On 6/25/06, Andrew Gray shimgray@gmail.com wrote:
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
IMHO, there are so many people out there with so much to contribute who fall outside our other key demographics but *do* have access to email that deliberately targeting the most difficult hurdle for us is just making extra work. Simply targeting the right people (retired academics stand out as ideal: intelligent, educated, experts in obscure fields, and with time on their hands) and motivating them to write an article would already reap benefits. Why pick out the few people left who have zero access to the internet (not even 10 minutes a week, not even sending an email on their grandkid's computer)? And how is such a person going to write an article anyway? Writing it by hand? On a typewriter? It seems a little bit fanciful...
I know I sound like a wet blanket, but I really do believe in expanding our reach, and deliberately advertising for new contributors. Aiming for those without email access sounds like making life difficult for ourselves though.
Steve