On 2/24/06, Anthony DiPierro <wikilegal(a)inbox.org> wrote:
I guess I just don't see what the functionality of userspace is in the
first place, if not to be used by the user as an expression of
themselves.
I also think what's more likely to happen, if people *really* insist
on keeping their notes separate from everyone elses, is you'll see
things like [[Wikipedia:Bob's notes]], not notes thrown into the
article space. Someone doing what you claim you would do would
quickly be banned.
Anthony
And if we get stuff like [[Wikipedia:Anthony's notes]], [[Wikipedia:Bob's
notes]] and [[Wikipedia:MacGyverMagic's notes]] it would basically result in
a massive shift of userspace material to the Wikipedia space. Userspaces can
be useful in creating a community feeling as well as keeping notes. It's not
to express yourself, that's not what Wikipedia is about. It's to create an
identity for yourself so people feel comfortable working with you and for
keeing project related material.
As soon as you state you are "against the right to bear firearms in the
United States", you're going to get people on the defensive, especially when
you start to edit gun-related articles. The same thing goes for "pro- or
anti-abortion" and loads of other subjects. It's okay to show your interest
in the subject, but as soon as you show your views you are using Wikipedia
as a soapbox which it's not (see WP:NOT).
Userspaces work fine. It's the abuse (divisive
userboxes/advertising/personal attacks) that needs addressing. You don't
need to kill an entire namespace to address some problems that crop up in
there.
We don't delete articles for attracting vandalism. We shouldn't delete
userpages for attracting problematic behavior from just a few of the people
either.
Mgm