[WikiEN-l] Wikipedia and autism

Tue Oct 11 14:39:25 UTC 2005

Tony wrote:

> There are two cases that concern me a lot because of the 
> characteristics exhibited by the main editors involved.
> 
> Maoririder, whose case is before the arbitration comittee and 
> is still in the evidence phase, is not an obvious vandal or 
> troll.  He has made  large numbers of vanishingly small 
> stubs, some of which have grown into very impressive 
> articles, and also asked intriguing, childlike, questions in 
> an appropriate forum.

I agree with Tony. We should not automatically delete stubs. Sometimes
they are like seeds, which can grow into fine articles. Not everybody
can put into words what they know.

Last weekend, I say the smartest man I know become tongue-tied while
delivering an extemporaneous speech. It may have embarrassing. He had to
ask, "What's the word for this?" But that did not diminish my respect
for his leadership qualites, or even his wisdom. Anyone can get a "brain
cramp".

We should be helping each other, not cutting each other down, deleting
half-formed works just because they're not "complete" or "perfect". 

Intriguing, childlike expressions of joy and wonder and curiosity have
driven many scientific discoveries, fueled many enterprises. The guy who
founded [[Federal Express]] got a "D" on his term paper at business
school for his "stupid idea" of instituting a hub and spoke airmail
service. Jimbo and Larry thought of making an encyclopedia that anyone
can edit ("Oh, that would never work.")

Let's stick together and encourage each other to contribute, each in
whatever way they can. I say, long live the stubs! May the grow to
maturity and bear good fruit. I say, hats off to the autistic and the
geeky!

Uncle Ed
Vacationland, USA