On 3/21/07, wikipedia2006@dpbsmith.com wikipedia2006@dpbsmith.com wrote:
It's known as "work." Writing is work. Writing an encyclopedia is work.
Wikipedia works because it disguises work as fun. If you act like a mean-spirited boss, or turn contributing to Wikipedia into real work, the fun will go out. No fun, no Wikipedia.
It's the whole essence of Wikipedia and wikis in general. Person A likes writing stubs, person B likes finding sources, and person C likes categorising. Individually, none can produce a satisfactory stub. But the three of them - with no collaboration whatsoever, and no "work' - produce one. Magic, isn't it?
Why is it any more "convenient" to do this in the main article space than in your own user space?
Articles belong in article space.
I call this rehearsing in front of the audience.
Wikipedia is a work in progress. Your analogy is perfect.
I call this running out into the street naked and telling the policeman "But I was just about to put my clothes on."
Heh. WP:NOT safe for minors.
Steve