Wikipedia talk:Welcoming committee/Welcome to Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shortcuts:
WT:Wc/WEL
WT:WC/WEL
The main discussion page for the Welcoming committee is Wikipedia talk:Welcoming committee.
This page deals exclusively with WP:WELCOME issues, affairs and display.

Contents

[edit] Asthetics

Perhaps the welcoming committee needs a revamp to be more asthetically pleasing, rather than the usual article format. That way it would be readable to new users more accusomed to HTML websites?

I would be willing to begin the redesign.

Anthonycfc 23:00, 30 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reverting that misguided mission

Xpost from
User_talk:Anthony_cfc#Upsetting_edits

Hi, you recently made a major content change and essentially hijacked WP:WC/Wikipedia:Welcoming Committee from a perfectly good, and much more useful version , which I drop essentially all the time when welcoming newcomers. In point of fact, until the people running HELP (or working on welcome templates) get their head out of their rear, this was one of the few places a newbie could find a link to Wikipedia:Newcomers_help_page. They insist on hiding it on the main help, and I'm disappointed in the extremis that your bright version hasn't got it either.

   That namecase variant version was specifically tailored to give newbies help links, and a navigation link to WP:Welcoming committee and it's members. It also linked to admins and iirc, some other good stuff that would be helpful to someone in this sad state. I cannot see that this gaudy version is anything but the variant (WP:Wc). I hate reverts, but overwriting a page without discussing it has me going for one here. Sorry. I edited it just a few short days ago, so courtesy would have been to at least ask me, or let me know it was being discussed for major change somewhere. Best regards // FrankB 07:27, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

I propose implementing all the existing links into the new version; if you wish, WP:Wc can remain like it is at present. I believe this to be a fair compromise. Regards, Anthonycfc [TC] 02:36, 14 January 2007 (UTC)
In truth, so long as the WP:WC page functions as a information/links resource for newbies vice a carbon copy of the page about the 'Welcoming committee' (WP:Wc), I can live with the brighter graphics personally. I can also live fine with the plain jane version you are motivated to modify. But the proper forum would have been on that page (WT:Wc) where members are likely to be watchlisting, not this backwater. (I've posted a notice, so give it a few days to see who turns up.)

   In general, in my 2-1/2 years here on wikipedia and it's sisters, such bright displays of HTML erudition are generally discouraged save on user pages. This is a serious work written to a professional standard, and it's appearance should reflect that. Amongst other issues, is that products, even free ones, have a 'look/see/feel' which is under the category of 'patent and copyright law', so to speak. You might consider polling the welcome committee members on that page (WT:Wc), adding your invitation to mine so to speak. But I'm happy if WP:WC goes to that general information with a folksy tone, page. If you spruce it up too much, people may miss links. Sorry it took so long to get back after your invite on my talk. I'm busier than I like. // FrankB 23:08, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Revising the "misguided" mission, and continuing the revamp

Having two pages with the same name was very confusing. So I've renamed this one to be a subpage of the other. This page was serving as the welcoming committee's greetings page, so it make sense to name it accordingly.

I have to side with Anthony on the formatting. This looks more Wikipedic, and helps to segment the material for easy perusal. It also feels warmer, and more soothing.

Anthony did a very good job of sprucing up the page. It appears that by starting over from scratch he was able to tap into his creative energies better, and in the process he left part of Fabartus' purpose for the page behind. I've done my best to amalgamate the two versions into a treatment which I hope you both feel is at least a good starting point from which to refine the page further.

The previous (unformatted) version came across as ominous and foreboding. We're here to help, not to scare new users away or give them reasons to worry. Wikipedia really is a fun place with an exciting mission. Therefore, I've tried to lighten it up a bit, with a cheerful tone and helpful spirit. I've also tried to retain Fabartus' personable approach, while trying to balance this with keeping the length of the page (that is the material on it) down to a comfortable size.

Doing my best to help... Sincerely, The Transhumanist   16:28, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Great job! Glad to see that you've managed to combine my edit with FrankB' content. Regards, Anthonycfc [TC] 00:58, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
I've been trying to find my way back here for a couple of days. Prefer the old name, that's just a one letter case alternative. Somewhen back three days ago, and twice as many crises of he moment at least, I was giving kudos to both of you on how Wikipedia:Welcoming_committee/Welcome_to_Wikipedia looks. If I'm lucky, I'll eventually be able to get back and finish that chain of edits. In the meantime... Good job guys. // FrankB 05:40, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
Still haven't gotten to back up and through into that browser, but have a suggested mission. There appears to be no 'Belated Welcome' template. I don't know about you guys, but I find more people who have somehow struggled to edit without being welcomed and do so for several months than I do true newbies. I'd like to see them acknowledged, encouraged, and given some additional toys, perhaps a subset of {{toolbox}} for the average editor squished into a longer taller template? (Q&D squished version... put in above so it wraps down) Regards. // FrankB 01:10, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
Moved that squished template up at this time. And BTW, Trans, when I created the case alternative named page, it was whilst sub-pages were still actively discouraged and jumped on by ravening packs of adventurous well-meaning Admins on Eagle eyed patrol of new pages, etc. OTOH, being Polish-American, I have an affinity for unreal constructs like imaginary numbers, AND thinking in two tracks... one is about the WC for ole timers, one for newcomers. Shrug. No big dichotomy to me! Even makes a smidge of sense. <BSEG> Cheers! // FrankB 03:34, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lack of introduction to content policies

