On 02/11/2011 12:24 AM, Platonides wrote:

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And many don't even perform one edit. As I don't believe so many people create them just to change their preferences, it is a mistery for me why do they do so.

Creating an account also allows you to dismiss banners. My first step when I have a minor issue with something is google search my complaint (i.e "fix excel color palette screwed up"). I imagine googling "Wikipedia annoying banners go away" during the fundraising period would get someone the proper instructions. While I am not technical by any standards amoung Wikipedians, I am the causal go-to technical person among my family and office. So I don't know how common my methods might be among non-editors. But maybe word of mouth of from those that like me that are unafraid of their technical ignorance to the complete Luddites (that ask such people for help with "disappearing email" when they accidentally minimize Outlook or dismiss the preview pane) could account for the spreading these instructions.

Also some sites (I think Twitter is one) display very differently to people with or without accounts. So some people may have a habit of signing up at all of the websites they regularly consume.

Birgitte SB