[WikiEN-l] Eschatology and Wikipedia

[Ray Saintonge]

On 12/22/10 11:36 PM, Carcharoth wrote:
> I tend to try and not leave the public-facing page incomplete, but
> sometimes that is inevitable (not enough sources or an incomplete
> list), but put requests for help and suggestions for further editing
> on the talk page. A plea to future readers and Wikipedians that pass
> by. Though, sadly, I get the impression not many people actually read
> the talk page notes I leave behind, and they end up being more notes
> for myself to refer back to months or years later.

True enough about the prognosis for talk page notes.  A discrete help 
marker on the public page would still be worthwhile.  It could perhaps 
link directly to an explanation of the problem.  An ordinary reader is 
unlikely to view the talk page otherwise.  An effective way to lose 
volunteers is to leave them sitting around with nothing to do.  If you 
want help from new blood make it obvious where the help is needed, and 
abandon this notion of polished articles written to impossible standards.

Ec