On 23/01/07, Oskar Sigvardsson oskarsigvardsson@gmail.com wrote:
Still, my main argument still stands. It's condescending and rude, and that's not how we should treat our new users, let alone our experienced ones who are going to have to see that damn notice every damn time they start an article. I just think that that is not the way we should be treating new users. I know I would never have joined if I had been greeted by a bunch of reference-fanatic dudes who didn't have any patience with people who didn't quite get how wikipedia works.
Unfortunately, not doing so is likely to see their article zapped, which is a much less n00b-friendly experience.
Yet another person just popped onto IRC asking how to create an article that wouldn't get killed on sight. I said "write a few paragraphs, add good references." "How should I format the references?" "Not important. Just have them. Trust me - after dredging through lame garage band articles on Special:Newpages, you'll cry at the wikibeauty of an article that actually has its refs."
Surely it's polite to let them know rather than give great big warning notices but no clues.
- d.