I know i know we have tonnes of articles already you say, but the new people most of them get directed to easy things such as patrolling recent changes can every one please remind people to write articles? Articles help most of the people in the world because %87 of people rely on the internet to tell them whats wrong and whats right. I have noticed people having 0 contributions and no articles when they have been on wikihow for 6 months! I think if you are on WikiHow you are either learning or teaching please if you agree that we should remind people about articles go tell them now!!
Caeiia
2
We don’t really want to push people to write articles if they don’t feel up to it - that could result in frustrated users. Plus, well-researched articles are what is needed, not just any article, and someone who takes on the initiative themselves is more likely to write quality information. The easy tasks are intentionally sorta easy because it allows new users to get used to the policies and formats while taking baby steps. And it’s really of no benefit to push people who don’t want to be active to be active, because it’s purely volunteering.
So I would advise to not overwhelm new users with this sort of request, but feel free to encourage those who want to write an article!
I had so much trouble trying to find something to write about when I initially signed up, since there were so many topics already written about, that I didn’t write a new article until a few weeks after I’d signed up. Putting pressure on users to write articles right away might just cause them to write duplicates - or the far less desirable alternative, cause them to panic
And I still have almost no ideas on what to write about.
Watai
5
Yes, I think when a couple is newly registered they can not write anything right away, and they may always be looking at other statements until they find what they want to say
true but you mentioned quality written articles -but you have to start somewhere right? plus thats why we research!!
One good edit, one conscientious removal of spam, a good tip or an approved edit can make a difference to an article, and to a person who reads it and gets help. No one should feel pressured to contribute anything here. It’s very much quality, not quantity. I would be really happy to know I have helped just one person do something they wanted to do. That should be the aim of users, helping, how ever they feel best equipped to help. Research isn’t even vital if people, when they do choose to write an article, choose to write about something they know about. 66 contributions and one article, which is a stub, do not suggest much of a start after a year either. ;p
i rather not write much articles cause i am too busy with helping people do them!can’t do anything about that!
I agree with everyone above. I didn’t write my first article until I was about three months or so in. Some people are on wikiHow for months/years and never write an article. You don’t always have to write them to provide quality work. Some people find they’re better at behind the scenes (wikiGnome) work. Shouldn’t push people, encouraging or attempting to help them find an idea to write about is one thing but pressuring to write should be avoided.
I’ve yet to write an article in my 11 years here, but might one day.
An admin. Who has never written an article in over a decade.
Anna
12
Ah but if I tried to list the ways @Davecrosby
has made wikiHow a better place in those 11 years, I’d wear out the keys of my keyboard
I have to agree with the general idea that pushing someone to start an article isn’t ideal, for all of the reasons folks have already mentioned above. +1 or whatever the cool kids are saying these days.
I used to try asking new users to create new articles, but I stopped that after a week when I figured out that it was not the best choice.
Also, +1 is basically a like. An agreement on the message, you could say.
I guess, so but I always see a new person on WikiHow and i think “hey this person is new here maybe i should direct them to the right place” then again they shouldn’t have to be forced to where they go and what to do i just thought this way i could help them and the article which what there writing will be better in all ways.
I started that a year ago when I first came. Then i built off WikiHow knowledge to help people in need. Mind you when i first came I got directed to a article but that was by the wrong person that was there for 2 days
Hmm, I’ve been quoted as saying something I never said. How odd.
So I usually only come to wikihow to see how all my friends are going and to help people in need. Articles are there to help people but i already help people over chat. Therefor there is no need for me to write a article.
@Mikayla08
That’s pretty much my main way of contributing on wikiHow too. Not the only one, of course.
