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RIP

I've been notified by Sarah's family that she passed away after a long illness and have offered to them to post the news here. If it needs to be posted elsewhere, will an admin please do so. Sarah was an inspiration to me and over the years became a good wiki friend. Though I knew she was ill, she never complained, she continued to edit right up to the end, and yet I suspected it was often difficult for her. She has a strong body of work here, and I know from chatting with her that she was deeply committed to the project. I'm unbearably sad. Victoria (tk) 23:58, 8 May 2021 (UTC)Reply

  • For historical record... An obit for Sarah was published community wide on Wiki on June 27, 2021
  • One more for historical record...A published obituary by Saskatoon Funeral Home states, Although Sarah was an accomplished journalist, few people knew of her first love, which was working with the international website Wikipedia, the mostly volunteer, online encyclopedia, which she joined in its formative years, shortly after its start-up in 2002. Sarah began editing Wikipedia in 2004 under the nom de plume, Slim Virgin, sometimes shortened to SV in more polite Wikipedia circles. She is greatly missed. Atsme 💬 📧 02:42, 8 January 2022 (UTC)Reply
Very sorry to hear this. We often disagreed, but her passion and commitment to Wikipedia's values was beyond question.--Wehwalt (talk) 01:56, 10 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
οὐδ' ἴαν δοκίμωμι προσίδοισαν φάος ἀλίω
ἔσσεσθαι σοφίαν πάρθενον εἰς οὐδένα πω χρόνον
τεαύταν. Nishidani (talk) 10:05, 11 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
I forgot to mention that, like Yoninah, she was someone I looked forward to one day meeting in person at some wikigathering, and now I never will ... only perhaps some sunny day ... Daniel Case (talk) 14:22, 12 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
And I think she should not be allowed to pass without mentioning one more great thing she did: cleaning up Murder of Meredith Kercher from the POV/walled-garden mess it had become, one of our worst moments IMO, a task that even Jimbo couldn't get going. Daniel Case (talk) 21:51, 13 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I am sorry for your family's loss. My best regards, Geraldshields11 (talk) 16:11, 12 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I came back from a short holiday to hear of this terrible news! What a loss for Wikipedia. I remember when I first stumbled across your user page when I was a newbie, and I was amazed at how much of an impact a single user could have on the project. It was very inspiring to me and I honestly give you some credit for influencing me to stick it through and see what I was capable of. When I think about the biggest names on Wikipedia, yours is among the first to come mind. Your contributions to some of our most critical content policies and guidelines, dedication to closing the gender gap, and of course the superbly written content you authored yourself – all combined must surely amount to an incalculable impact, one that very few editors have ever or will ever match. While you and I only interacted but so much, just knowing you're not here feels like there's a gaping hole in the Wikipedia I know and love. It won't be the same without you, but where we are today is so, so much better because of you. Rest in peace, Sarah <3 MusikAnimal talk 22:53, 12 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • SV was and always will be one of the Titans of Wikipedia. SilkTork (talk) 09:13, 13 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Such tough news. An awesome editor here. SlimVirgin was always polite in disputes a great attribute of hers and for all editors to be inspired by and follow, she also was a great follower, respecter and improver of wikipedia policy. RIP. Govindaharihari (talk) 17:51, 13 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I'm so sad. SV was someone I looked up to. —valereee (talk) 20:58, 13 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Sarah mentored my early days as a Wikipedia editor. She was a gentle, forceful, and inspiring teacher. (SlimVirgin and I were the top editors in developing Chelsea Manning – a very unusual digital Ménage à trois.) – S. Rich (talk) 22:01, 13 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Rest in Peace. We will miss you. TigerScientist Chat > contribs 01:37, 14 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • So sad to hear this. A huge loss for the community and for the project. mgiganteus1 (talk) 01:41, 14 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I'm very sorry to hear about SV's passing. She was a valuable editor and individual on Wikipedia, and will be missed by us all. Godspeed. Lord Sjones23 (talk - contributions) 01:50, 14 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I will miss Sarah every day; she was special, brilliant, and crucial to so many of us...I will never forget her; I am devastated at news of her loss...Modernist (talk) 01:57, 14 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I can't find words. I hope her family appreciates the positive impact she had on us, the encyclopedia, and the world. A loss for us all. Wug·a·po·des 00:05, 15 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Thank you, for all you did here. You are missed. -- Alanscottwalker (talk) 13:46, 15 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Condolences to her families, offline and on. Jclemens (talk) 01:38, 16 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
