Talk

Forum:NB:Tommy-Macaroni's resignation

Hello everyone. I'm writing to inform you that I am resigning. What follows is a rather lengthy explanation of my reasons for stepping down from all my Wook positions (excluding Rollback), with immediate effect.

This decision has been brewing for weeks, and the thought has been with me for most of the summer. There are multiple factors influencing this. Firstly, my university workload is becoming increasingly demanding, and I'm finding it difficult to balance academic responsibilities, social life, and personal time for relaxation and hobbies. This leaves me with insufficient time to be as active on the site as I should be. Considering this is only the first term of my second year, I anticipate even less time in my third and fourth years, especially during exam revision. Furthermore, as demonstrated this past summer, I struggle to juggle editing with a nearly full-time job.

Secondly, I've experienced a decline in my enthusiasm for both the website and the Star Wars universe in general. There isn't a specific cause; I simply no longer feel the excitement to edit here. My recent edits have been driven by habit or, worse, a sense of obligation. I no longer derive pride or satisfaction from editing, and frankly, it has become quite monotonous. Wookieepedia used to be my escape from real life and academic pressures, but now I find working on a university essay far more engaging and rewarding. I've acquired numerous Star Wars novels and games over the past year that I haven't explored, and I generally lack interest in the universe, save for a few very specific areas. This is disheartening, considering how central Star Wars was to my life a few years ago, and how eager I was to log onto IRC after school and start editing. Unfortunately, that passion has faded. While I hope to rediscover it in the future, I currently feel like I'm forcing my interest for the sake of the site, which feels disingenuous.

I'd like to include a couple of relevant quotes from my Request for Bureaucrat (RFB):

  • "My personal belief is that admins and especially bureaucrats need to be utterly dedicated to this site, above all else."
  • "Bureaucrats should be spearheads of the community, which means daily community involvement."
  • "If something life-changing happens which utterly compromises my ability to perform my duties as an admin or bureaucrat, I would step down, albeit with a heavy heart, because I know that in that situation someone would be able to act in those roles better, so I should not be taking up space on a team I'm not committed to being a member of."

While my current situation may not be life-changing, I believe my previous statements still apply. I'm uncomfortable remaining a bureaucrat with my current level of activity, knowing that it's unlikely to improve. This site is constantly evolving, and key positions like bureaucrats need to be held by individuals who are highly involved. I pledged to step down if I couldn't properly fulfill my duties as a bureaucrat, and I feel obligated to honor that commitment. As anticipated, this decision is made with a heavy heart, as this site has been a source of support during difficult times and has always been a source of pride. I've formed friendships with many of you, and it's been a privilege to contribute to this site alongside you all. I've undergone significant personal growth since joining as a shy fourteen-year-old, and I believe my time here has played a significant role in shaping who I am today. Ironically, I also believe that my personal growth has contributed to my declining interest in the site.

Nevertheless, I'll always be grateful to everyone who has supported me and worked with me over the past five years. I wouldn't be the person I am today without this site and community, from the knowledge I've gained in writing and reviewing, to coding, to interacting with and leading others. Thank you all for that. I'll cherish the memories I've made here, from joining initially, to my first official role in the Entertainment Council (EC), enduring 3AM Mofferences, and becoming a bureaucrat just before a major period of change for the site, including the influx of returning editors and the positive direction the site has been heading in for the past six months. I hope that I've made a substantial contribution to Wookieepedia, even though my time as a bureaucrat was relatively short compared to others. (Although, frankly, I think we place too much emphasis on the longevity of those in this position, and it might be beneficial to periodically restructure the bureaucratic hierarchy based on the current activity and motivation of admins, but I digress).

Regardless, I'm immensely proud to have held that position and grateful for the opportunity to lead the site. A part of me wants to stay, as I still have affection for this site, but I know my interest will continue to wane. Leaving now, despite the difficulty, feels like the right decision. To quote a great TV show, "Everything's got to end sometime. Otherwise nothing would ever get started."

