On Wed, 2003-03-19 at 10:48, Anthere wrote:
I like the terminology user.
Because I feel it is also possible to benefit from having an account as a *reader* only (so... as a user...)
(mostly for the watch list - especially in those times of painful research through google)
A simple reader would maybe not have the compulsion of creating an account if it is named "editor".
I have to say here that I'm in disagreement.
"user" connotes a producer-consumer relationship (I create, you use; I sell, you buy; I produce, you consume) in its standard computer-lingo meaning ("lusers" vs "hackers" or "coders"), compounded by its association with the more common usage as shorthand for "drug user".
Wherease "editor" connotes stewardship, power, collaboration (because to edit you need to build on someone else's work)--and therefore some responsibility, yes. But is that so bad? We want participants in Wikipedia to feel a sense of stewardship, power, collaboration, and responsibility.
"contributor" is similarly a better word than "user", if you really dislike "editor".