User talk:TotallyNotSkyNet

Re: Message you left on my talk page 4 months ago

Hey TotallyNotSkyNet! This is probably gonna be another huge message, like last time we talked, but I think it's necessary.

First things first - the reason it took me four months to reply (so long that the auto-archiving script that I use grabbed it, forcing me to bring this over to your talk page instead of mine) is because I ignored my own advice. That advice being: "remember that Wikipedia editing shouldn't be a chore" (direct quote from my last message, lol.) I forgot that I do this for fun, and I got too deep into hyperoptimizing my editing to the point where it wasn't helpful to Wikipedia and wasn't at all fun. In any case, though, I still am sorry that I didn't reply for this long - it truly wasn't my intention to ghost you.

Secondly, with respect to the first paragraph of your message: even when I was still editing, I'd have said the same thing: don't be sorry for not editing. I mean, you are volunteering. If you aren't getting paid, then you'd basically have to have vowed to me on your soul to keep editing for a sorry to be justified. Like, I personally love the concept of Wikipedia, but sometimes it has to be put it in perspective: it isn't like this is a food bank you signed up to volunteer for. This is a website that has millions of editors that all jump in and out whenever they feel like it. And that's a good thing! Let me be clear with what I'm saying here: it's not that I'm somehow upset at the notion that you're sorry (I'm not); I just want you to have a good time, and I don't want you to feel guilty or anything for not engaging more.

Finally, with respect to your request for articles to clean up. I'm gonna be honest, if you still care about that, and would actually clean up an article I sent to you, then huge respect for the dedication, but I'm gonna be real, that was a third of a year ago, so I'd be shocked if you do still want to. It's totally not because I haven't looked at Wikipedia in months and have no ideas for you that I'm saying this ;)

Now, I will say this. If and only if you decide you want to continue editing, then try looking up a wikiproject that pertains to one of your interests (directory here) and see what they suggest doing.

Alright, I just reread this message and I realize it reads as kind of cynical and anti-Wikipedia-editing, so let me distill this entire message down to a tl;dr that doesn't sound like that:

Sorry for not replying. It's okay that you didn't edit for awhile; Wikipedia isn't and shouldn't be an obligation. If you still want to edit, try out helping a WikiProject that seems interesting.

That sounds much better! If you're still reading, thanks for humoring me. I hope you can understand my deranged ramblings. Have fun with whatever you choose to do! ReadItAlready (talk) 05:39, 17 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]