    • Thinking more about this, it reminds me of the Mother's Rosario arc of Sword Art Online, where the most powerful online warrior turns out to be that of a terminally ill youth, for whom virtual reality is her only escape from the harrowing and painful real world. In that story, the dying girl succeeds in both making her impression on that online world, and concealing her struggle from the world at large. In the fictional world, that concealment was incomplete, and the online world came to mourn that protagonist's impending passing. In this real world, however, it apepars Sarah's concealment was not breached, and the collective accolade is only posthumos, rather than a sendoff befitting a champion who had made her mark on this virtual world. More's the pity. Jclemens (talk) 05:34, 1 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Vale, Sarah. You will be missed. It was always a pleasure to interact with you and I can only imaging the joy you brought to the people around you. Rest in peace, Tom (LT) (talk) 04:42, 16 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • This is sad news indeed, so many have been lost this year. May her brightness shine alongside all the stars in the sky. Netherzone (talk) 21:12, 16 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • To the editor whose picture you should see when you look up the idiom Standing on the shoulders of giants in the encyclopedia: thank you for your contributions to the community. You may never become a household name, but you have affected the lives of hundreds of millions of people with your actions, first with the fledgling policies that became part of the pillars that underpin our success, and second with your writing and community work on gender equality and coverage of the Holocaust. — Bilorv (talk) 14:27, 17 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • An immense loss. My condolences to family and friends. starship.paint (exalt) 00:25, 21 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • There's a missing piece of the encyclopedia that now can never be filled. You'll be missed, SV, and my thoughts are with your family and friends. NorthBySouthBaranof (talk) 03:05, 21 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Only just heard. Will be remembered as a fearless editor, completely unafraid to take on the most controversial of topics. Hawkeye7 (discuss) 21:44, 21 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • For once bad news didn’t travel, I’ve only just heard. This is terrible news; I’ve always though of SV as one of my Wiki-Friends. The project is diminished by her absence. Giano (talk) 21:13, 24 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Just came to know about this dreadful news. I daresay I'm at a loss for words. RIP. JavaHurricane 04:51, 25 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Oh no. I just learned about SV's death. This is awful news. Very few editors had such a precise grasp of the nuances of policy. Her loss will be especially felt in issues relating to paid editing and WP:COI, as she was vigilant in policing that guideline and preventing its weakening and undermining. Rest assured that she will not be replaced. The sad fact is that we rely upon not a million or so volunteers but, in certain areas, just a handful, sometimes one or two in the most crucial ones. R.I.P. Coretheapple (talk) 13:42, 25 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Rest in Peace Sarah, I hope your friends and family on and off wiki can take some comfort from the legacy you have left us here in this project. ϢereSpielChequers 13:27, 26 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • What sad news. You'll be sorely missed. ~Awilley (talk) 14:32, 26 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Although I never actually interacted with Sarah, I regularly saw her username on RTRC while I was patroling recent changes. I's sad that I will no longer see this name in the stream of edits. You will be missed. - ZLEA T\C 01:06, 27 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Shocked to hear this. A great loss to us, a greater loss to her friends and family, to whom my heartfelt condolences – should any of them happen to read this. Justlettersandnumbers (talk) 10:15, 27 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I saw people refer to this but didn't know it was true until I came to her user page. Just gutted. SlimVirgin was a pillar of the community from the early days and we are not only losing a great person, editor and admin but part of the community memory that she held. A loss on so many levels. Liz Read! Talk! 21:45, 27 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Shocking and sad. Razor sharp in discussions but always, always polite, you will be sorely missed by the project. My condolences to your family and friends, both in RL as well as here.