Why don't you just leave stubs alone and let them develop into articles
through a natural process?
Fred
From: Stephen Adair <SWAdair(a)computermail.net>
Reply-To: SWAdair(a)computermail.net, English Wikipedia <wikien-l(a)Wikipedia.org>
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2004 22:03:54 -0700 (PDT)
To: wikien-l(a)Wikipedia.org
Subject: [WikiEN-l] Sub-stub city
I can't get any work done. It seems all I ever do is patrol New Pages. I
can't count the number of times I've typed an edit summary of "Speedy
Delete
tag -- obvious test page." I'm all for stubs becoming short articles becoming
articles to be proud of, but can't we at least place a lower limit on the byte
count allowed for new articles?
I think 200 bytes is a reasonable lower limit. Under 200 bytes gets you a
message about needing more substance (or some more tactful word) before an
article can be created, along with a link to the sandbox for those who want to
practice editing.
That would eliminate almost all tests in the article space and increase the
likelihood that an article has at least some useable context to it. It would
also decrease the number of dicdefs posted, making it more likely that the
original author expands it, if possible.
There are so many people, most of them well-intentioned, posting unuseable
content to the Wikipedia, and so few dedicated regulars trying to clean up
after them. We're being deluged with fluff, and we don't have to be. I think
a reasonable minimum byte count would reduce the workload of those trying to
maintain the Wikipedia, while simultaneously improving the quality of the
articles.
Anyone who is really interested in a topic will write more than 200 bytes
without being told they need to. Well over 99% of all tests in the article
space are far less than 200 bytes. Most dicdefs are under 200 bytes. Many
Candidates for Speedy Deletion are under 200 bytes. I love the Wikipedia, but
I strongly dislike the *unnecessary* workload.
Your thoughts?
Stephen W. Adair
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