[Wikipedia-l] Please change the embarrassing donations message

Wed Oct 8 02:58:39 UTC 2003

From: "James Duffy" <jtdire at hotmail.com>
> It implies
> 1. That wiki is flawed;
> 2. We are /trying/ to fix it, but trying doesn't mean we will succeed.
> 3. That wiki is in so much difficulty it has to beg for money to make
itself
> usable.
>
> PR people would hang themselves in shame if they were responsible for
> sending out such a message.

Having worked with many charitable orgs and been on the boards of
many I have to say that I agree with JT _completely_.

> The message should be spun positively, not negatively. What it should say
> is,
>
> Wiki's phenomenal growth requires constant upgrading of technology to give
> you the best service possible. Giving that service requires funding. You
now
> can donate money to help your wikipedia remain the fastest growing
> encyclopædia on the internet. For more information, see [[Wikipedia
> donations]].
>
> That wording, trimmed down and tightened as necessary, sends a different
> message to our current message.
>
This is the kind of message to give, it also responds to my request not
to make the message a bare faced solicitation.

> 1. Wiki is a phenomenal success;
TRUE.
> 2. We need funds to continue that success;
TRUE.
> 3. You can help /your/ wiki stay ahead of the rest.
YES, HELP SOMETHING SUCCESSFUL.

> It is positive, not negative, motivational not begging. It tells people
> 'join in our success', not 'we are trying to fix our problems but badly
need
> money'.

Giving money to people who are failing is never the goal of philanthropists,
helping people succeed at good works and a great cause, now that
is a reason to give, if they see you failing, they tell you to fix your
problems and come back next funding round.

> Please change the current cringe-enducing message.

Here. Here.

Alex756