Hi,
I am beginning to be confused about the sequence of events when a new feature is introduced. It seems that one or two members of wikitech-l (developers) support a new feature, write the code, put it on test.wikipedia.org and wait for feedback. At times this wait is less than a day. The feature is usually implemented. Then, it is announced or noticed by someone on wikipedia-l, and 60 e-mails follow discussing and arguing over it. If someone has a new feature they want to see implemented, why don't they present it to the whole membership first and then allow a few days for discussion. After everyone has a chance to think about it and raise their objections, modifications, etc, then implement it, if most members want it. Recently, there have been remarks on a number of changes, that it might have been better to have a broader-based discussion, before implementation, when the usual flood of e-mails followed the announcement of a new feature. Just because many members of wikipedia do not have the skills to make such changes, it doesn't mean that they don't have an opinion on them. Tonight I am watching this process proceed on two changes on the edit/preview pages. All discussion is on wikitech-l. It has been suggested that at least one change will probably be implemented tomorrow. Meanwhile, the main membership has no idea that any such change/s are about to happen.
As Ever,
Ruth Ifcher
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