From: "Chuck Smith" msochuck@yahoo.com
Could we have a limit of 50 edits for anonymous users? I just don't think anonymous users should be making this many edits in one day... what do you think? ...and yes, this is happening in the Eo Wikipedia!
Or perhaps ask that at a specified number they must log in??? I know that I sometimes don't bother logging in and once you get carried away adding articles and making edits, you just forget about not being logged in. So a reminder would be helpful if it could be implemented without much fuss or trouble. Other wise if there is no harm done then is the reason for the limit a feeling that some bot may mess things up? That could be a problem... What else could be done?
Limits on number of edits or timed warning messages are a bad idea. Editing without an account is a legitimate choice, and we should not annoy people into creating one. However,
* we should check the "Remember me" box by default. * we should probably change the "Log in" text to something else. It is non-obvious that you can create an account by clicking "Log in". (In other languages, this is not as problematic, German uses "Anmelden", which is equivalent to "Sign up/in".) * we might get people to sign up by offering the same features as for signed in users to anons (prefs, watchlist etc.) but to direct them to the login/create an account page when they try to use them (with a short explanation: "The watchlist allows you to .. However, in order to .."). * if someone becomes a regular contributor but doesn't create an account, put a message on their talk page. They get the "You have new messages" text like everyone else, so they should read it. In one case, I found out that the user in question doesn't use their account at work, so there are plenty of reasons not to sign in.
Regards,
Erik