On 4/22/07, MacGyverMagic/Mgm <macgyvermagic(a)gmail.com> wrote:
On 4/22/07, Matthew Brown <morven(a)gmail.com> wrote:
On 4/22/07, Pilotguy <pilotguy.wikipedia(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Really, instead of complaining about it,
wouldn't it be better to
fix<
it?
I mean, seriously.
Of course - that's one of my issues with Wikipedia's tagging culture -
that people will spend lots of time doing things like tagging but not
even attempt to fix the problems they're identifying.
On the other hand, some topics can't be easily sourced without a
specialist library.
-Matt
Matt addresses a good point. People prefer tagging because it's easy and
fast.
We need ways to encourage people to do the grunt work and reward them for
doing so.
It's a tall order, but changing the wikipedia culture would solve a lot of
problems.
Any ideas on how to get that done?
Mgm
Always acknoweldge the editors who do grunt work in your area is a good
starting place. I can't believe the number of editors who are content to
come to Wikipedia and spend 5-10 hours a week creating lists, correcting
grammar and spelling, and the sort of crap that I would never do. In fact,
the best thing about Wikipedia, to me, is the half dozen editors who stalk
my somewhat unattractive writing style and correct everything I post. I try
not to give them a hard time by carefully editing before I post, but they
always find something.
But, I always remind the editors who just come by and do a clean-up, and
aren't out for FA and GA and Did you know and edit county glory, that in
the end, it doesn't matter how good are information is if it's so ugly no
one wants to look at it.
I'm adding occupations and nationality to the lists messed up rocker posted
and doing quick clean-ups on the articles. I'll do 10 a day.
KP