[Wikipedia-l] Re: Suggestions from Magnus, Mark, and Jimbo

[Julie Kemp]

Magnus -- I don't mean to offend, but you don't speak
customer -- and I don't expect you to.  But to
demonstrate my point, you just suggested I start a
page (article?) with wikipedia: -- as if I know what
that means!  Are you saying that, if I do that, it
will create a special page and show up in the bar at
the side?  I know you went to the FAQs and added
stuff, but I really think you and the others are so
closely involved in the programming side that you
assume that we all get what you're talking about.  

There are lots of people out there who have
programming backgrounds -- but lots more who don't. 
You also seem to think users are intelligent beings. 
Sorry, but years in customer service and training
(including training in DSL, telco processes and an
online SQL-based transaction coordination package)
have taught me that you have to teach to the lowest
common denominator.  Even people who are really bright
about most things have trouble getting their heads
round computer stuff.  SO honestly, suggesting I go do
something that I've offered to do isn't helpful -- I
can't do it until someone takes the time to explain it
to me.  Also, I am still unaware of what constitues
admin-only creation and all-user creation rights. 
Fortunately, Mark has answered some of those
questions.

So, my questions to you all are:

1)How do I create a special page (New system
features?) that will show up on the sidebar?

2)Can we place a link at least on the recent changes
page and the homepage (could it be in a different
color and blink?) and how does inserting a link to a
special page differ from inserting a link to a regular
page?

3)Is a namespace the same as an article and/or a page?

4) Mark mentioned using parentheses rather than a
slash in an article title to indicate what used to be
a subpage (I think).  Does this mean that the article
is independent, or that the parentheses associate it
with a main article in a similar manner? How does this
relate to the talk page generated with each article? 
(and for my own sanity, are they related at the same
level or do sublevels even exist?)

5)If the system still functions in a way that says
"subpage" to the users, is there any reason to even
dicuss functionality?  It seems to be that the UI may
still look like a duck and walk like a duck -- even if
it doesn't talk like a duck behind the scenes -- so
why not let the users think it is in fact a duck?

And by the way -- I do realize that the corollary to
programmers don't speak user and don't like to
document things is that users haven't got a clue about
how much work has gone into any particular piece of
software -- and don't care, as long as it works!  All
I'm asking is for some help and understanding so that
I can do what I do well -- be the middleman.  OR, I
can butt out completely.  I just figure I should try
to become part of the process and help make things
better, rather than just whinge about not liking the
things I (and many others) clearly don't get! [[JHK]] 



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