Wikipedia talk:Welcoming committee/Welcome to Wikipedia

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This is not the page to ask for help.

This page is for discussion of the Welcome page itself, and its subpages. You may be looking for one of the following pages:

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[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.

Anthony cfc 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, [[Proxy-Connection: keep-alive

Cache-Control: max-age=0

Wc]] can remain like it is at present. I believe this to be a fair compromise. Regards, Anthony cfc ^{[T • C]} 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 ^{[T • C]} 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 ^{[T • C]} 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 ^{[T • C]} 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 (talk • contribs)

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 desk – Qxz 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)

Done, thanks for noticing. Anthøny 19:23, 24 January 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)

He was born in a village close to the city of Bostan Abad in East Azerbaijan province of Iran. He is training in Tehran but Tehran is not his birth place!

Unfortunately it's not common in Iran to mention the individual's exact info e.g. birth location, birth date,...Lets try to learn how to provide accurate info about a person who has won Iran's only Gold medal until today in 2008 Olympics!!!

Respect people's background and heritage please! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Igores07 (talk • contribs) 19:36, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

William (Wilheim) Kessler —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kessler1948 (talk • contribs) 23:18, 11 October 2008 (UTC)

[edit] first thing new editors need is info on what browsers, security settings, etc. are needed to work with Wikipedia, particularly CAPTCHA

A new user needs to know is how to configure each browser and common security program to work with Wikipedia so as to enable the user to edit and provide links. This information should be available in full and complete form the very first thing, and also referenced on error pages returned from frequent errors, such as proxy problems or failure of Captcha text to display. Lacking this information, users browsing with greater than average (minimal) security have little can't do much.

We need a page that makes available to new users the information:

-What operating systems are supported for reading & editing;

-What browsers are supported;

-What programs or security functionality simply prevents reading or editing Wikipedia, and how to work around it;

-How to configure each browser (in detail, with screen shots);

1. In firewalls and routers, which URLs must be whitelisted in the to allow full Wikipedia VIEWING access, including graphic files;

2. In firewalls and routers, which URLs must be whitelisted in the to allow full Wikipedia EDITING ability, including dealing successfully with CAPTCHA files

3. On the browser, must Java or Javascript be enabled? If so, for which sites / URLS (e.g., Firefox with the NoScript add-on allows a site-by-site decision);

4. Must flash be enabled? If so, from which sites or URLs?

5. Must form-fill-in be allowed? If so, from which sites or URLs?

6. Must web sites be allowed to display images? If so, from which sites or URLs?

7. Must antivirus or anti-spyware protection be configured to allow any loading of code from Wikipedia? If so, from which sites?

8. Must automatic following and opening of redirect links within an iFrame be allowed?

9. If there are proxy settings that must be set or avoided, at least some proxy-access users will need that information.

To reduce Phishing, it might be good to inform new users if Wikipedia does not email users with links to click at the very beginning.

ADDITIONALLY, perhaps on a separate page, each program that may provide an error message when part of a user's functionality in Wikipedia is unavailable should be addressed -- e.g., Apache; each error message and common variant should be stated searchably, followed by the known workarounds. E.g., the error messages "Forbidden You don't have permission to access / on this server." AND the insertion of proxy-information into Wikipedia text, e.g., "Proxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0"

ADDITIONALLY, A TROUBLE REPORT functionality is needed to allow user to easily bring new issues to the attention of the community, and to search for prior similar technical issues and how they were resolved.

These pages should be designed to maximize user input in the usual wiki way, with Wikimedia software developer techs needed only occasionally to provide oversight and guidance.

If some of this exists already, it needs to be made much more available to new Wikipedians on the home page and at the greeting stage after registration, and to be woven much better into the error messages that display when things won't work. Ocdcntx (talk) 14:29, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

I find all this somewhat surprising, since I needed to know not one scrap of it when I started, or at any time since. It might be worthwhile to inquire into how many first users would agree that this rather intimidating pile of technical information is really the "first thing new editors need", or what percentage of them could make use of it. However the Welcome Page could certainly offer new users a link to someplace where such technical help can be found if needed. Samuel Robbins (talk) 21:28, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Rules section / Five pillars

I'm not a fan of the term 'rules' and the lists of policies and guildines are just a plain turn-off for introducing wikipedia, so I suggest a complete transclusion of the Wikipedia:Five pillars page as a section, it comprehensively provides an intro to our philosophy, and has links to most of the major policies, maybe with an attached note about more detailed policies and guidelines appended to it. Anyone agree ? LeeVJ (talk) 18:33, 13 December 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Account Management

Account Management from the Perspective of a Sales Representative

Account management is the consistent delivery of the initial promise made to the client by the sales representative

The delivery of the promise on each exchange (phone, e-mail, fax) strengthens the relationship. Each exchange is an end. Each exchange must accomplish the goal of the relationship- Mutual Success.

Business relationship: bringing sales representative from company 1 and client from company 2 together into one business. Sales representative and client are now in business together.

A relationship is formed on these terms: Understanding and commitment.

1. Understanding of customer needs. 2. Commitment to those needs.

Begins with a promise: I will deliver the best service by my full dedication to you and your needs.

