And now we come to it: Read on if you dare, for once you've entered Wilhelmina Will's Hall of Signatures there's... actually, millions and millions of ways you can get out (just type something in search, for a shortcut!). Because of my wild and wacky sense of humour, I like to experiment with different signatures from time to time. So far the ones I've come up with have been zany phrases or lists, as you'll see below.
Former signatures
edit- 1. Wilhelmina Will, obviously.
- 2. Winnifred-Ian-Leonard-Harry-Ellen-Lucy-Marilyn-Ingrid-Nora-Amanda Walter-Ira-Lauren-Lalla For this one, I looked at every letter in my name, and thought of a name that begins with each one. Yes, as you can see, that includes male names.
- 3. The Gorgeous Girl!!! I've just heard it from so many, that's all.
- 4. I called the Warner sister "Dottie" and lived to tell the tale! This one, together with the proceeding one, received a great deal of attention during their use. This is a reference to Dot Warner, on Animaniacs, because she says "Call me 'Dottie' and die!".
- 5. Mess around with the guy in shades all you like - don't mess around with the girl in gloves! This one, of course, is a reference to Sunglasses at Night, by Corey Hart.
- 6. Oh no! It's not here!!! Just a silly one, based on a random title I gave a school project a few years back. I'd thought of "You'll all be frozen in carbonite really soon!", another former assignment title, but I had a feeling other users would take that the wrong way, ergo... I didn't.
- 7. And, action! I figured this would be good for motivation.
- 8. Wilhelmina Will For a long time, it was back to plain old me, but of course, that couldn't last forever.
- 9. Like my singing? Ha-la-la-la-la-la-LA-LAAA!!! This signature must be the new record holder for "Most Attention Received". I applied this signature sometime between March 9th-18th, 2012, with the thought of "Well, I really would like to have a powerful operatic voice, so the sooner I get started the better. Why not reflect it on Wikipedia for a while as I'm at it?", in mind. I was amazed by how many people commented, jocularly and metaphorically, on this signature! When I decided to go back to quirky signatures I intended to resume my original routine of keeping one for about a month, and then moving on to a new idea, but of course I held onto this one due to its popularity. I'm glad so many people were touched by my "song", but I'm afraid after 10 months I had plain worn my throat out, and needed to take a rest. Perhaps someday I'll pick that microphone up again, but for now...
- 10. Oh, is this the Top Secret room? I had no idea... Hmmm, I guess on my way back from the stage I got the wrong door... I'll see how long I can stand there before finally having to shut it.
- 11. So a print encyclopedia, a strawberry shortcake, and a sycamore walk into a bar - wait, have you heard this one? - After all, who doesn't love a good, old-school, "ridiculously long, ludicrous ensemble of characters entering a bar..." joke? I chose the particular characters in this joke for the following respective reasons: (Print encyclopedia) Because Wikipedia's an online encyclopedia that's constantly growing and reinventing itself to make itself superior to all other forms of encyclopic[1] collections, so the mention of a print one may, depending on the individual, be considered a suitable topic for mockery. (Strawberry shortcake) My mother made a strawberry shortcake for dessert on the day I came up with this signature - we had a relative's visit - so it was on the mind. (Sycamore) I'm not really sure; I was in a bind for ludicrous companion prospects and I seem to recall selecting the first term which leaped in front of my mind. I'm pleased with the attention this one got as well; very amusing, I found it.[2]
- 12. Trout me, and then just trout me, till I can get my troutifaction! - T'was in fact inspired by the attention cited above. That, and I couldn't get the song it's modeled after out of my brain as I was writing this...
- 13. Can you decipher this acronymical code? CYDTAC (Hint: It's really easy!) - As I promised, all shall be revealed now that this one is to be placed on my "retired signatures shelf." The answer to the code is very simple; acronymical in fact. You need only look at the letters of the code and compare them to the message before them. Not that there's a prize or anything involved, but you're welcome anyway!
- 14. Editing with a pen leads to a lot of things unsaid. - Well it does, after all!
- 15. If I said "I'm miffed!", would you come running or go? - Nothing personal, I'm just either curious or else throwing rhetoric to the wind... your choice.
- 16. The carton was never meant to hold anything, anyway. - Who knows? There just might be a hidden meaning in this... Well, I was unable to decode it. Perhaps it's just time to move on...
- 17. Is it the end already? It felt like we were just getting started! - This signature, started in late December 2013, is in honour of... Come on! You've gotta be able to guess this one!
- 18. Okay folks, say it with me: 1 for the money, 2 for the - the - okay, just let me read the script again first... - Aw man! I'm normally so good at this one!!!
- 19. As you’ll see, I’ve added some shortening to my sig! - So that's how you get that wonderful, coveted cakey texture good signatures are so renowned for!
- 20. It's the 1st! May Day! May Day - ain't for another month. - As befits the general jokester attitude of the premier of April. But then, I always seem to be of that inclination, don't I?
- 21. Spring in Wikipedia is lovely! Just avoid the articles on flowers...[3] - No kidding! At least be sure to read an article on an allergy medication first; if that doesn't work, read one on tissues or handkerchiefs. If that doesn't work... please consider the original advice.
- 22. There was an old person of Rimini... - Thought I'd try a theme here; this is the first part of a favourite Edward Lear limerick...
