On 10/23/2010 03:02 PM, Nikola Smolenski wrote: From my experience, those who are being paid to edit Wikipedia usually are those who have experience writing in other contexts but are not familiar with Wikipedia in and of itself. They aren't familiar with writing in an NPOV tone (not an easily learned skill!) or familiar with any of the other Wikipedia policies other than perhaps the most basic principles mentioned in a typical welcome message. Even then, even if these folks have read these policy pages, they don't really have experience writing Wikipedia articles or any sort of encyclopedia article. This is a learned art in and of itself. If you can compare experienced Wikipedia editors who get paid vs. other experienced Wikipedia editors, I might agree here but I don't think that this is a proper comparison in general. If anything, those getting paid to edit Wikipedia are usually hired because they have a fairly good grasp of the written language in the first place and can write a coherent sentence and a well structured paragraph. In this regard, they are a cut above the typical brand new Wikipedia user who is often just starting out in terms of doing some significant writing that matters. Since it matters to them, a friendly note on their user talk page is usually going to be listened to as well. I'm sure you can point to specific instances of somebody like this being a troll, and I'm sure there is some arrogance on the part of some where they feel that some geek pointing out flaws in their writing is somehow wrong. Mostly, I would see their first introduction to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects (or even community editing in general) as something a bit bewildering if they aren't used to the idea and mostly mis-communications that simply can't be dealt with via some new page patroller who is using some quick scan tools but instead needs some thoughtful advise and a friendly greeter who can hold their hand for a bit while the get started, as well as being tactful and diplomatic enough to not insult their intelligence. If you get all confrontational about folks like this participating in Wikipedia, they will fight back... particularly as the written word is something they are good at using. If they are being trollish, treat them like trolls, but don't turn them into trolls either. Most people who get caught up into the war of words when starting out contributing to wikis usually do so out of misunderstanding and getting a little conspiratorial about the whole process. (aka the "cabal" of admins out to get them and kick them off the project) Of course all of this is why pages like [[WP:BITE]] and [[WP:AGF]] and associated pages on other non Wikipedia projects were written in the first place. These are well enough written that I've seen them copied and used on non Wikimedia projects too. -- Robert Horning ____________________________________________________________ Go Back to School Grant Funding May Be Available to Those Who Qualify http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3241/4cc3868eac5cf44d9bbst05vuc

On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 23:02, Amir E. Aharoni <amir.aharoni(a)mail.huji.ac.il> wrote: Exactly and not just that. The most important role of the core Wikipedians now and in the future is and will be building the framework for others. Others will write articles.