r/BenignExistence • u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane • 1d ago
Some Wikipedia articles I've edited recently.
I'm what's known as a WikiGnome. I just happen to read a ton of articles for fun and my editing is exclusively fixing small mistakes that I find while reading--grammar, typos, broken coding, the like.
This is a random sampling of my recent edits, in no particular order.
+Apollodorus (painter).
+Pulsus paradoxus.
+Orbona.
+Déjà vu.
+Ranunculus asiaticus.
+Jean Marc Gaspard Itard.
+Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato.
+Fève.
+Conditum.
+TeleZapper.
+Mr Creosote.
+Maids of honour tart.
+Brushturkey.
+Teeth blackening.
+Raviole du Dauphiné.
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u/Oh_Witchy_Woman 1d ago
How do you cope with researching facts in the current digital climate?
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u/strawb3rrym1lk_ 1d ago
Seeing as they said they mostly engage in WikiGnome activities, they likely don't have to do that too much. WikiGnomes mostly focus on small edits like cleaning up links and fixing typos, as mentioned in the article OP linked.
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 1d ago
Yes, I don't have to look for/cite a source to correct a spelling mistake or misplaced comma. It's nice that I don't have to worry about edit warring, very lowstakes work.
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u/strawb3rrym1lk_ 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'm also a WikiGnome, I just didn't know there was a word for it! I really enjoy the work too, it's very quick and low stress but still serves to benefit Wikipedia as a whole.
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u/WorkingOnItWombat 1d ago
I didn’t know there was a word for it either!!! 🙌
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 10h ago
There's a whole article on the various WikiFauna! Gnomes are but one of many :)
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u/Oh_Witchy_Woman 12h ago
I missed that bit, thank you, the whole thing is so cool.
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 11h ago
I don't envy the editors who do have to cite sources, and find reliable ones at that. They have my gratitude; while I might make an article easier to read, I don't create or add content to pages at all.
Wikipedia does prohibit almost all uses of AI in articles, though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Artificial_intelligence
I've personally come across a few articles with warnings at the top stating AI was/probably used in its creation and that that needs fixing.
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u/springhappiness 1d ago
That's the nerdiest thing I've ever heard I love it😭
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 11h ago edited 10h ago
I created my Wikipedia account in the first place because I was reading so many pages that had small spelling or grammar mistakes and it drove me a little batty! I love that now I leave that page a little better for whoever reads it afterwards :)
You can edit a lot of stuff without an account, but having one opens you up to more options and after X or Y amount of edits, you can access protected pages. Articles might get one of a few levels of protection if they're frequently vandalized, have edit warring, etc.
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u/springhappiness 10h ago
That's incredible and quite wholesome haha I love that you're taking the time to do it
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u/train-dodge-dig-it 12h ago
Gosh I just looked up the brushturkey - what a fancily adorned fellow!
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 11h ago
I was down a rabbithole [birdhole?] of various poultry species when I found that one! :)
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u/train-dodge-dig-it 11h ago
Amazing! Any other cool ones you discovered?
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 11h ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocellated_turkey
I got to both of the turkeys [and a ton more birds!] from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galliformes
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u/train-dodge-dig-it 10h ago
Yooo that's awesome! And I'm not joking when I say that ocellated turkey is one of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen !
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 10h ago
I think Ocellated Turkey would make a great band name...
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u/slinkslowdown Custodian Of The Mundane 1d ago
I'm creeping up on 1,000 edits finally :) 955, my account was created December 31st, 2017. I kinda hope to hit 1k before the end of 2026!