Promise is always the end goal and therefore the goal of each exchange. Each exchange is recorded because it is an accomplished goal. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.36.138.186 (talk) 03:46, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Where are the welcome templates?

I searched on the project page for welcome templates but the term "template" cannot be found. Can it please be added? Badagnani (talk) 14:56, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

The welcome templates are displayed at Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/Welcome templates/Table.

There is also a listing (without much detail about each one) at Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/Welcome templates. Thank you for taking an interest in welcoming newcomers to Wikipedia. Dolphin51 (talk) 12:00, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

Thank you; I still cannot find them linked anywhere on this page. If I cannot find them (having worked at WP for years), others may not be able to find them either. Thus, it would be great if they could be made more easily findable. I tried a CTRL-F search for "templates" and still nothing could be found on this page. Can they please be made easily findable? Badagnani (talk) 17:13, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

This project page provides a "welcome" to new users. The various welcome templates are intended to be used my members of the welcoming committee, and others, who make a practice of welcoming new users. Hopefully, new users received a personalised welcome early in their Wikipedia career, but they don't need to use, or even know about, the different designs of welcome templates (at least not until they are sufficiently experienced that they want to welcome some others.)

Close to the top of this project page is a link to Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/members to take a reader to the welcoming committee (in case the reader wishes to contact the welcoming committee.) If you follow that link it takes you to a project page specially for members of the welcoming committee. It contains all the tools needed by members of the welcoming committee. It has a number of tabs near the top of the page. Two of those tabs are "templates" and "template gallery". They are the ones you are looking for. Please let me know if you have any further difficulties locating the templates. Dolphin51 (talk) 23:20, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Gavin Rollins

Gavin was born in Penang Malaysia and was raised in the US. He grew up in Florida and is currently the City Council man of Keystone. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Graciemrollins (talk • contribs) 03:48, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Mr. Fraser and the Shrimp Shack MacGees

Mr. Fraser and the Shrimp Shack MacGees is a band made up of four members from the town of Wilbraham in Western Massachusettes. The four members include Jerrod Campion on guitar and vocals, Patrick Douglass on guitar, Leopold Szydlowski on bass, and Ray (Scotty) Smith on drums.

Band History Mr. Fraser has been a band for over three years now since 2006. They have all been playing with each other since Freshman year at Minnechaug High School. They have participated in the past three Battle of the Bands, ranking second in two of those years. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Pattymacdoogles (talk • contribs) 01:57, 7 April 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Cheddar Cheese

In this article, in the box labelled Our "Rules", there is the statement:

All users of Wikipedia must make a small donation of 10 Kg of Cheddar Cheese.

This statement appeared on 2007-02-25 when User:AGK added the following template:
{{Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/Welcome to Wikipedia/Policies and Guidelines}}
Has this template been vandalised? Or is it an attempt at humor to reinforce the idea that users can make as many edits as it takes to get it right? Either way, it is potentially confusing to newcomers who are reading our Welcome page. This article, and the above template, should be amended to delete the reference to mandatory donations of cheddar cheese. Dolphin51 (talk) 04:26, 22 April 2009 (UTC)

I got confused when I saw it [too]. - the retired 07:13, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

Thank you! Someone has fixed the template and the offending sentence about Cheddar Cheese is no longer visible. Dolphin51 (talk) 22:58, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Suggestion for new Welcome to Wikipeda

I am fairly new to wikipedia (two weeks if memory serves me) so the memory of being totally new is still fresh in my mind. I have learned fast, and have contributed to many articles and even created a portal. However, I remember almost giving up on my first day because I was overwhelmed by the rules, policies, and coding used in wikipedia. And I was one of the lucky ones who got a welcome letter to help me out! Which brings me to the issue.
While the welcome letter was well intentioned and well thought out it was, well, ignored. Almost every website has a message to new users explaining the rules in explicit detail. Most see ours as the same thing and quickly skip over it. For those who do take a cursory look at it see a bunch of links to obscure ideas like WP:NOR and then go about doing their own thing. A good welcome letter needs to have all the information new users need to have, right there, without being overly long or boring. Also, the coding is difficult to learn, and much of it I have had to figure out by disecting other pages. It should be one of the first things a new wikipedian learns.
I have drawn up a basic version of the welcome letter I would have liked to recieve when I joined. Obviously formatting it and adding hide/show buttons so they can easily navigate the page would be good, but I think this basic idea is good. (I would have done the formatting, but it is almost 2am here, and I am getting very tired)
User:Drew R. Smith/Welcome
Please let me know what you think, and feel free to edit as you see fit.D^rew S^mith 11:35, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Wow the samething happen to me at P.S./M.S. 3

They took something from my child and didn't give it back. here is almost 2months later and nothing but talk of them not having it. It's true we need to work together to stop this from happening again. Many parents are going threw the same thing, we should get together and meet with other parents who have experience this or any other issues that need to be attended. Especially for those whose problems with the school and need help to get good results. Is there anyone else out there who is going threw drama. Call 311 and file the complaint with them and they will investigate the more parents complaint the better the result will be for all childrens of the school. This is to respond to the article I've read about Alert to All Parents.

[edit] the national museum

REDIRECT www.google.com

please also visit the national gallery if you are in the area. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Irishwan (talk • contribs) 09:07, 9 June 2009 (UTC)