--RegentsPark (comment) 00:24, 28 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Just learned of it through Serial Number 54129's talk page memorial for her. My deepest condolences to family and friends, and all the other editors here who worked closely with her. She'll certainly be missed. warshy (¥¥) 17:40, 28 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Wow. I didn't always agree with her, but had huge respect for her. Not just as a person, but as someone who cared so much about Wikipedia. She will be greatly missed. Hobit (talk) 04:10, 29 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Wishing condolences to those who were close to her. Disillusioned Lackey (talk) 22:52, 29 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Sorry to hear this (only just found out) Peter Damian (talk) 19:14, 31 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Thank you for your dedication and commitment to improving Wikipedia. You spent countless hours bettering the project and will be missed. May you rest in peace, AnupamTalk 21:40, 31 May 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Can't believe she's gone, rest in peace. AnApple47 (talk) 22:19, 2 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I'm sorry to hear this. I actually knew her way back when (long before Wikipedia). She was a force of nature even then, and while I didn't have much personal contact with her, I do remember at least one instance in which she was very kind and thoughtful to me. RIP --jbmurray (talkcontribs) 20:36, 3 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Late to the party, I have only just read of SlimVirgin's death. (That is how I have always known Sarah, so to me it's the natural way to refer to her.) There is probably not much I can say that hasn't been said before, but I will just say that I regarded her as one of the best editors and one of the best administrators we had. The news has saddened me deeply. JBW (talk) 23:40, 9 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • My deepest sorrow and condolences to family, friends, and fellow Wikipedians at the passing of our SlimVirgin. She has been an admired partner on this continuing experiment. Wikipedia is the fine, informative, and helpful website it is due to her tireless work. I celebrate her and her lasting legacy on this website. When we encounter her work we will still feel her life and vitality. --Drboisclair (talk) 20:06, 10 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • My condolences to her loved ones. Thanks,L3X1 ◊distænt write◊ 16:34, 11 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • "Slim" was the best of the best here at Wikipedia and it was quite a jolt for me that she has passed. I envy the people that knew her in her in her life away from here. I felt almost sisterly towards her. I felt as though she was my Wikipedia sister and I long for her as if she were my sister. I suppose I'm sounding rather dramatic and that's why I've put off writing here for so long... hoping not too sound too syrupy, I guess. I hope that her family and friends tell their children about her accomplishments here. We talk about how the great politicians of the day wrote our American Constitution, well Slim helped write our Wikipedia Constitution and continued to improve it and work on its contents tirelessly. I knew her mostly for her work on the under-priviledged, including women and people of color. She had a great mind and a big heart. I miss her. Gandydancer (talk) 00:51, 12 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I put off writing here for so long because I really didn’t want to believe it was true. I still don’t want to. Writing this at all is very hard. Sarah is very missed. User:Kafka Liz A girl is no one 11:36, 12 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • This is very sad news. I had seen her around wikipedia for such a long time. My condolences to her family and friends.VR talk 20:18, 14 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I echo what has been said by Risker, Mz7, Zaereth, among many others. An immeasurable loss to the project and someone gone far too soon. May she rest in peace and what else Zaereth said in closing below. --TheSandDoctor Talk 06:05, 16 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • You continue to be an inspiration. Thank you for your contributions. TarkusABtalk/contrib 13:01, 16 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • My condolences to her family and friends in real life and here. Really