[WikiEN-l] Offline submissions?

Mon Jun 26 04:59:46 UTC 2006

Baby steps!
This is quite a proposal, but the worst part is that it signifigantly 
increases the ammount of work required to get something done.  I think a 
better first step would be to set up a method to have emailed in articles 
added, perhaps automagically to a queue.

xaosflux

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Gray" <shimgray at gmail.com>
To: "English Wikipedia" <wikien-l at wikipedia.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 5:31 PM
Subject: [WikiEN-l] Offline submissions?

> According to the WikiProject Countering Systemic Bias, "The average
> Wikipedian on English Wikipedia (1) is male, (2) is
> technically-inclined, (3) is formally educated, (4) speaks English to
> an extent, (5) is White , (6) is aged 15-49, (7) is from a
> predominantly Christian country, (8) is from an industrialized nation,
> and (9) is more likely to be employed in intellectual pursuits than in
> practical skills or physical labor."
>
> The problem with this is the unfortunate gap in coverage that results
> from a lack of interest from the typical demographic of Wikipedians
> described above. While this demographic is definitely interested in
> contributing to a free, online encyclopedia, that doesn't mean the
> others aren't. One particular problem is that in order to contribute
> to Wikipedia, you'll need to use a computer. There are others who
> would probably be interested in contributing to our global effort,
> too, but don't understand technology. We need to allow them to
> contribute.
>
> For that purpose, I would like to start a project where people without
> access to computers (or people who voluntarily choose not to use them)
> can -write- their own Wikipedia entries and mail them in. The first
> phase of this plan, of course, would be spreading the word. The least
> expensive way would probably be distributing fliers in frequented
> areas. People could then write their own articles, and mail them in to
> the Wikimedia Office. Someone at the office (maybe Monica?) could open
> the letters, scan them in, and email them to an offline submissions
> mailing list. From there, people interested in the project would
> transcribe the article into Wikipedia (if applicable, see below) and
> mail back a corresponding letter featuring a print-out of the new
> article. Very simple process, plus it would allow people from
> non-typical-of-Wikipedia-editor backgrounds to put in their word.
>
> What if their entry is redundant? Not to worry. If the written
> submission has content the Wikipedia article doesn't, we add it in. If
> it doesn't, that's okay. We don't necessarily have to tell them what
> made it in and what didn't, but either way, a reply will be sent to
> the writer with a print-out of the article.
>
> ----
>
> I'm passing the above on for en:User:Messedrocker, since he's not
> subscribed to the list. My thoughts:
>
> a) This has certainly been done before on a local level with minor
> languages - was it in West Africa somewhere? My mind is failing me,
> but I've certainly seen it mentioned on wikipedia-l before - the
> writing was done by a local elder, transcribed and put online by a
> volunteer.
>
> b) It might well work, but would probably require careful thought and
> planning - who are we targeting? what sort of articles are we
> targeting them for? how do we deal with unwanted and inappropriate
> submissions without causing more badwill than we started with?
>
> c) Copyrights. This might get fun.
>
> -- 
> - Andrew Gray
>  andrew.gray at dunelm.org.uk
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