Community of Practice Study

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Yes, it's that time again: for the Library Science graduate student to study you, Aspies, as a community!

It's my last semester and my current assignment for 708P: Communities of Practice is to study a community and prove how that community is a Community of Practice (CoP). I instantly thought of my autistic communities in which I am a member (aren't you all so lucky!?). I feel most comfortable around the autistic community, so it was my natural choice. Since I am much more active on aspergerinfo.com and hardly have time for this site due to my studies and advocacy, I chose WP because, now that I am studying it, it's now homework - and I get more time to hang out!

Now, to my point:

For those who DO NOT want to be a part of my study, you have two choices:

1.) Tell me in post or through PM

2.) If you do not wish to be identified by your WP name, you may choose an alternative name for yourself (e.g. my pen name is TheMadPoet). Please PM or post your alternative name.

Any identifiable information will NOT be used. If I should happen to quote anyone, I will first PM you for permission if none has been given or an alternative name given. This paper will not be published and its purpose is for education.

And for those who would like to see my weekly blogs about how this site relates to my homework and any subsequent papers, here's the link: http://lbsc607p.ning.com/profile/SerenityPalmer

As always, I am willing to share my results and paper with this board: please PM me your e-mail address (that also goes for those who were apart of the library study back in December; I still have yet to figure out how to post papers to this site and just may wind up e-mailing the paper to Alex and ask).

Any questions? Feel free to PM me!

Thank you,

Serenity

Hmmmm... I have to tell you, if I don't want you to study me?... Has this gone to the ethics panel?

An ethics panel is not being used because this paper will not be published. I am trying to be ethical in allowing people to "opt out" of this study. In my experience, it's easier to let people tell me they don't want to be in my study for whatever reason whether then get every single person's permission - and there's over 16,886 members on this board, not counting the lurkers!

In fact, I have a question for the community.

I know what the WP alien stands for, but I do not know how it was created. What is the story behind the creation of the WP alien?

Also, how would I get this post to become a "Sticky"? I would need it up until my final paper, which would be the second to last week of May.

I've often had people say I needed to be studied...closely...

I once took an occupational quiz, it said I should have been a librarian. If only a) the pay was good, and b) there were any openings...

The librarian field does pay well - it just depends on which state you live in and basically depends on how much the state is willing to give per capital (per person). This is because public libraries are supported through local taxes. In Maryland and Florida, I can easily make 21 dollars an hour - in Utah, I would make 14 dollars an hour (Utah has less people per capital than Florida - Maryland's just lucky that its state peps are for public libraries). However, due to the recent downswing in the economy and the fact that Congress is slow to pass the budget, most counties and states have a hiring freeze. I know that is the case with Maryland and various counties within Florida. Last few years were good. Now things are bad. When things are good, they are good - and when they're bad, they're bad. Once the economy picks up again and once Congress finally passes the budget, then things should be good again. Just for now, I have a sinking feeling I'll be asking "Paper or plastic?" after graduation until things pick up. Sigh...