[WikiEN-l] Re: We have to find a clearer way to say "edit this page..."

[Michael Snow]

Timwi wrote:

> Daniel P.B.Smith wrote:
>
>> Just what part of "edit this page" doesn't he understand? :-)
>
> It is not obvious to people who are unfamiliar with the system that 
> they can actually edit the page. When they see the "Edit this link" 
> page, the message it brings across goes contrary to what they firmly 
> believe in (namely, that nobody can edit the page just like that) and 
> so they subconsciously filter it out. Even if they consciously think 
> about it, they probably come to the conclusion that clicking on the 
> link will definitely bring up a password prompt or similar. 

Other possible expectations include: 1) being required to disclose 
personal information before editing, and 2) being subjected to 
advertising before reaching the screen on which you can edit.

Another expectation they may have is that editing is more complex than 
it really is. I would guess that many people who know they can edit, but 
never actually try, have a mistaken impression that editing would 
require technical knowledge which they lack. For example, the average 
internet user probably "knows" that web pages are written in HTML, but 
doesn't know HTML personally. Naturally enough, this person assumes that 
editing our pages requires knowledge of HTML, and considers themselves 
unable to edit without ever trying. Or if they do try, they're 
intimidated by the sight of any markup at all. As a generally 
computer-savvy crowd, we may forget that even our relatively simple 
system can look challenging to someone who never leaves the familiar 
confines of their word-processing program.

--Michael Snow