Although I'm resigning, I intend to remain in the Discord server and may occasionally check in on conversations to stay informed about the site's progress and discuss new Star Wars content. I sincerely hope to return properly one day, with renewed passion for the site and the universe, perhaps after finishing university and securing a stable job. However, that's years away, so I won't make any promises. I'm also retaining Rollback for now, in case I encounter any vandalism while browsing, although I may struggle to meet the minimal productivity requirements. We'll see.

Regarding my responsibilities, I believe the review boards are currently in a strong position and will continue to thrive. A new bureaucrat will need to be appointed, but I'm confident that the administration will find a suitable candidate to guide the site forward. Similarly, we have numerous bot operators, so my departure shouldn't significantly impact that area of the site. My primary tasks in recent months have been closing Talkspace Candidates (TCs) and Content Talkspace (CTs) discussions and managing bot requests, so others will need to assume those responsibilities. Speaking of bots, I'm sharing my entire user-fixes.py file here (along with any other resources that may be useful to me or other editors in the future). This file contains my general formatting fixes script, which I periodically ran on the main namespace, and I encourage someone to run it regularly as it includes helpful and common fixes. Additionally, if any of my Featured Articles (FAs) or Good Articles (GAs) are challenged or require updates, please notify me on Discord. I'd like to maintain their quality if possible.

I'm struggling to think of anything else to add. I've probably already said too much, but I wanted to be transparent about my reasons for leaving and express my feelings for the site and community that I care so much about. So, that's it, I suppose. After posting this, I'll begin removing my positions throughout the day. If you'd like to contact me in the future, to discuss the site or anything else, please feel free to DM me on Discord. I'd be happy to chat!

Once again, thank you to every editor I've collaborated with. It's been an honor, and I'll never forget the wonderful experiences I've had on this site. May the Force be with you all. Tommy-Macaroni 11:25, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Tommy, I can honestly say it has always been an absolute pleasure working alongside you and that I will deeply miss your presence, but greatly respect your reasons for stepping down. I don't think a single editor here would disagree that in your time here you have been a huge force for good and that the Wookieepedia of today is hugely improved by the work you've done, on articles, policy, and in the community. I wish you the best in university, life and all else and hope that one day you can find the passion for Star Wars again that was so evident in everything you've done here (and after all, if you don't come back how will you ever nominate Devastator so I have do Lorth Needa :P). Ayrehead02 (talk) 11:50, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Damn it I meant Avenger! Ayrehead02 (talk) 12:06, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Damn it I meant Avenger! Ayrehead02 (talk) 12:06, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Real sorry to see you go Tommy, you were an amazing member of the community here and have always been a great leader, especially in organising the immediate response to the crisis last spring. I have tremendous respect for you and hope that one day you're able to return. Godspeed. Fan26 (Talk) 12:10, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • It's been a real honour working with you despite my relatively short time here (and great fun, with the speed-run meetings). You've always been a trusted member of the community, and there is little more I could add to the above, so I wish you all the best beyond the Wook. OOM 224 12:41, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Even though I've been here for a short time, you were the first admin I've interacted with (even if, in the beginning, not in the best way :P), and you have immediately gained my respect. It's really sad to see you leave. Take care. LucaRoR 12:48, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Thank you for everything you have done, Tommy. It is sad to see you go, but I am happy you have found the best choice for yourself. Again, thank you for everything Editoronthewiki (talk) 16:33, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Thank you for all that you have done for this website. Take care. Rakhsh (talk) 16:49, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • As someone who's been exactly where you are, but didn't have the good sense to step down on his own, I hope you get the chance to figure out a way to have fun on here without that weight of obligation. It's a hell of a lot better this way. IFYLOFD 17:06, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Your contributions to the site are greatly admired, and it is sad to see you have to step away. Wishing you the best for the future to come, and thank you! Braha'tok enthusiast 17:26, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • With life as it sounds, this is definitely a good step in the right direction for you. It was awesome to see you climb up the Wookieepedia ranks, and I wish we could've nominated the 7th Fleet article like we planned to one day years ago. You'll definitely see Stalker back up, and I'm happy that your last act as a bureaucrat was Star Destroyer-related, and I'm grateful that it was an article I worked on. Very much on brand :P. I sincerely wish you the best in everything, and I do hope that we see you around more often than not. I still owe you a beer, and I'm going to be traveling to the UK later this year so if you're ever down just let me know and maybe we can work something out. Wishing you the best, Tommy! --Vitus Infinitus 17:27, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Very sad to see you go, you've been a great help to me and others on the site. Best of luck for your future. UberSoldat93 (talk) 18:45, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