- 23. Who said, 'Gracious! Goodness! Oh gimini!'... - And part two...
- 24. When they said, 'Please be still'... - And part three...
- 25. She ran down a hill... - And part four... (Also my 25th consecutive signature change!!!)
- 26. And was never more heard of at Rimini. And that's all there is to it!
- 27. "We could read for-EVER; reading round the wiki!" Supposed to be sung to the tune of "Walking On The Moon" by The Police; it does sort of improvise melodically towards the end of the line.
- 28. If I had to guess... I'd be even more flummoxed than if I came with a straight answer from the start. Simple as that. There you go.
- 29. Heading for the 20's, living in the Wild Wild Wikipedia! Seeing as that's the next decade we're approaching, almost halfway there, and ol' WP is wild after all!!!
- 30. Fellow editors, we are like keys in a cod... Oh, don't say that doesn't make sense! - As far as witty comments go, I think this pretty much handles itself.
- 31. Grinding, grinding, grinding... what are we finding, finding, finding... That remains to be seen. But at least it rhymed!
- 32. One hand on the mouse, one hand on the keyboard... and the feet can do the rest! Hee-hee! Question is, are they up to it?
- 33. "Carry me down, carry me down; carry me down into the wiki!" I can sense a few good MoTD concepts within the song referenced here!
- 34. "A wiki of beauty is a joy forever." Seriously. That's how long it'd take to read! Don't believe me? Just try it - oh, and remember that clicking here, now that the link's been provided, is tantamount to cheating...
- 35. I wish that every edit, by every editor, would turn into a better Wikipedia! Answer to that, King Midas!
- 36. 1,2,3,4; Likely that you'll edit more; 5,6,7,8; Find you've stayed up really late! - Coz let's face it; out of we the devoted editors of this fine encyclopedia, who hasn't experienced this nocturnal phenomenon as a result of our dedication? ;)
- 37. If only there was a worthy joke about a band-aid attending the opera... - Then I'm sure that would be enough to solve EVERYONE'S troubles! :D
- 38. Now I feel like a total sellout. - Just a little interaction-inspired joke.[4] Not in the slightest bit intended to be long-term, I can assure you...
- 39. Herein dwells the greatest dictionary ever composed! - So said due to the exclusivity of the population who may find that the linked page serves a fully functional, dictionarial purpose. You're very welcome.
- 40. If Wikipedia had two swans for every project discussion... (insert here) - Inspired by a picture shared by a friend sometime back. Was a long-time coming, but I think it was worth it!
- As an honourary note, I have to include some humourous answers provided by others, to this signature's prompt:
- "If Wikipedia had two swans for every project discussion... Mimi could be transported on their wings to the Heavens!" Pdebee, 23rd October 2016.[5]
- "...then the swans would feed the beetles to the baby swans." Robert McClenon, 30th December 2016.[6]
- As an honourary note, I have to include some humourous answers provided by others, to this signature's prompt:
- 41. One can say a lot of things about Wikipedia's appearance, but listless ain't one of 'em! - And my routines here are the evidence to prove it!
- 42. A lot of good editing can happen in ten years. Said with appreciation/apologies to Jim Carrey.
- 43. While you're doing that... I'll be doing this!
- 44. Wikilinks! Blue as the sink, they was wikilinks! Already mentioned the reason behind this one, so let's save some time.[7]
- 45. To the point that the words have become unintelligible. I might have been referring to speed-reading or I might have been struggling to read while half-awake...
- 46. If you aren't doing so, you may disregard my request not to point that thing at me. Since the words started making sense again, I decided it was time to address a potentially far more serious issue...
- 47. We Wikipedians only take NO for an answer! Things just get done better, that way.
- 48. Wiki-girl, she's a Wiki-girl! Okay fine; for sure, for sure; she's a Wiki-girl in a Wiki-store!
- 49. The holotype specimen of the snack eel was found inside a white seabass. One of millions upon millions of factoids you can find within the scope of Wikipedia's content!
Current signature
edit- Reddit clarifies why beggars CAN'T be choosers. On the other hand, Wikipedia clarifies why editors CAN be choosers!!! - For you all editors whose accounts are young whipper-snappers, you'll come to understand what I mean in due time. Listening to narrations of reddit videos from the subreddit "r/Choosingbeggars" might also lend a hand. Meanwhile, here's to my 50th signature change, as of May 18th, 2020!!![8]
Notes and references
edit- ^ Not a typo.
- ^ "Wikipedia talk:Signatures," Revision 555113671. Retrieved on May 15th, 2013.
- ^ Formerly read as "Spring in Wikipedia's...", but I changed it to a non-contraction because, when using this signature during my workouts, the wiki-markup often looked like swearing to me.
- ^ Because who wouldn't have?
- ^ "User talk:Wilhelmina Will/19" revision at 20:45, 23 October 2016. Retrieved on February 1st, 2017.
- ^ "User talk:Wilhelmina Will/19" revision at 04:03, 30 December 2016. Retrieved on February 1st, 2017.
- ^ User:Wilhelmina Will/sandbox. Retrieved on 7th November, 2017.
- ^ User:Wilhelmina Will/sandbox, Revision 957369472. Retrieved on May 18th, 2020.