sucks to hear a member of Wikipedia passing away but her efforts will not be forgotten... Roberth Martinez (talk) 05:11, 17 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I've only just read... we interacted briefly, you were a name I remembered. A loss for words. - TNT 😺 23:55, 21 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I too just discovered this, and am shocked, saddened and horrified. A tremendous loss for our project, needless to say. More eloquent voices than mine have already spoken regarding her many fine qualites, so I'll merely add a blessing for her spirit, and to all who loved her... RIP, Sarah. Jusdafax (talk) 09:33, 22 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • She and I, a long time ago, used to have at each other with sharpened Olive Branches... I am profoundly shocked and saddened, regardless. LessHeard vanU (talk) 09:39, 22 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Really sorry to hear about this. As a young editor, I often used to see Sarah around - I highly commend her for her work on articles relating to topics so many are reluctant to discuss or research. Rest in peace. Patient Zerotalk 02:29, 23 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Only just learnt of this. Very sad to hear. A great and knowledgable contributor, and a strong and helpful person. My heartfelt condolences to her family. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:30, 27 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I regret to be adding my condolensces so late after the fact, having been largely absent from the project by necesity in recent months. I feel the need to say that, because--incidental though that delay is--it is at odds with the significance I feel that the loss of Sarah constitutes for our project and our community. Sarah and I did share some areas of interest on the project, both in article and policy spaces, but we interacted directly only on a handful of occasions. But I had enough opportunity to observe her conduct and contributions (as an editor and a communicator) to walk away understanding the high regard in which she was held by the community generally. Beyond that, the evidence of her wisdom is also to be found in the structures which she played a significant (indeed, often central) role in building for this, our engine of understanding; in terms of those who made the encyclopedia what it is today, it may be no exagerration to say that we have never before lost a contributor of greater relevance than Sarah, or to say that the world is significantly poorer for this loss. But then, we are also the richer for the dedication this woman chose to invest in the notion that knowledge, and the sharing of it, is a universal right. Snow let's rap 02:06, 28 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I always saw you as one of the guardians of the project. But I had no idea just how profound, how wide-ranging, your contributions were. You will be remembered, and missed. My condolences to friends and family. Usedtobecool ☎️ 13:27, 28 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I realized that I hadn't commented here yet. SlimVirgin's positive impact on Wikipedia was such that her loss leaves areas where she worked vulnerable to tendentious editing, also resulting in increased activity on noticeboards. These events remind us of this sad loss. I didn't know Sarah much and only through Wikipedia, but I also remember of various wise talk page posts. Farewell SV, —PaleoNeonate14:44, 28 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Like some others here, I had not learnt of this sad news until now. My condolences to her friends and family. She will be missed around here. RIP. Carcharoth (talk) 19:52, 28 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I've only just seen this awful news in The Signpost. Sarah was one of the very first users I encountered after registering my account. She gave me some helpful guidance, which I really appreciated. Though we didn't interact much beyond that, I always admired her and looked to her work as a good example through the years. I still watch that first article we crossed paths on. What a terrible loss. Armadillopteryx 20:19, 28 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • This is heartbreaking. I send my sincerest condolences to her family. I’m glad they knew of her Wikipedia activity, which was so enormously accomplished. The world is lucky she shared her time this way. Innisfree987 (talk) 16:49, 29 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Pondered for a long time what to write here. I wasn't fortunate to know Sarah or work with her but I do see and feel her impact on a daily basis. For me it feels like such a loss and such a void that no one can fill. It's like a room in a house you never go into because the pain is too great. I can not imagine how those who worked closely with her feel or even her family who lived with her every day. Being so close gave them the opportunity