  • I said this on discord, but want to reiterate it here. It's been an absolute pleasure knowing and working with you. I've no doubt you will succeed beyond all expectations in school and life, and I hope there comes a day when we see you here regularly again. May the Force be with youSupreme Emperor 01:00, 10 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Damn, this is too bad to see, but school does always come first. Good luck with uni! JediMasterMacaroni 02:17, 10 October 2021 (UTC)

  • You've been a great help to me during my time here, and I really appreciate your leadership over the past few months. Best of luck in all of your future endeavours. VergenceScatter (talk) 03:23, 10 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Really a shame to see you go, Tommy. Thanks for all the hard work you've put in here over the years—good luck with school and your career! DwartiiDelver (talk) 15:17, 10 October 2021 (UTC)

  • You've been a cornerstone of the community for as long as I have been here and are always a positive influence whether it be Wook-related topics or just having fun in Discord. Hope to see you back at some point and as a fellow student, I wish you all the luck through your next couple years of school. Wok142 (talk) 04:31, 11 October 2021 (UTC)

  • I've said a lot in private, but I need to make my thoughts public, because you deserve that. It's been an absolute journey working alongside you on the review boards all these years, and more recently as a fellow admin and bureaucrat. You really are one of the most level-headed and professional people I've ever interacted with, and I can't wait to see where that takes you in life. You supported me for every position I've been nominated for, and you selected me as a candidate for bureaucrat after the most difficult time I've ever had on this site. Your confidence in me was inspiring, and I promise not to let it be misplaced. I'm happy you'll still be around, and I hope that one day I'll get to show you around Batuu, and maybe hit up a dance studio. I wish you all the best, friend. MasterFred(talk) 05:02, 11 October 2021 (UTC)

  • I'll just borrow the words of a captain from that other franchise and tell you this: "in best maritime tradition... I wish you clear horizons." It was a pleasure (and an honor) having you here all these years! Lelal Mekha 09:07, 11 October 2021 (UTC)

  • I'm sad to learn of your departure from your position as I'm myself just coming back from several months of absence, but I truly understand your reasons. You've been a delight to work with, and a much-needed pillar of this community in our recent time of struggle. You've earned my respect time and again. This is not an "adieu". See you, Space Cowboy. --NanoLuuke 13:21, 15 October 2021 (UTC)

  • I am very saddened to hear of this, but I wish you the best of luck with uni and the new chapter in your life. ~ D MCCG (chat) 02:35, 18 October 2021 (UTC)

  • All the best mate. Commander Code-8 08:25, 23 October 2021 (UTC)

  • Sad to see you go Tommy, wish you all the luck. Efe Önem (talk) 19:31, 26 October 2021 (UTC)

  • I didn't hear about this until now so I'm somewhat embarrassed to come to this a month later, but I just want to say thank you. You've been a great admin for this wiki and stepped up as a lead bureaucrat in one of if not the most intense circumstances a wiki has been in. Wookieepedia is better off for having you helped lead it and I genuinely appreciate everything you've done for this community. - [Brandon Rhea](/article/user:brandon_rhea](he/him/his) 06:52, 12 November 2021 (UTC)

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