User: Antandrus
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Discovered Wikipedia Sunday, April 4, 2004 at approximately 22:00 UTC, and began editing pretty much immediately.
Unrepentant highbrow; Ph.D. in music composition; undergraduate work in some other stuff, including geology; seven years of teaching students (undergrad and graduate) in music theory, music history, orchestration, ear-training, sight-singing, composition, counterpoint, repertoire, and various other subjects; violinist and pianist; former editor of a music research journal; part-time-career as a 21st Century Obscure Composer.
However, being unenamored of a life of poverty and struggle, I acquired some competence in GIS and now manage a department in the same at an environmental consulting shop. I'm not going to write about that on Wikipedia though: that's work. (Occasional exceptions excepted.)
So far I have been focusing on "early music" (Medieval, Renaissance, and early Baroque), because I love it, I know a bit about it, and no one else seems to bother with it. Once in a while I contribute to articles on 20th-21st century composers, music, practice, theory, etc. Occasionally when I'm feeling uncreative I do routine chores such as fixing disambigs, reverting vandalism, voting for admins, deletions, and so forth. I follow Recent Changes pretty closely so I usually know what is going on 'pedia-wide, even if I'm not contributing.
As a break from music sometimes I write articles on California geography: mountain ranges, river valleys, places I've lived, places I haven't lived, and also sometimes I write on meteorology (I'm kind of a weather nut) as well as geologic stuff, since I studied that as an undergraduate. Also sometimes I click on random page and copyedit, if I don't get hooked on reading. Is anyone else surprised at the sheer amount of things you have learned on Wikipedia? In my opinion this is one of the most wonderful things about this project.
Some other random interests: Classics, literature, history, military history, earth sciences, mountaineering, birds, trees, religious traditions, data forensics, European and eastern philosophy.
Wikipediholic score (11/13/04) has varied between 72 and 94, but people keep changing the test.
I don't quite understand the political POV-pushers, since it so unnecessarily stressful living that way; but then there really are people on earth who think they Know the Truth. It is common to mistake the death of curiosity and openness for knowledge, but perhaps this is just one way nature is merciful.
As of December 1, 2004: 176 new articles, mostly on Renaissance and early Baroque composers, techniques, and forms. I think I'm about 15-20% done with finishing the area to my satisfaction. And that's only to get it up to the level of being a useful tool for a general reader. An even 4000 edits in just under eight months--not that it matters, but I'm amused by such things.
My wikipedia goals:
- Fill out the classical music area in general, and Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque in particular, since the early music area was quite undeveloped when I started.
- Starve the trolls.
- Tithe some of my time helping out with anti-vandalism, voting on deletions and admins, etc., since I think it's a Wikipedian's duty to help out just a bit.
- Stay positive. And acknowledge the good work of others.
- Drink some more wikipedihol. It makes me happy. So there.
No, I don't want to be an admin. Maybe later; maybe after 10,000 edits; or try to persuade me if you want. For now, I believe I can help out the project a whole lot more by writing and editing in an area where I have a Ph.D.
O my soul, aspire not to eternal life But rather exhaust the limits of the possible.
Pindar, Odes (Pythian III)
Look round at the courses of the stars, as if thou wert going along with them; and constantly consider the changes of the elements into one another; for such thoughts purge away the filth of life on earth.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7:47
The cultivated person's first duty is to always be prepared to rewrite the encyclopedia.
Umberto Eco, Serendipities, "The Force of Falsity," last sentence.
And sometimes I get frustrated here, especially when I read through all the endless POV edit wars in Recent Changes:
The world is full of pots jeering at kettles.
François de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims
One of the wisest writers I have ever had the privelege to read.
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