User:Gryllida/questions/BrianMc

general

Question Do you think that you are at times abrasive, and the way in which you respond can be interpreted as offensive is a user disagrees or doesn't know what you mean? --Gryllida 09:42, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

• Yes, I am; frequently so. I do not suffer fools gladly, and find it irksome when remarks intended to be helpful are read in the worst-possible way. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 11:44, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Question Do you think that as a Wikinewsie, you should be particularly friendly to everyone on Wikinews? --Gryllida 09:42, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

• No. As above, I don't suffer fools gladly. Those who do take the time to get to know me, do realise that I care deeply about this project and what is best for it. It is not Wikipedia, and there simply isn't the same contributor base to soak up lack-of-clue. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 11:44, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Question What do you think "civil" means in wiki context? Is it necessary to be "civil" to everybody? --Gryllida 11:53, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

• civil. I think, in the context of this drama, you will find I was quite civil to Mattisse until my comments, several intended to help understand the local culture, were taken as personal attacks. Those who are acutely disruptive – as Mattisse continues to be – deserve neither respect nor civility. (This will be the last question I can answer for some time; I have to attempt to organise a venue for an Edinburgh Wikimeet, amongst other things. This page is, however, on my watchlist.) --Brian McNeil / ^talk 12:07, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Question What do you think can be done to avoid your comments being misinterpreted as "personal attacks"? --Gryllida 12:10, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

• In this case? Nothing. When people assume that the cultural references I'm able to offer at a reference point are intended to be the insult, I'm flogging a dead horse with them. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 15:32, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

Question If people misinterpret you, do you think it would be necessary or even helpful to add a clarification comment at their talk page in as plain and simple English as possible? --Gryllida 23:48, 8 June 2011 (UTC)

• If they don't understand a remark, and respond as such, yes. If they assume the worst, and become defensively hostile, no. I'm not a schoolteacher, and I'm not here to teach people reading comprehension skills; if they lack those skills in the first place, they'll make pisspoor journalists. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 04:22, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

Question What do you think the reason for "becoming hostile" was? Is it just you, or is it something that happens in response to other peoples' comments as well? --Gryllida 04:32, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

• I would need to review the actual interactions to be more specific; however, my recollection is that several contributors were involved; there was a massive over-reaction from Mattisse, my suggestion to familiarise xyrself with a news-based comedy to beter understand Wikinews community humour was taken as an insult, then it was – off-wiki – brought to my attention there was a long history of socking elsewhere. From the first point at which there was the slightest criticism of any edit by Mattisse, xe took it most personally. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 08:27, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

Comment Maybe you could try to review this in a deeper fashion later on - the question is whether anyone else's interaction with Mattisse was as difficult as with you? If no, then why? --Gryllida 10:01, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

• Yes, it was. No, I will not name the individual who – to paraphrase – stated, "if they [Mattisse] keep going on like that, I'm leaving". --Brian McNeil / ^talk 11:00, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

Question Do you think that Mattisse is bad at writing news? --Gryllida 04:32, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

• Mattisse is excellent at synthesis work. What is lacking is more sophisticated contextual placement of news events, and a more global perspective. --Brian McNeil / ^talk 08:27, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

Question (One of the last ones.) Why do you think Mattisse has no problems at other wikis (Wikisource, Wikimedia Commons and maybe others)? --Gryllida 10:01, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

• You cite two wikis where virtually no creative written input to the main namespace is required. I'd say that is rather significant, wouldn't you? --Brian McNeil / ^talk 11:00, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

Comment This is an interesting point. Less creative written input to mainspace means fewer opportunities for personal offense by someone with a hair trigger. Whereas a wiki news site is largely driven by incessant mutual criticism. Perhaps we need to get this point across more forcefully to newbies — it may be too little too late to tell them, oh by the way don't take it personally when someone criticizes your work. --Pi zero (talk) 15:30, 9 June 2011 (UTC)