[Mediawiki-l] Making it easier to add

[D_C]

> >* "Guestbook" is there a way that a familiar "comment" box, or "add
> >stuff here" box can be added to a page? A little like a very
> >user-friendly guestbook, or a "comments" box on a blog. Currently
> >people have to "edit this page" and then users get scared they might
> >mess up the site.

> does the Talk site (attached to each and every page) do this? look for
> the tab that says 'talk', near 'edit'.

Not really, as the user has to find "talk" (what is it, like enter a chat room?)
Then, they have to find another link "edit this page".
What I would like to see is a big fat empty <TextArea> with a submit
button - that makes it really obvious where to add your stuff. Two
obscure links, and then a full up textarea is pretty intimidating (to
my mum).
At the very least, if a page is empty, or someone hits "talk" which
seems obvious they want to add something, why make them search for the
edit button after? Should just go to a blank page.

While this is probably trivial UI changes compared to the breadth of
the system, getting useres to contribute is really crucial to wikidom,
IMHO.

/dc