Truth without compassion is cruelty. Honesty without kindness is brutality. People who are brutally honest get more satisfaction out of the brutality than out of the honesty.
My name is Asareel (Ah-sah-ree-l). Roll that beautiful "r". If you want an explanation for why I go by ARoseWolf on Wikipedia I explain that below. I know Asareel is an unusual name and it may be difficult to pronounce (If you are like me I pronounce user names I see here out loud as I type them) so you can refer to me as Rose but if you feel extra sweet use Asareel and if you feel extra adventurous you may use Tsistunagiska because that's totally easier to pronounce (primarily for my dear friend Ched who remembers my old user name with fondness I am sure). Asareel is a Hebrew name, paying homage to my Jewish ancestry, and typically is associated with males but I have just taken it over and made it mine since my parents decided to give it to me. Speaking of my parents, I was adopted by my uncle and aunt after being taken to Italy as a small child after my mother died. We lived in the Piedmont region of Italy. We left Italy when I was 11 and moved to the US, eventually settling in Alaska where my Papa owned and operated a General Store. In my adult life I have since moved much further north and now reside above the Arctic Circle. I will take breaks from Wikipedia in the winter due to the harsh climate and the need to focus on making it through the dark days but Wikipedia is something I love and I will always return if I can.
I came to the English Wikipedia in August of 2020 after searching for and finding an article on my ancestors, the Cherokee people, in very bad shape and in need of major updates. I have an account on the Cherokee Wikipedia which I primarily spent time on prior to coming here. I have learned a lot from my early experiences here and hope to continue my growth. It wasn't long after coming to Wikipedia I found a project that I wanted to be involved in with good reason, my daughter. Women in Red has given me a purpose to create and speak up for women related topics so that my daughter will grow up in a world where her voice matters. She will have amazing women to read about here because of the efforts of so many. Our goal and every Wikipedian's goal should be to leave this encyclopedia more improved, through civil collaboration, than when we came here. Building the community aids us in those efforts.
My philosophy on Wikipedia is ever evolving as I gain experience but two things remain central, kindness and civility. No matter what your views are I will strive to be understanding. No matter whether we agree or disagree I will always treat you with respect. If I have offended you then I apologize and if I have made errors then I would like the opportunity to correct them. I will pull up a chair and listen intently to what you have to say. You are why I am here. The encyclopedia is important but it is the journey and adventure of both listening to and creating great "symphonies" here with others that is both fascinating and rewarding. My grandmother used to call me a promise. As a child you don't understand the full weight of a name's meaning. My name could mean the "beattitude of God" or "one whom God has bound by a vow". I'm not a religious person but I do believe I am a promise, like the rainbow. This drives my desire to be helpful and kind. We may come from very different backgrounds but life has guided us to this point in time to meet and build something beautiful together so let's get started.
Recently I made a post here on Wikipedia and my sister-in-law read it. Being as she lives with me every day, a scary thought, she knows my views and the manner in which I communicate those views. She made a comment about what I wrote that I hadn't really thought about but makes sense. My use of the word "Song" may not be understood by most unless you have interacted with me for some time. A simple explanation would be that our individual lives are a Song and the path we walk is our Dance. My view of life, of us, is, admittedly, based upon my experiences. It does not make it right or wrong, it only makes it mine. I am in such a habit of using words to describe it that I sometimes forget not everyone may understand my use of it. I apologize if anything I have ever said has left you confused about the meaning behind its use. Please know that you can approach me if you want clarification and I will NOT be angry for it. I don't believe my views are controversial but with so many different views it is possible that it might be for someone. Know that I only ever want to act out of kindness.
Tsistunagiska
The Wild Rose was a special flower to the ancestors, especially after the Removal. It was a symbol of hope for a new nation rebuilt. It was also a reminder of all they had left behind and those lost on the way.
To commemorate our rough start but also the reconciliation that has grown into a respect, this mound could symbolize our meeting ground. I wish all disagreements ended like this.
A chat with my friends Rosiestep and SusunW always brightens my day, especially when we talk about our experiences over a cup of tea.
Green may seem like a simple color to most but when your life is about colors and sounds it feels special to discuss something so important to who you are with friends.
The highest position anyone can hold on the project is "editor". Every other position on the project works in support of the work of editors. You do not 'advance' to any position on the project. An arbitrator does not outrank an admin does not outrank an extended confirmed editor does not outrank an editor. See this hierarchical structure of Wikipedia. Anyone acting in good faith on the project is a member of the "community". Note how everything is beneath the community.
