Hello!
We have been discussing the following problem on [Wikide-l]:
In the German-speaking countries de.wikipedia.org is used quite frequently to do research. More and more we are also linked in online magazines or even
referenced in printed publications. Whatismore, many visitors reach us from google (we have got a very good rank for many key words) and then have no idea what the Wikipedia is about. They find useful data at the Wikipedia but often times - not to say most of the time - but don't know that everybody can edit articles. We aren't too concerned about the ones that believe everything even the rare facts that might be incorrect because nobody has revised them but we think that more people would use the opportunity to amend articles than do already today.
We therefore would like to introduce a small JavaScript-script into the German wikipedia pages that shows a small text about the wiki principle to everybody reaching with an external referrer. First we thought about making realizing this via a php-Script but this would increase the load the server has to deal with whereas a JavaScript-script that is stored in every file coulod be cached.
We know that there are still some browser out there that have problems with the more elaborate JavaScript-scripts but this probably is a problem of the not-so-widely-used, non-MS browsers. But then we figured that most of the time - and we know that this involves a lot of generalizing - those, who know the internet well use alternative browser and that those, who know the internet well, know at least a little about Wikipedia and the wiki principle.
Has any of the developers any objections against anything like this? I'll post the script later on as it is still in development.
Best regards
wotan
Tobias Hesse wrote:
We therefore would like to introduce a small JavaScript-script into the German wikipedia pages that shows a small text about the wiki principle to everybody reaching with an external referrer.
I *think* you can already do that by putting your script into [[MediaWiki:Monobook.js]].
Not sure though. Try it :)
Timwi
Whatismore, many visitors reach us from
google (we have got a very good rank for many key words) and then have no idea what the Wikipedia is about.
and when the edit anonymous the do not know that there ipadress is recorded in public. I do not care about that but some do.
So a option to display a notice when you edit a article in anonymous modus so you can include a warning about that.
Walter Vermeir wrote:
and when the edit anonymous the do not know that there ipadress is recorded in public. I do not care about that but some do.
So a option to display a notice when you edit a article in anonymous modus so you can include a warning about that.
I think this is a very good idea, as it may discourage potential vandals.
Something like this: "Note: Your IP address will be recorded if you edit this article. If you do not want that, please consider [[creating an account]] using a nickname."
Regards, Stephan
Stephan Walter wrote:
[ warning anonymous users that their IP will be visible ]
I think this is a very good idea, as it may discourage potential vandals.
I strongly oppose.
Firstly, there is no reason to believe that it would discourage vandals more than legitimate contributors. In all likelihood, it would discourage a casual legitimate contributor more; a determined vandal will just create an account or not care.
Secondly, I really don't like the idea of reinforcing this paranoia that exists about IP addresses. Far too many people already think knowing someone's IP address is a ticket to reading their personal files on their hard disk. At the same time, they think you can hide your IP, and don't know that every server you contact records it.
Timwi
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 17:31:43 +0100, Timwi timwi@gmx.net wrote:
Secondly, I really don't like the idea of reinforcing this paranoia that exists about IP addresses. Far too many people already think knowing someone's IP address is a ticket to reading their personal files on their hard disk. At the same time, they think you can hide your IP, and don't know that every server you contact records it.
Perhaps mentioning "Your IP address is being recorded" and providing a link to a page that explains the points you just made?
There must be _some_ logic to notifying potential bad-guys (or -gals) that their address is being recorded, since the overwhelming majority of credit card authorization sites I've ever seen do so.
I also agree wholeheartedly with your point about IP paranoia being a silly thing in general. It's not true that IP addresses are always visible, however -- there are public anonymizers that basically act as proxy servers for people who really are that paranoid. Only the IP of the proxy would show up in server logs (although that leaves open the question of whether you can really trust those anonymizer services...)
-Bill Clark
Stephan Walter wrote:
Something like this: "Note: Your IP address will be recorded if you edit this article. If you do not want that, please consider [[creating an account]] using a nickname."
Regards, Stephan
The exact frase is up to every wiki to dicide. But I am not in favour to point to mush to creating a account for new visitors. When the make edits anonymous it is much more easy to notice them and supervise there edits. (at least on NL) If the are serious the will find it soon enough about creating an account.
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