Steve Bennett wrote:
Here's another: when someone searches for an
article (let's say "norwegian
antarctic expedition") that doesn't exist, let's encourage them to add it -
we have successfully located someone interested in a topic that we don't
have an article about. This is a good start.
The use case would go:
1) User searches, no match found
2) Wikipedia warmly encourages user to make the article, guiding them
through the steps
3) Wikipedians nurture the newbie, remaining in contact with them as they
make their inevitable fumbling mistakes
4) Newbie sticks around and makes other articles
What actually happens
1) User searches, no match found
2) Wikipedia yells:
"Before creating an article, please read Wikipedia:Your first article."
"To experiment, please use the sandbox. To use a wizard to create an
article, see the Article wizard."
"When creating an article, provide references to reliable published sources.
An article without references may quickly be deleted."
"You can also start your new article at Special:MyPage/Norwegian Antarctic
Expedition. There, you can develop the article with less risk of deletion;
ask other editors to help work on it; and move it into "article space" when
it is ready."
"If you wish to ask an informational question, please visit one of our help
desks."
translation:
- Don't create an article (without reading piles of tedious documentation
first)
- Don't create an article (because we know you just want to muck around)
- Don't create an article (without applying a higher standard of referencing
than we do)
- Don't create an article (because we will delete it mercilessly. write a
draft and beg for approval first)
- Don't create an article (because you don't actually know anything)
Yes, but ...
Those prompts are not actually so useless. Perhaps the presentation
could be improved.
Given the huge preponderance of readers over editors, the last point
really should be first (visit help desks). Then I would go to drafting:
"If you are able to draft an article on this topic, you can start it at
Special:MyPage/Norwegian Antarctic". And make sure that the Special page
has a clear way of templating the page so that it goes into a "help
requested" category, and generates a human welcome.
Then give the three options (read "Your first article", Sandbox, Article
wizard) as exactly that: "If you'd like to ...". Basically that message
seems to have the order stood on its head. Something that could be
addressed easily, though.
Charles