Feeling Nervous
In a Wikipedia editing workshop, the excitement of contributing is often mixed with nerves, as participants grapple with the platform’s standards, rules, and complexities. For many, the fear of rejection looms large. One participant summed it up, “I’m nervous that my page will be rejected by the WIKI community because it does not follow standards of citations and notations.” This sentiment resonates with the group, as getting citations and formatting just right feels like a daunting challenge.
As they dive into editing, the anxiety about mastering Wikipedia’s technicalities comes to the forefront. One person admitted, “Once I started, I began to understand the syntax and details to pay attention to, but I’m still nervous about not meeting the metrics and facing rejection for my topic.” This blend of excitement and trepidation is a common thread as participants work through their edits.
For others, the pressure to keep up is real. “Not being able to follow along fast enough,” one participant confessed. And midway through, they added, “Losing track of my citations!” The fast pace of the workshop, combined with the need for accuracy, can make even seasoned researchers feel out of their depth.
The risk of edits being undone is another major concern. “Having my edits canceled because I’m new,” one person worried, while another wondered, “Curious if my edit is going to stick because I re-wrote another person’s edit for accuracy.” It’s a fine line between contributing valuable content and overstepping, especially when correcting someone else's work.
“I’m nervous I won’t do the person I wrote about justice.”
Other participants focus on the broader implications of their efforts. “I’m nervous I won’t do the person I wrote about justice,” one editor shared, voicing a common fear about representing their subjects faithfully. And another, overwhelmed by the scope of potential projects, added, “I’m nervous I’ll get sucked into a wormhole of writing Wikipedia articles in lieu of my doom scrolling habit.”
Beyond individual edits, some express concerns about engaging with Wikipedia’s vast community. “I’m nervous I’ll start a big discussion about accelerationism when I just want to contribute to the article!” Others worry about navigating Wikipedia’s policies around conflicts of interest, with one participant sharing, “I’m nervous we’ll get flagged for conflict of interest concerns somehow.”
“I’m nervous I’ll start a big discussion about Accelerationism when I just want to contribute to the article!”
As the workshop progresses, the sense of responsibility grows. One participant noted, “I’m feeling overwhelmed at the talent in the room, at the depth of knowledge that surrounds me. My worry is that I can’t capture it all, that Wikipedia can’t contain it.” The stakes feel high when they realize just how much their contributions matter—especially for underrepresented topics and communities.
By the end, there’s a mix of exhilaration and lingering doubt. “I’m nervous the group won’t continue to edit after the workshop,” one participant said, reflecting the hope that the workshop will spark long-term engagement with Wikipedia’s mission. But in that nervous energy lies the excitement of learning, contributing, and maybe even transforming their relationship with knowledge.
