On 4/22/07, MacGyverMagic/Mgm macgyvermagic@gmail.com wrote:
On 4/22/07, Matthew Brown morven@gmail.com wrote:
On 4/22/07, Pilotguy pilotguy.wikipedia@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