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My name is '''Michael Snow''', and I have been contributing to Misplaced Pages since 2003. I served for two years as chair of the ] of the ], was on the ] for a period, and currently serve on the audit committee. Although it has occasionally produced some confusion, I am not ], the Canadian visual artist.
'''Michael Snow''' is my real name, if you're wondering.


==About me (or, why I contribute to Misplaced Pages)== ==About me (or, why I contribute to Misplaced Pages)==
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Although no specific expertise is necessary to contribute to Misplaced Pages, I'll share a little about myself for anyone interested in my qualifications, or lack thereof. Sorry if it resembles a résumé. Although no specific expertise is necessary to contribute to Misplaced Pages, I'll share a little about myself for anyone interested in my qualifications, or lack thereof. Sorry if it resembles a résumé.


I work for the central ] office of a major American university. This is not to say that I am a scientist (well, I studied ] if you want to count that) or that I conduct research myself. Rather, by profession I am a ], so in this context my role is to negotiate the legal framework within which specific research proposals are funded and sign ]s related to these projects.
I have an American ] education, supplemented by an undergraduate degree in ] and ] (as a double major). Part of my interest in history is that I consider it a field with the potential to incorporate all human knowledge (though other fields might also make that claim). So naturally I find the objective of Misplaced Pages worthwhile.


I work as a writer and designer of online courses, primarily dealing with ]. Since I write mostly for a lay audience, hopefully my experience helps me use an appropriate writing style for Misplaced Pages. I am a ] by training, which gives me a perspective on the problem of balancing opposing positions (and having to present arguments for a position one does not agree with). I fully support the ] policy. When I was a university student myself, I also ] in ], which is really the field of study I love best. Part of my interest in history, however, is that I consider it a field with the potential to incorporate all human knowledge (though other fields might also make that claim). So naturally I find the objective of Misplaced Pages worthwhile. My legal training also gives me a perspective on the problem of balancing opposing positions (and having to present arguments for a position one does not agree with). I fully support the ] policy.


In a project of this nature, however, I expect that people will pursue personal interests in their contributions. That is much of what I do with my own contributions, although I will not trot out here a list of everything I'm interested in. As I indicated before, I'm interested in everything, it's just that some of my interests have been developed to a greater extent. I recognize that contributing based on enthusiasm for the subject is itself arguably a form of bias, whether in myself or others, but I don't consider that a problem here. If Misplaced Pages is to be a true ], and it would be the first, then it simply needs to attract more enthusiasts until all subjects are covered. In a project of this nature, I expect that people will pursue personal interests in their contributions. That is much of what I do with my own contributions, although I will not trot out here a list of everything I'm interested in. As I indicated before, I'm interested in everything; it's just that some of my interests have been developed to a greater extent. I recognize that contributing based on enthusiasm for the subject is itself arguably a form of bias, whether in myself or others, but I don't consider that a problem here. If Misplaced Pages is to be a true ], and it would be the first, then it simply needs to attract more enthusiasts until all subjects are covered.


==The Signpost== ==The Signpost==


I started '']'', a weekly community newspaper for the English Misplaced Pages. As you might gather from the information above, one field in which I do ''not'' have any particular experience is ] (but for a little work on a single issue of a high school student newspaper). So I welcome contributions and input there from anyone who wants to help ''The Signpost'' provide better, more complete coverage of important news in the Misplaced Pages community. Before joining the board of the foundation, I started '']'', a weekly community newspaper for the English Misplaced Pages. As you might guess from the information above, ] is a field in which I did not have any particular experience prior to doing so (but for a little work on a single issue of a high school student newspaper). Nevertheless, many people seem to have appreciated the endeavor. I am grateful to ], who took over as editor when I could no longer fill that role, along with the many others who have kept it going since. For anyone who wants to see better, more complete coverage of important news in the Misplaced Pages community, I strongly encourage them to get involved in ''The Signpost''.

Latest revision as of 07:53, 26 January 2019

My name is Michael Snow, and I have been contributing to Misplaced Pages since 2003. I served for two years as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, was on the Advisory Board for a period, and currently serve on the audit committee. Although it has occasionally produced some confusion, I am not Michael Snow, the Canadian visual artist.

About me (or, why I contribute to Misplaced Pages)

Although no specific expertise is necessary to contribute to Misplaced Pages, I'll share a little about myself for anyone interested in my qualifications, or lack thereof. Sorry if it resembles a résumé.

I work for the central research office of a major American university. This is not to say that I am a scientist (well, I studied political science if you want to count that) or that I conduct research myself. Rather, by profession I am a lawyer, so in this context my role is to negotiate the legal framework within which specific research proposals are funded and sign contracts related to these projects.

When I was a university student myself, I also majored in history, which is really the field of study I love best. Part of my interest in history, however, is that I consider it a field with the potential to incorporate all human knowledge (though other fields might also make that claim). So naturally I find the objective of Misplaced Pages worthwhile. My legal training also gives me a perspective on the problem of balancing opposing positions (and having to present arguments for a position one does not agree with). I fully support the NPOV policy.

In a project of this nature, I expect that people will pursue personal interests in their contributions. That is much of what I do with my own contributions, although I will not trot out here a list of everything I'm interested in. As I indicated before, I'm interested in everything; it's just that some of my interests have been developed to a greater extent. I recognize that contributing based on enthusiasm for the subject is itself arguably a form of bias, whether in myself or others, but I don't consider that a problem here. If Misplaced Pages is to be a true encyclopedia, and it would be the first, then it simply needs to attract more enthusiasts until all subjects are covered.

The Signpost

Before joining the board of the foundation, I started The Signpost, a weekly community newspaper for the English Misplaced Pages. As you might guess from the information above, journalism is a field in which I did not have any particular experience prior to doing so (but for a little work on a single issue of a high school student newspaper). Nevertheless, many people seem to have appreciated the endeavor. I am grateful to Ral315, who took over as editor when I could no longer fill that role, along with the many others who have kept it going since. For anyone who wants to see better, more complete coverage of important news in the Misplaced Pages community, I strongly encourage them to get involved in The Signpost.