinks it's none of their business if 68.39.174.238 gets an account.	This user helped promote Maedhros to good article status.	This user helped promote Faramir to good article status.
enThis user is a native speaker of the English language.

"We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still."

—John Stuart Mill

Userboxes are arranged by the following: Wikipedia • Languages • Profile • Beliefs • Hobbies • Browsers

Areas in which I contribute

"If you have any interests you can gain a wider audience for those interests while the goldfish bowl is yours!" —Eleanor Roosevelt

Final Fantasy RPGs • Kingdom Hearts RPGs • Star Wars (mostly EU) • The Lord of the Rings/The Silmarillion • Fruits Basket series • L.M. Montgomery-related • Narnia series • Tortall-related • Earthsea-related • World History • People and places related to Bohemian culture

To do list

"...That is my duty. There may be a higher duty, perhaps — but that is mine." —Walter Blythe, "Rilla of Ingleside"

• Improve to GA or FA status
  • Faramir
  • Ten Days that Shook the World
  • 2007 Writers Guild of America Strike
  • John Reed (journalist)
  • Greenwich Village
  • Wicker Park

My thoughts on what Wikipedia is and is not

"In stark terms, Wikipedia is one of the single most important undertakings in human history. If we do our job, future generations will look upon Wikipedia as the cornerstone of the information revolution. If we don't, the world will lose a tremendous resource. And that is why I'm here." —Philwelch
"This is a Wiki. To make this project work EVERYONE must buy into the idea that this is a collaborative effort. No individual should ever take authorship credit...It was a collective effort. I contributed the large majority of effort into creating and editing a list that made it to featured list status, but that still does not make me the author. Even if I was the only editor of a featured or good articles, others will edit them in the future. I think of myself more as a guardian or fascilitator of the article." —Samuel Wantman

Wikipedia wants people to BE BOLD! If you see something that needs edited, feel free to make implement changes yourself, for this is how wikis function. It is through the success of collaboration that makes Wikipedia a better encyclopedia. Hopefully, the following quote will prompt those of you reading this to be bold:

“ 'Why have these pages not been copy-edited?' This is often the complaint of people who consult Wikipedia expecting first-class, authoritative prose. The answer is simple: it's because you, and others like you, have passed by mistakes when you saw them. Instead, you could have corrected them by simply clicking on the "Edit this page" tab at the top of the page, fixing the error, and saving. This would have prevented others from wondering the same thing. This is usually easier and faster than spending the time typing a complaint. Instead, the reader should ask, 'Why am I not copy-editing this page?' (WP:COPYEDIT) ”

This, of course, does not give permission for one to be reckless: verifiability, neutrality, and the other guidelines/policies are tenets of the five pillars of Wikipedia that should be followed.

Wikipedia is an ENCYCLOPEDIA, not a fansite. We do not post rumors and speculation. We post confirmed facts and verifiable information. It doesn't matter if the rumors turn out to be true, nor does it matter how well you are knowledgeable on the subject. We prize verifiability from reliable sources. Wikipedia is an archive, a collection of facts — not what will be or can be. Please read and follow no original research policy and no speculation guideline for information all editors must read.

Wikipedia is not a web directory/link farm. External links section serve as 'further reading', not advertisement. Please do not take advantage of the fact that Wikipedia is a good place for advertisement and/or self-promotion. Wikipedia is not a collective directory of fansites or a fanlistings. If you're looking for them, that's why search engines, such as Google, exist. So please, read and follow Wikipedia's policy on External links.

Wikipedia is not for vandalizing. If you feel like vandalizing somebody or something, get a blog and do it there. But NOT on Wikipedia. Don't trash someone or something out of boredom and provocation. Not only is it completely pointless, but it can be immature and tastelessly cruel. Don't do it. All of us (anonymous and registered editors) can be better this — how about spreading some of that Wikilove instead?

Gifts and awards

"The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards." —Faramir, "The Two Towers"

• 
  Hereby I award Mirlen the RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar for active contribution to the protection of articles against vandalism. (KC)
• 
  Best I can think of. If a certain article had some PD image (Or images @ all), I'd use them instead. 68.39.174.238 06:25, 8 February 2006 (UTC)
• 
  Fine then, here's some chocolate of your own. :P Sango123 (e) 03:49, 30 March 2006 (UTC) (After my insistence that she had to take the first bite of her chocolate :P)
• 
  You can have this wolf cub. Take care! You're the one in the middle :D _-M ^oP-_ 01:39, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
• 
  I Ryu Kaze award this Barnstar to Mirlen for consistenly being a nice person and friendly Wikipedian. Ryu Kaze 19:01, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
• 
  I, Ryu Kaze award this Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar to Mirlen for going that extra mile. Ryu Kaze 02:56, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

		The Tolkien Barnstar
		In recognition of the user who really got the project off the ground and running. You increased participation and laid many of the foundations for the project. CBD 20:36, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Notes

All rights released to all text
I agree to release all rights, unless otherwise stated, to all my text contributions to the English Wikipedia, enabling anyone to use them for any purpose. Please be aware that other contributors might not do the same, so if you want to use my contributions under free use terms, please check the Multi-licensing guide.