A WikiGnomeis a wiki user who makes useful incremental edits without clamouring for attention. WikiGnomes
work behind the scenes of a wiki, tying up little loose ends and making things
run more smoothly. Examples of WikiGnome-like behavior include fixing typos, correcting poor grammar, creating redirects, adding categories, and repairing
broken links. Typical behaviors are ticking the "This is a minor edit" box before saving any edit, and not providing an edit summary. The WikiGnome is the original example of WikiFauna, having originated in the first wiki WikiWikiWeb. WikiGnomes are also known as WikiGardeners. WikiGnomes have a
humble and very unassuming nature, yet Wikipedians should know that they still need to be told that their
work is valued from time to time. If WikiGnomes
don't occasionally feel the love from the
people whom their
work has helped, they might sneak into the kitchens of such users at night and sit on their dairy products. Their needs are modest in this regard, however, and it only takes a brief word to them once in a while to avert such an unfortunate event.
WikiGnomes love to work in the shadows making what are called minor edits in various nooks and corners of Wikipedia. Look at recent changes and you
may even spot
one at
work.
WikiGnomes who are feeling familial or desirous of a grander sense of purpose often adopt a typo, gaining fulfillment by raising themselves into existence on the article namespace. Of course, editors are encouraged to garner up some courage and come into the
light of
day as a gesture of open friendliness and make their edits in a straightforward manner without being afraid of what others think.
