Seeing the wide variety of welcome templates used and some recent
interactions with new IP editors have me thinking about this as an option.
The basics:
1. Would post a welcome message the first time an IP address or registered
account is used to edit.
2. Would explain key policies.
3. Would encourage the IP editors to register a username.
4. Would indicate a place where any questions could be directed.
This automated message would have a few benefits:
1. It would reach people immediately after they make their first edit.
2. It might help some editors avoid common issues with first edits: original
research, copyright issues, POV, verifiability.
3. It might cut down on some of the other misunderstandings novice editors
have.
Interested editors could sign on when they are available to take questions
from novices, or the new editors could be sent to a page where they could
ask any questions and get a fairly quick response.
If it seems it might be more personal, maybe the bot could randomly assign
an experienced editor to each welcome message, someone signed up on the
welcoming committee.
It seems that this might cut down on much of the back and forth experienced
editors have with new editors, and it might encourage more people to
register. Sometimes editors get welcomed immediately, and other times it
takes months.
Thoughts?