On 1/5/06, Peter Mackay peter.mackay@bigpond.com wrote:
From: wikien-l-bounces@Wikipedia.org [mailto:wikien-l-bounces@Wikipedia.org] On Behalf Of Carbonite
My comment wasn't about having an attitude of "I've been here longer, I know better!", it's about users who view Wikipedia primarily as a social club where they occasionally edit an article. In my opinion, someone who makes a vast majority of their edits to their user space probably is less worthy than those who actually work to improve the encyclopedia.
There are better social clubs available on the net. If socialising is truly their main interest, then they'll go elsewhere soon enough.
There are no social clubs available on the net with the prestige of Wikipedia. It is a top 20 website.
But so long as
they aren't actually doing any harm, then why not praise their constructive efforts, instead of trying to chase them away? The more we make Wikipedia a cheerful co-operative community instead of a battleground, the better for all concerned.
When they argue about policy with longtime editors who actually know something about policy, they *are* doing harm. They are wasting the time and trying the patience of someone who is actually contributing to the goal of the project.
Jay.