Since high quality content is our most important goal, I was dismayed to find no direct references to the core content policies. Helping people find their way around is not nearly as important as introducing the content policies and guidelines. How to find and understand those is what this page should be focused on. - Taxman Talk 14:10, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

Apologies for the late reply, Taxman; your feedback is received with great thanks - we appreciate every little piece of advice. I'll get onto that as soon as possible!
Once again, thanks a lot!
Kind regards,
Anthonycfc [TC] 20:44, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Colour Scheme

Good afternoon all (GMT time); I'd like to propose a colour scheme change to WP:WELCOME - the blue is rather unattractive, and is no different from WP:AAU. Perhaps a gold colour scheme, similar to the border on WP:WC as seen at User:Anthony cfc/Page Border, would create a bit of uniformity with all of WP:WC's pages that use the gold scheme.

I began a colour overhaul, but couldn't find any colours that suit one another. We require 3 colours, one for the main box background, one for the box header and one for the box border. I'd appreciate any suggestions from the community.

Kind regards,
Anthonycfc [TC] 14:47, 3 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Emule?

What the heak is emule umm i speek english do you people cause duh. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hannah10062 (talkcontribs)

Hi, this page is for discussion of the Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/Welcome to Wikipedia page, and is not the place for general questions. I recommend you try asking at the Reference deskQxz 16:09, 14 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] WelcomeBot

I was thinking yesterday, why don't we, The Welcoming Committee have a bot. I was thinking of how many new editors are not welcomed until well into their wikipedia "lives." The bot would direct new users to members of the committee, and the Welcomers could help out the new wikipedians if they had any trouble. just a thought. --Random Say it here! 23:06, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

This has been discussed into oblivion; see the main talk page. Λυδαcιτγ 00:14, 8 May 2007 (UTC)
Don't know how I missed that, but sorry. By the way, nic sig. --Random Say it here! 00:28, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Argument for welcome and anon

I asked this question over on the user talk page templates but didn't get much response, so I thought I would try here.

I would like to see an optional parameter added to the welcome and anon templates, which (if used) would be a page name. The message would go something like "Thank you for your contributions, such as your edit to XXXX". I have gotten into the habit of adding that argument even though it isn't used. I copy that string for the edit summary, which allows me to see what page they altered that caught my eye. I started doing that when somebody asked me what change I had noticed.

What do people think? Does that sound like a good idea? Since the parameter would be optional, people could continue to use the templates the way they have been, or start using the page name, if they want. wrp103 (Bill Pringle) (Talk) 03:36, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Belated MEGAkudos - great revamp!

I have been quite busy elsewhere (I seem to live my Wikipedia life mostly during summer vacations) and only now noticed the GREAT reorg+restyling of the welcoming pages (compared with the mid-November 2006 versions). It is all a lot easier to understand now, and the subpage structure rocks! Big thanks to everyone who contributed - that's two big headaches off my "I really should do something about this" list, and without my needing to lift a finger... :-) --Ronja Addams-Moring 20:00, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Thanks a lot! Alongside myself, The Transhumanist and Audacity brought the page up to its current quality. I for one appreciate your feedback, and I'm sure TT and Aud. do as well; I'm just glad it's positive! Anthøny 19:25, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Error

Is this right? "It's nice to have you aboard. We're glad you wish YO to help develop this encyclopedia." It's on the page... --Mnemnoch 17:31, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

Appears to be Fixed. Anthøny 19:23, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] interwiki

Add [[fa:ویکی‌پدیا:تازه‌واردان، خوش آمدید]] please.--142.206.2.12 (talk) 01:16, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

Y Done, thanks for noticing. Anthøny 19:23, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Eric Sanders

Born January 29, 1991 is making his way up there. Recently being cast in a new one hour TV drama This Hard Land. Since being accepted on the show, Eric has had alot of job offerings. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ericacting (talkcontribs) 19:31, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Potential COI

I've tried but failed to find a welcome message incorporating a very gentle WP:COI warning, for User:Brucegator. Is there one? Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:56, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Resources