to hear and experience her Song and it is forever part of them but they are also most hurt by her loss because they have heard a beautiful melody day after day only to have it taken away and only the memory of it, though a part of them, is what is left. Sarah, you are cherished, you are missed, you are loved by so many. The impact of your life is still with us and will be forever, sweet, RAINBOW in the sky. --ARoseWolf 21:04, 29 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I just learned about this very sad and heartbreaking loss. My condolences to her family. Sarah was a treasure, and will be greatly missed. Rest peacefully, my WikiFriend. Atsme 💬 📧 17:12, 1 July 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • What an extraordinarily impressive body of work. Gives me pause to reflect on the higher values that can be achieved on TheProject and to aspire to those heights. Thankyou Sarah.-Sticks66 05:03, 2 July 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • This is terrible. I was hoping it was not true. So upsetting. HighInBC Need help? Just ask. 05:05, 2 July 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I regret that I only learned of Sarah's passing now. To repeat what others have written, she will be missed. -- llywrch (talk) 09:43, 6 July 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Sarah's was indeed a "household name" for Wikipedians, but where I really came to know her work was in the area of WWII and the Holocaust. She proved to be a truly excellent editor - thorough, accurate, opinionated in ways that kept the project honest - and one of a few whose judgment I trusted implicitly. My condolences to her family and friends. François Robere (talk) 18:41, 8 July 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Woooow. I'm utterly shocked to hear this sad news of your passing! We haven't talked for years, but you made quite an impact on my life and we even went through some difficult times together. I'm really sad you're gone. You made your mark on this world, my friend, and you have my love and respect forever. --MPerel 14:07, 14 July 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Very sad. I was privileged to have interacted with Sarah. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 05:32, 3 August 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • It's always sad to learn about the death of a fellow Wikipedian. Rest in peace. Mar4d (talk) 12:44, 3 August 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Sarah was a fantastic editor who done wonders with articles, She will be remembered and missed, RIP, My sincere condolences to friends and family, –Davey2010Talk 12:27, 7 August 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Did not ever directly interact with SlimVirgin that I can recall, but I saw her contributions in discussions, and around other places on Wikipedia. I know she will be missed. My condolences to those that knew her well. Huggums537 (talk) 18:52, 7 August 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • I am not very active on here anymore, so I did not know about this until earlier tonight. Incredibly sad, may she rest in peace. A true titan of Wikipedia history who, whenever she graced my watchlist, always seemed like she was honoring me by merely doing so. IntoThinAir (talk) 02:57, 28 August 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • We all would've come across Sarah sometime or the other while editing Wiki articles. Her presence can be felt everywhere. I see her as a trailblazer in many of the articles I edit. Going to miss her badly, indeed. Farewell, dear friend. Rasnaboy (talk) 04:34, 14 September 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Rest in peace, Sarah. We'll deeply miss you. treekangaroos (talk to me | contribs) 18:37, 21 October 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Wow, I am speechless that I just now discovered this. Sarah and I got along very well. This saddens me greatly. My condolences, and my apologies for it being so late. :-(—CYBERPOWER (Chat) 15:38, 22 November 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • A great loss to everyone. She was a giant! She was very supportive! What a wonderful person. She will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, from your friend, IZAK (talk) 08:49, 23 November 2021 (UTC)Reply
  • Did not get a chance to say anything when this happened ... but I knew about it. Sarah was one of the first editors I interacted with when I started editing (more frequently) in 2012. I wish I could recall the interaction, but whatever it was, it was one of the many interactions I had on Wikipedia that convinced me to stick around and keep editing, no matter what conflicts may arise on Wikipedia between the community and me. It may not have been much interaction, but it was enough to make me feel welcome and keep on editing. The loss of Sarah is a big blow to the project, and she is missed. Steel1943 (talk) 19:10, 3 February 2022 (UTC)Reply

