(First of all, I’ll create a proposal in userspace, but, to explain why I’d like to explain it to you here). A few years ago, my brother created an account here. He tried Intro Image adder, and due to a problem (his edits were low-quality, in some spaces, off the charts low), he quit. Well, today he started back up with some items from the Dashboard. First he tried Tips adder, then he tried Quality Guardian, he even tried Categorizer, Video Adder, and even Method Guardian. offline, I caught him working on these. I explained how to use them. He failed to take a look at the articles explaining how to use the apps. He was deleting good stuff and keeping bad stuff in. Although I tried to notify him on his talk page, his edits still seem to be low-quality. My idea would be the creation of a template that, when placed to the editor, contains all the article links to all the different apps that we offer here in one single message. He was skipping around to see what apps seemed enticing to him. heck, when he saw that Method EDITOR was NAB/Admin only (which is a problem he discovered and I’ll mention here) cause I watched him over top when he clicked it) he tried the test. He might have failed miserably (79%) but with his other edits being as low-quality, maybe that’s a good sign temporarily. I don’t mind him here, but I know he’s not the only one who’s that flopsy with trying out apps skilly-skally(hopefully, that’s right on with spelling or very close to it). He said he’d never be back, but later on, I caught him back on continuing to make bad edits. I patrolled what I could through RCP, but I really do feel that this template is desperately needed so others who try this type of editing aren’t that quick to drop-in and drop-out. I’ve posted several words of advice on his talk page as I found his errors, and even a message to reply to his message saying that he’d rather not be here). However, he’ll drop back in (quite possibly)(if he did it once, he’ll do it again, it just took him 2 years to drop back in.) Update/Edit: I know there’s an article page (which I’ve helped edit)( http://www.wikihow.com/Contribute-to-wikiHow-As-a-New-User-or-Beginner
) that helps link users to these how-tos for each app, but that article is even commonly missed among most users who run around the site as quickly as he did. A template outlining each app with each item in the same message to get them to go back there and take a look, and also to make sure they have links on how to use the others that they may use, if they decide to change.
Couldn’t we just give them a link to the Community Dashboard? That has all of the tools, and how-tos on how to use them. If someone makes a specifically “iffy” edit, then you can send them the how-to personally and individually. (: June Days
@JuneDays
He wasn’t checking the tools themselves for how-tos on how to use them.
Why not send a personal message? It could link to the Community Dashboard, and some or all of its apps (maybe one), and maybe some other tools. I don’t really think we need a template for this.
@Adelaide1230
I still don’t feel personal messages work. If I had a few extra moments in the upcoming days, I’ll create in userspace a draft/proposal of my idea showing what would need to be in the message.
Interesting though i dont look for these types of things
IMO, I don’t see a practical use for a template like this. If you find that this issue of not knowing how to use the apps is happening with a lot of other editors, a template MAY be appropriate. Otherwise, personalized messages are always better than templates. It just helps to maintain a friendly atmosphere so people won’t feel as though they’re communicating with a robot (take a look at the stats leading up to the development of the Welcome Wagon). Messages don’t have to be as long as an essay; just enough to describe the activity. Like for QG: “Why not try [[Special:QG|Quality Guardian]]? It’s a bit like RC patrol, but instead, you get to vote on whether an image or video fits the article. This article should give you a few tips on doing this: [[How to Do QG]]”
Seems I have gotten up “on the wrong side of the bed” with this suggestion. It seems like everyone is in an agreement to write personal messages rather than sounding robot-ish (if that’s even a word). Let’s let this issue just naturally sink and forget this whole message even happened.
Hinni
9
That would have been really helpful when I first started and didn’t understand much.
system
10
The consensus has almost universally been to offer personal messages rather than templates, and of the last 6 or 8 I have seen suggested, all have been talked down for the simple reason personal messages can be focused on an exact problem an editor has, and the research shows personal messages are many times more effective at communicating a friendly, helpful environment where people will actually want to stay and contribute. Just a side-note, Chris, you may tend to judge your brother more harshly than anyone else would, simply because he is your brother. When my wife decided to join wikiHow, I immediately blocked her permanently since I didn’t want to be burdened with having to babysit her (joking).
system
11
Tee Hee… proposal for a template… My dear template. I love you with all my text. Will you please marry me? LOL!
I usually do this for new users, anyway. (:
This is funny. =P June Days
system
13
Ummm…just out of curiosity, does Mel know about your little thing with the template, Lois?
Haha! Imagine if a template actually said that
system
15
He’s okay with it… Eleven plates now… THAT could be a problem.
@Loiswade42
I knew what you said was only a joke when I read it.
