On 3/8/07, Erik Moeller erik@wikimedia.org wrote:
also on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Credentials#Simplified_voluntary...
After some more thought, I would suggest an almost completely voluntary model, where the only requirement would be that a user claiming credentials should put one of four templates on their user page:
# "This user's stated credentials have not been verified." => If placed by another user # "This user's verification of stated credentials is pending." # "This user does not wish to verify their stated credentials, and asks you to assume good faith." # "This user does not wish to verify their stated credentials, because they should not matter to you. Please judge edits on their merits."
I know the intent is good, but this seems like something written by a
robot or an alien.
By that I mean it attempts to supply a rigid system to achieve what most people accomplish through normal interaction. Such attempts rarely work.
One should build technological systems that complement and extend human abilities, not attempt to supplant them.
More simply, templates should not make requests about someone's state of mind, e.g. "asks you to assume good faith"; "they should not matter to you" "please judge edits on their merits".