Follow-up

If this is the wrong time or place to post this, feel free to remove.

  • Work is needed on writing the obituary here. That should later be used in the Signpost.
  • Sarah worked on many topics including several she found draining due to the content. One she was particularly proud of was Female genital mutilation and I'm hoping a few editors will add that to their watchlists because it easily degrades with passing edits.

Johnuniq (talk) 07:33, 9 May 2021 (UTC)Reply

Impact

Impact
Thank you for your impact
in helping persons
by portraying them,
collaborating with them,
making policy for their protection
and defending them!

I wish I had told you, Sarah. I wish the arbs had listened to you. We miss you. None of us can replace you alone, but we all should do what we can to keep your spirit in this place. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:14, 10 May 2021 (UTC)Reply

Four years ago, you were recipient no. 1670 of Precious, a prize of QAI! I wasn't the first one to award you that, the most beautiful edition - in 2007 - was by Phaedriel, with a poem and an image:

I thank thee, friend, for the beautiful thought
That in words well chosen thou gavest to me,
Deep in the life of my soul it has wrought
With its own rare essence to ever imbue me ...

Yea, it shall always abide with me
As a part of my immortality;
For a beautiful thought is a thing divine,
So I thank thee, oh, friend, for this gift of thine!

Katherine Mansfield

--Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:07, 16 June 2021 (UTC)Reply

Flowers

Flowers
She was a wonderful Wikipedian. I’ve seen her name in a bunch of edit summaries, and I thought... wow, she’s good. I wish I’d gotten the chance to work with her. 🐍 Helen 🐍 21:26, 10 May 2021 (UTC)Reply

Goodbye Sarah...

This is a really sad year for Wikipedia, losing not one but two of its top editors, not by their edit count but by the quality of their work and their incredible integrity as human beings. First, we lost Flyer22, and now this. This is a huge blow to the project, but that pales in comparison to the tragic loss of such a great and wonderful person, who was so incredibly smart and talented.

I never really had much of an opportunity to interact with Sarah. I think we may have spoken to each other once or twice in all the years I've been here. I doubt she ever knew how much I have always admired and respected her, or how much of an influence she had on me, especially back when I first started here. In all of Wikipedia, there are a handful of people who stand out among the crowd, and Sarah was a shining star above the masses. From the moment I crossed paths with her, I knew immediately, this was someone special. Perhaps it was because she shared my interest in quality, encyclopedic writing, or her love of writing in general, that first peaked my interest, but it was her brilliance, conviction, and steadfast integrity that I ultimately came to admire. She was someone you could really look up to.

I am especially grateful for her work on core policies, and especially BLP policy; that extremely important and vital policy that protects both our readers and our subjects from very real harm. I've spent most of my time here helping to explain and enforce that policy, and am very thankful to Sarah for recognizing the importance of such a policy very early on. We will always be in your debt, not just us editors and writers, but our subjects, readers, and the world as well.

I never knew until this year that I could be affected so deeply by the loss of someone whom I never met in person, nor ever really knew outside of her work on Wikipedia. My deepest condolences go out to her family and friends. To Sarah, may whatever god or spirit or chi you believe in carry you on to something better. The force will be with you, always. Zaereth (talk) 20:50, 11 May 2021 (UTC)Reply

Sarah-SV prize?

Sarah was so active in and supportive of gender equity that it seems fitting for one of the WP groups in that field to consider awarding an annual or biennial prize in her memory for the best contribution to gender equity on the site. Tony (talk) 08:26, 12 May 2021 (UTC)Reply

Tony1, Hobit, BD2412, cash prizes tend to result in editors with questionable motives in my experience. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 08:33, 1 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
Alexis, I'd donate, too. But I wasn't necessarily suggesting a cash prize, which brings problems (large amount invested, dividends pay for the prize, is usual for in perpetuo prizes; seems unlikely). Why not replace cash with prestige: so members of the Gender gap task force, call for nominations and discuss and create a shortlist, which goes to, say, the chair of the WMF board. The chair makes the announcement. You never know, the current chair and the rest of the board might think that's a good way to further some of the Foundation's key aims. It would need brief selection criteria and a timeline. And if it works, I'd be in favour of later widening the scope to include other Wikipedias. Could be annual, or every two years? Tony (talk) 12:20, 1 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
Tony1, I think it would be better to aim for publication in the WP:Signpost for starters. Possibly a custom barnstar? — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 14:12, 1 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
I wanted something special in memory of Sarah, equal to her special role in the evolution of WP. And something with more grunt than a mere barnstar. Tony (talk) 14:14, 1 June 2021 (UTC)Reply
Tony1, I get what you mean, but it may have a better chance of happening if you learn to walk before you run. Though if you believe you can run right away, go for it. Also the barnstar suggestion was just as an addition, not a replacement. Maybe as a way to nominate? — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 18:37, 1 June 2021 (UTC)Reply

The Signpost: 27 June 2021

Chelsea Manning

Thank you. I wanted to do it....but was nervous about my own issues. Mahalo and aloha to you.