The newest editor, acting in good faith, should enjoy the same privileges as the most experienced editor. This ideal, however, is frequently demonized. As the project ages, the need to protect what has already been done is an ever increasing pressure. The amount of learning a new editor needs to do to contribute at a high level is far greater now than in years before. Thus, many new editors are improperly viewed with disdain because they do not yet possess the knowledge and experience to contribute at a high level. This tendency destroys the very lifeblood of the project. Editor attrition is inevitable, if for no other reason than death. Everyone must be replaced for the project to continue. If new, good faith editors are welcomed with walls and harsh treatment the project will eventually die. We must be better than that. This project was founded on the absolutely absurd idea that anyone can edit. Despite heavy criticism, Wikipedia has succeeded in creating by far the most powerful and comprehensive encyclopedia the world has ever seen. Nothing is even remotely close. If we walk away from the principle of "anyone can edit" we might as well close up shop.
This isn't a fight. There's no score. It doesn't matter if you 'win' or 'lose' an argument. There's no such thing. The only thing that matters in the context of your work on Wikipedia is whether or not the project is improved. If you are having a hard time accepting that your voice was not heard or is in a minority, don't express your frustration on Wikipedia. Take a deep breath, go for a walk, take in a movie, have a drink. None of our opinions ultimately matter. Five years from now, no one will remember what you say. What matters is the project.
The most powerful, and the most underutilized method of ending a disagreement on the project is disengagement. Walk away. If two people are having an argument, and one person walks away, there's no argument anymore. That is, unless the remaining person starts arguing with themselves. Some people have powerful reasons for not being able to walk away. If that is the case, then learn the power of listening and understanding. You do not have to be right or wrong, and being either is insignificant compared to listening to the other party and gaining an understanding of their concerns. Refusing to listen and insisting on being right is guaranteed to fail. The drive to be right is guaranteed to fail its primary purpose. Build on listening.
You don't have all the answers, and never will. The project is too large for one person to understand all facets of its operation. It's ok. If you think you can improve something, be bold and do it. If someone reverts what you do, engage in discussion.
Vandalism is inevitable. No matter how many bots, how many tools, and how many editors work to combat vandalism, it will always happen. There will always be a new crop of bad faith editors who try to disrupt the project. Over time, we continue to develop better processes for handling vandalism. You may sometimes come across vandalism that is quite old (example; see 'glamour'). This may seem alarming, but it isn't. It's part of the natural process of creating this great work. Just fix it and move on. Warning vandals is important for several reasons. Some vandals stop after knowing someone is watching. Warning them with escalating warnings eventually leads to a level 4 warning, which if violated can then be reported and they will likely be blocked. Without escalating warnings, some vandals are never blocked.
Members of ArbCom, Bureaucrats, and Administrators are just as likely to commit an error as any experienced editor. There are third rails for their behavior, and they are expected to abide by those additional restrictions. See WP:ADMINCOND and WP:ARBCOND. Nevertheless, remember they are as human as you are.
Wikipedia is a free content project. It is critical to understand gratis versus libre. Anything that takes away from the libre mission of the project is a hindrance to the project. If you are not here for the libre mission, you are in the wrong place. Wikia might be more to your liking.
One of the least enforced but most critical policies on the project is our need to remain civil at all times, no matter the provocation. If something you might say would be unacceptable at a large meeting of professionals in a conference room, then it is unacceptable here. Insults very often are an insight into the person making them, not on the target of the aspersions. Insults will never yield positive outcomes. Incivility reduces productivity, engagement, and idea generation.
Consensus is critical to cooperative editing. Without it, people are simply shouting at each other. Consensus doesn't mean you agree. Sometimes the consensus feels very wrong. That's ok. Disagreement, however, is not a permission slip to edit against consensus.
Why ARoseWolf?
I probably would have went with my name but I wanted something to honor my heritage. So here goes. A, is a singular letter. It denotes being alone which is what I felt for many years of my life. I never want to forget the sting so I never subject another human being to the same feeling. Rose, comes from my mother, Tsistunagiska, which name means "Wild Rose". More on that is above on my user page. Needless to say, I strive to be the Rose. I want to catch your tears and the tears shed by others. I will remember the sacrifices made. I will spread love like the wild rose spreads upon the ground and that love will reconquer all that was lost. Wolf, comes from both my mothers people and my own experiences with these majestic animals. I was adopted by a pack of wolves once where I lived. They accepted me in a deeply personal moment. I will never forget my pack.
This is not an encyclopedia article. If you find this page on any site other than Wikipedia, you are viewing a mirror site. Be aware that the page may be outdated and that the user to whom this page belongs may have no personal affiliation with any site other than Wikipedia itself. The original page is located at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ARoseWolf.