Baby steps! This is quite a proposal, but the worst part is that it signifigantly increases the ammount of work required to get something done. I think a better first step would be to set up a method to have emailed in articles added, perhaps automagically to a queue.
xaosflux
----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Gray" shimgray@gmail.com To: "English Wikipedia" wikien-l@wikipedia.org Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 5:31 PM Subject: [WikiEN-l] Offline submissions?
According to the WikiProject Countering Systemic Bias, "The average Wikipedian on English Wikipedia (1) is male, (2) is technically-inclined, (3) is formally educated, (4) speaks English to an extent, (5) is White , (6) is aged 15-49, (7) is from a predominantly Christian country, (8) is from an industrialized nation, and (9) is more likely to be employed in intellectual pursuits than in practical skills or physical labor."
The problem with this is the unfortunate gap in coverage that results from a lack of interest from the typical demographic of Wikipedians described above. While this demographic is definitely interested in contributing to a free, online encyclopedia, that doesn't mean the others aren't. One particular problem is that in order to contribute to Wikipedia, you'll need to use a computer. There are others who would probably be interested in contributing to our global effort, too, but don't understand technology. We need to allow them to contribute.
For that purpose, I would like to start a project where people without access to computers (or people who voluntarily choose not to use them) can -write- their own Wikipedia entries and mail them in. The first phase of this plan, of course, would be spreading the word. The least expensive way would probably be distributing fliers in frequented areas. People could then write their own articles, and mail them in to the Wikimedia Office. Someone at the office (maybe Monica?) could open the letters, scan them in, and email them to an offline submissions mailing list. From there, people interested in the project would transcribe the article into Wikipedia (if applicable, see below) and mail back a corresponding letter featuring a print-out of the new article. Very simple process, plus it would allow people from non-typical-of-Wikipedia-editor backgrounds to put in their word.
What if their entry is redundant? Not to worry. If the written submission has content the Wikipedia article doesn't, we add it in. If it doesn't, that's okay. We don't necessarily have to tell them what made it in and what didn't, but either way, a reply will be sent to the writer with a print-out of the article.
I'm passing the above on for en:User:Messedrocker, since he's not subscribed to the list. My thoughts:
a) This has certainly been done before on a local level with minor languages - was it in West Africa somewhere? My mind is failing me, but I've certainly seen it mentioned on wikipedia-l before - the writing was done by a local elder, transcribed and put online by a volunteer.
b) It might well work, but would probably require careful thought and planning - who are we targeting? what sort of articles are we targeting them for? how do we deal with unwanted and inappropriate submissions without causing more badwill than we started with?
c) Copyrights. This might get fun.
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- Andrew Gray
andrew.gray@dunelm.org.uk _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l