OK...I mentioned Viriditas (and then took it out)....holy crap...he's not...I am so embarrassed, thrilled and sad at the same time right now. Really not sure how to process this.--Mark Miller (talk) 12:44, 1 July 2021 (UTC)Reply

I miss you

Sarah, I miss your kind emails and thoughtful ways. I wish I could have said goodbye. Your loving friend, Ta bu shi da yu - Chris Sherlock. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 08:34, 6 July 2021 (UTC)Reply

On days like today, I wish I could email you. I cannot tell you how I miss you. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 04:29, 11 July 2021 (UTC)Reply
I just rescued some references for an article you started, Aftermath of the Holocaust. Evidence of you is everywhere, and you won't be forgotten. - Aussie Article Writer (talk) 08:51, 5 August 2021 (UTC)Reply

Remembering Sarah

Dear colleagues,
I created a generic userbox to commemorate our absent Wikifriends, and I keep a copy for Sarah at my user page:

This Wikipedian remembers
SlimVirgin.

To add this userbox to your user page, just copy/paste:
{{User:Pdebee/UBX/RemembersAbsentFriend|SlimVirgin}}
With kind regards;
Patrick. ツ Pdebee.(talk)(become old-fashioned!) 15:13, 12 July 2021 (UTC)Reply

My condolences

Thank you for everything you did to help this project, so sorry to see you go. Rubbish computer (Talk: Contribs) 23:56, 17 July 2021 (UTC)Reply

It's late but I just heard

that you had passed, through a Wikipedia dramaboard as somehow seems apropos. Farewell and rest in peace. If you are someplace where you see AaronSw, please give him my regards too. You and I didn't interact very much, but I remember you and I will miss you. 2601:648:8202:350:0:0:0:2B99 (talk) 02:57, 21 August 2021 (UTC)Reply

  • Having not crossed swords with Slim for a while I decided to check in on her. I have to say I am genuinely saddened to learn of her passing. Despite our many disagreements she definitely earned my respect. Wikipedia will be a poorer place without her. With Flyer22 passing too, and SchroCat leaving, there are some large boots to fill. Betty Logan (talk) 03:51, 3 October 2021 (UTC)Reply

Muhammad al-Durrah incident

Thanks to SlimVirgin, we read as the TFA today about the Muhammad al-Durrah incident, which came with the most excellent introduction I've seen to date, in both detailing the content as also the collaborators:

"This is a partial self-nom. The 10th anniversary of this incident is coming up on September 30 this year, which is why I'm nominating it for FA status. Several editors have worked on it over the years, both on the article itself and by offering guidance on the talk page. A full list of editors is here, and talk-page contributors are here. It was largely rewritten in October this year, though earlier contributions helped to shape the rewrite. The top editors from 2009 are ChrisO, George, Jaakobou, and myself. Previous key editors were Jayjg, Tundrabuggy, and Liftarn. It is 41 kB (6502 words) of readable prose; 110 kB overall.

