[WikiEN-l] How to clear a backlog

[Utkarshraj Atmaram]

On 12/11/06, theProject <wp.theproject at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've spent the last week or two observing and trying to help out with the
> backlog on [[Category:Articles to be merged]]. Unfortunately, it looks like
> the backlog is rapidly spinning out of control -- I haven't actually kept
> track, but I have a sneaking suspicion that there are many more merge
> requests added than are serviced every day. Right now the backlog is a
> little under 10,000 articles, and I would like to see if we can't brainstorm
> a new way to deal with backlogs, because our current methods aren't dealing
> with our worst backlogs. (Our worst backlogs, ironically but expectedly, are
> the ones users are least likely to start tackling.)
>

Unlike wikification and other such tasks, in most cases, a merge is best done by
somebody who has little knowledge about the subject. I do hunt out the articles
to be merged that I know something about.

Right now, many people who put the [[Template:Merge]] or [[Template:Mergeto]]
don't use [[Template:Mergefrom]]. This is one of the main reasons behind the
backlog.

The article to be merged is usually an orphaned or little known about
article. On
the other hand, the article that is to receive the merged material is usually on
many watchlists. If [[Template:Mergefrom]] is used, many editors will notice
it and help with the merge.

-- 
Utkarshraj Atmaram
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Utcursch