>> On 03/22/12 1:37 AM, En Pine wrote: >> First, has anyone thought about automatically adding a welcome message to >> the user’s talk page when they first register, not only for EN but also for >> Commons, Simple, and other projects? Currently we require a human to do >> this, which means that lots of people seem not to get welcome messages which >> could contain useful information, and perhaps a link to the Teahouse for EN >> users. Could we implement an automated post to a user’s talk page that gives >> the user links to WP:WELCOME, WP:HELP, the Teahouse, and/or other similar >> resources as soon as the user has registered? >> > This is a terrible idea, on a par with automated telephone messages > which ask you to make selections by number. > > The other point is that many new registrants never edit at all, or they > may be vandals or spammers. Let them make their intentions clear before > welcoming them. The welcome should show that we are aware of exactly > what they have done, and thank them for doing so even if it's only a > simple spelling correction. > > Ray
Why would you not want to provide people guidance before they've made their first edit, and why not provide them some encouragement to edit in a welcome message? I think the idea that automated telephone messages are going to stop is unrealistic, just as the idea that every new user will be personally welcomed with a customized message is unrealistic. It seems to me that we should take advantage of technology where it's useful. Pine _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l