User:ARoseWolf - Wikipedia

ARoseWolf

Words to live by as we edit:

Every editor is a human being, and we need to consider regularly whether our view/approach to an issue brings out the best of humanity or not.

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 (original user name, once imitated) 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. We left Italy when I was 11 and moved to the US, eventually settling in Alaska. I will take breaks from Wikipedia in the winter but Wikipedia is something I love and I will always return if I can.

How did I get my start?

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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 EN:WP. I have learned a lot from my early experiences and hope to continue my growth. Not long after coming to EN:WP 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.

Wikilosophy

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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, like a rainbow. Rainbow's are awe inspiring and capture our attention. Their beautiful colors warm our hearts and have fueled our imagination throughout human history. The promise of the rainbow is of peace after storms. This is what 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.

Song

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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.

"I am Cherokee and that's the proudest little possession I could ever hope to have."

This user page was inspired from Phaedriel. All credit is due to her lasting impression. She is missed.

*Wikipedians I will miss* RexxS ~ Those who knew of your time here speak of the way you pondered things carefully and reflected deeply every side of a discussion. Such things are rare and speak to your character. You are missed. Geogre ~ "A Wikipedia article does not make something good. The absence of an article does not make something bad." Sarah ~ You are missed by so many, beautiful Rainbow. Your work on Wikipedia is undeniable and your impact will linger forever. Your impact is felt. Your creativity was excellence and that is evident in your work here. I loved the waterfall pictures. I see and hear your colors, Brian. They are still with us. David ~ I learned so much in few words from you. Your kindness is gigantic, your empathy as large as your heart. Your impact is lasting and I still hear your Song.
*Moments I will cherish* Working together with my friend, GenQuest, on Historic Cherokee settlements. So much fun! 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. Sharing a laugh with my friend, SusunW. The precious anniversary of another, Ian, led to music with a touch of color. Sharing a moment in time with another Wild Rose. This will always look like the most comfortable chair to me. A rose for ARoseWolf Came from my friend, Gerda Arendt. Such a beautiful blue! A daisy for June. An appropriate gift. Yummy black raspberries from my friend, Ched. A story of Rainbows and Starfish with a sweet Melody The amazing gift that is you and caring. Opera, gardens, tea, and cats. A much needed visit with friends Some community building by way of honest and cringe worthy laughs (lol). This is one fun way to foster collegial discussions. Remission: Celebrating Life and showing off our colors, even if its just a reflection of the world around us or a view of it through our wings. It's not always the easiest of paths to get there but it always feels good going home! 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. There is no greater honor than acknowledgement from the heart of friends. Rather than catching tears I was moved to them by a true Wikipedian and friend I very much care for and sing songs of peace and wholeness over daily.
*Wikipedia Principles by Hammersoft* 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.