[Wikimedia-l] Apparently, Wikipedia is ugly

[Paul Becherer]

2012/7/14 Svip <svippy at gmail.com>:
> I love it when people who have no idea what they are talking about,
> pretend to know what they are talking about, and then even worse, gets
> submitted to Slashdot, because apparently they might know what they
> are talking about.  But they don't know what they are talking about.
>
> Person of ignorance in question:
> http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/07/on-the-ugliness-of-wikipedia/259747/
>
> Megan Garber believes Wikipedia's apparently extreme ugliness to be
> scaring away people.  Because, we all know what Wikipedia is about,
> it's not about content, it is about layout.  Less text and more
> images.
>
> In any case, I just thought I should let you know not to change the
> layout of Wikipedia because of this article.  And if any of her
> recommendations is taken into account, I may get mad.  I am looking
> for a Facebook-Wikipedia hybrid.
>
The article was an interesting read, and wasn't just about layout; it
had more to say more about *interface*, which is a more general
concept. If there's anything that can be done to increase meaningful
participation by making the interface simpler to use or
better-looking, then why should we not do that? Because we'd rather be
left alone in our own tech-savvy we-know-what's-good-for-you bubble?
Having a simpler, more user-friendly interface doesn't change us into
Facebook overnight. And if it increases actual participation, then I'd
be in favor of it.

Paul Becherer.