>> On 03/22/12 1:37 AM, En Pine wrote:
>> First, has anyone thought about automatically adding a welcome message to the user’s talk page when they first register, not only for EN but also for Commons, Simple, and other projects? Currently we require a human to do this, which means that lots of people seem not to get welcome messages which could contain useful information, and perhaps a link to the Teahouse for EN users. Could we implement an automated post to a user’s talk page that gives the user links to WP:WELCOME, WP:HELP, the Teahouse, and/or other similar resources as soon as the user has registered?
>>
> This is a terrible idea, on a par with automated telephone messages
> which ask you to make selections by number.
>
> The other point is that many new registrants never edit at all, or they
> may be vandals or spammers. Let them make their intentions clear before
> welcoming them. The welcome should show that we are aware of exactly
> what they have done, and thank them for doing so even if it's only a
> simple spelling correction.
>
> Ray
Why would you not want to provide people guidance before they've made their first edit, and why not provide them some encouragement to edit in a welcome message?
I think the idea that automated telephone messages are going to stop is unrealistic, just as the idea that every new user will be personally welcomed with a customized message is unrealistic. It seems to me that we should take advantage of technology where it's useful.
Pine