There are some spoken and unspoken rules to adding and doing editing to the Wikipedia. Unfortunately, there was no internet Moses that came down from Mount St. Helens outside of Seattle with such rules etched in silicon tablets. Sorry to disappoint. However, Bill Gates and some Microsoft employees were seen worshiping a golden effigy of Windows Vista, but that is another story for another time.
Back to the matter at hand, when you are assisting the Wikipedia community, it is best to do so with some observed courtesy, etiquette, and decorum. So without further adieu, here are the Ten Commandments of Wikipedia (or for those of us who prefer a more casual position, some Do’s and Don’ts).
10 – Do not cut and past information from somewhere else, unless it is your own work.
9 – Everything that you post should be true and able to be verified for its accuracy. When possible, provide references and links to where the information came from.
8 – Always give credit to the sources that you are using to assemble the knowledge on the subject.
7 – Write in a professional tone. The writing should be free of foul and obsene language and unnecessary explicit references.
6 – Writing should be proofread prior to final submission to avoid any obvious spelling and grammatical errors.
5 – Write in as neutral and unbiased voice as possible. Entries and edits should be free of personal opinions.
4 – Do not vandalize sites by intentionally corrupting the information already written or adding aggressive, false, or hateful information and opinions.
3 – Do not create sub or sister topics that are too closely related to a topic under creation. It is much better to add a section within an already created topic if the new information is very closely related.
2 – Make use of the document outlining and formatting to make the topics as easy to navigate and read as possible.
1 – Donate to the Wikipedia Foundation, even if you think your contribution is small. Each little amount adds up and allows the Wikipedia to continue to operate.
And contrary to popular belief (which is why it was not in the list of commandments) you are allowed to Wiki to your heart’s content naked. Yup, that means the next time you are adding knowledge to the Wiki, you can do so in the complete buff.
(This is, of course, assuming that you are not in a cyber café, and that you are in the privacy of your home… with the curtains drawn… unless you are Jessica Alba, then we must insist that all web activity be done with the curtains open just as god intended.)
Now that you are oh-so-much smarter, go off and contribute to the public knowledge bank known as Wikipedia.
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4 comments:
I think these were all really good. However, I think cutting and pasting might be ok if it is from a reliable source and you credit it....I do understand though how this could end up being a problem because it is just so damn easy....ehh I guess you're right.
I like the emphasis on formating, many wikipedia articles would be much easier to read with better formatting.
5 - the comment on voice, this is true not only of the wikipedia, but secondary writing in general... let the research speak for itself.
I'd combine number 5 with number 7, I think this is a very important rule, voice, and I hope you suggest it for the class list.
Yeah, very interesting how we are opposite on some of our commandments. But, I think that's cool. I agree with not vandalizing sites (#4). I think references should be used (#9 and #8). I agree with what you wrote about writing in a professional tone (#7) and proofreading (#6). Good job.
The following are the consolidated rules of mjd, kevlar, and myself.
Give credit where credit is due. List references
Don't believe everything you read. Question it and research it.
No Vandalism
Don't re-edit a page more than three times in a day- its just not fair
Write in as neutral and unbiased voice as possible. Entries and edits should be free of personal opinions.
Write in a professional tone. The writing should be free of foul and obsene language and unnecessary explicit references.
Support you facts with reliable sources
Improve edits wherever you can - Check any history tab
Be smart. Just because others are retarded and don't write accurate information doesn't mean that you have to do the same.
Use sub topics appropriately. Do not create sub or sister topics that are too closely related to a topic under creation. It is much better to add a section within an already created topic if the new information is very closely related.
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