What happened to 12-year-old Muhammad al-Durrah is a highly contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was filmed by France 2 on September 30, 2000 apparently being shot and killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during a gun battle with Palestinian security forces. Multiple, conflicting, and sometimes overlapping narratives have developed about the incident over the years. The basic positions are as follows, with examples of who holds the view—the people cited are either involved, or are journalists who've written about the issue in depth:

  1. He was shot and killed by the IDF. Held by Charles Enderlin and Talal Abu Rahma of France 2; most of the media that first responded; the IDF initially. [1]
  2. He was shot and killed, probably or definitely by Palestinian gunfire. Held by e.g. General Yom Tov Samia of the IDF following a controversial November 2000 IDF investigation; [2] Daniel Leconte, former France 2 correspondent. [3]
  3. He was shot and killed, but we don't know who fired the shots. Held by e.g. Arlette Chabot, news director of France 2, [4] and Israeli historian Tom Segev. [5]
  4. He was shot and killed, and we don't know by whom, but not by the IDF soldiers known to have been there. Held by e.g. James Fallows of The Atlantic. [6]
  5. A boy did die that day in that area, but he arrived at the hospital (10 am) before al-Muhammad was shot (between noon and 3 pm), and the boy shown during the funeral was not al-Durrah. Muhammad may be alive or dead; there is no firm evidence either way. A small minority position, held by German journalist Esther Schapira, who has produced two documentaries about the incident. [7]
  6. There is no reason to suppose he was either shot or killed; the whole thing was a hoax. A very small minority position, the so-called "maximalist narrative." Held by e.g. Israeli physicist Nahum Shahaf who was involved in the October 2000 IDF investigation; Richard Landes, an American academic; Philippe Karsenty, a French media commentator; Daniel Seaman, director of the Israeli govt press office; Luc Rosenzweig, a retired managing editor of Le Monde; Jean-Claude Schlinger, a French ballistics expert hired by Karsenty. [8] There is also a belief, held by at least one member of the October 2000 IDF inquiry, that the incident was staged, but that the boy's death was real and was part of the pretence.

The positions aren't as clear-cut as the above and overlap considerably. It has been difficult to steer a course through them, giving each view the attention reliable sources give it, but I think we've achieved a reasonable balance. The article covers all the main views comprehensively, without going into neurotic detail (I hope).

There are quite a few fair-use images in the article, as we had to use the original France 2 footage of the shooting. This is copyrighted, but although not released under a free licence, the network has allowed the images to be reproduced all over the world without charge, so there's no problem with our use of them. SlimVirgin TALK contribs 08:33, 31 December 2009 (UTC)"Reply

Awesome. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:34, 30 September 2021 (UTC)Reply

RIP

“Known by many, respected by all.”
“A rare bright star among the sleeping throngs.” Dronebogus (talk) 08:59, 27 February 2022 (UTC)Reply

RIP

I talked to Sarah before the pandemics because she needed a photograph of the grave in Rome of the Australian artist Dora Ohlfsen-Bagge. I only managed to take those pictures today, and I had learnt the sad news she's no longer with us. She might have liked that someone continues the job she started and that her legacy is not lost. May the Earth be Light on You, Sarah. -- Blackcat 13:26, 28 April 2022 (UTC)Reply

Thanks for File:Tomba di Dora Ohlfsen.jpg relating to Dora Ohlfsen-Bagge. Johnuniq (talk) 23:27, 28 April 2022 (UTC)Reply
Added. Viriditas (talk) 01:32, 5 May 2022 (UTC)Reply
Condolences on this loss. Andre🚐 08:39, 5 September 2022 (UTC)Reply
You will be remembered. R.I.P. — Hamid Hassani (talk) 04:39, 10 July 2023 (UTC)Reply

R.I.P.

May rest in peace. 2601:1C0:CF00:2680:0:0:0:485 (talk) 00:01, 27 November 2022 (UTC)Reply

Historiography Appreciation

Your work at 1948 Palestinian expulsion from Lydda and Ramle is appreciated. Special:MobileDiff/316257893 IOHANNVSVERVS (talk) 01:13, 26 December 2023 (UTC)Reply

May you be at one with your gods, whomever they may be

Damn. I don't know how I missed this. I never really told you how much I admired you. The world was a better place with you in it, and you leave great things behind. I always felt like a little dog yapping at your heels... Hiding T 14:22, 4 January 2024 (UTC)Reply