On 2 October 2010 21:32, Andreas Kolbe <[email protected]> wrote: >> This suggests the problem is: how do you *get across to* >> someone that >> they're just ignorant, in a manner that is duplicable >> across the wiki, >> and do that without breaking our spectacular successes so >> far? > > > Well, one way is to make clear to our editors that we expect them to make a > bit of an effort to research the existing scholarly literature. (And that > they should do so first before arguing with people who have completed that > step already.) > > However, that idea does encounter resistance. I am reminded that I proposed > as much once, a good few years ago. I started a talk page discussion, and we > made some changes and additions (some of which are still in the guideline > today). > > One change which didn't make it was the addition of this sentence: > > "A review of the existing scholarly literature should be the first step in > starting work on an article." > > The way the sentence was edit-warred out of the guideline is quite funny, in > hindsight. It was removed a day later, with the edit summary: > > "Rm sentence that runs counter to policy." > > Another editor put it back in, slightly changed, so it now said: > > "A review of the existing scholarly literature *is recommended before* > starting work on an article." > > Half an hour later, that was taken out as well, edit summary: > > "Asking the general public to become familiar with scholarly literature > (which does not exist for all subjects) prior to editing places an > unrealistic burden upon would-be editors. Where’s the policy?" > > I added it one more time, and it was taken out again and described as > "nonsense". > > You get what you pay for. > > Andreas >
Putting in place what are effectively featured article standards would for starting new articles would be a great way of killing the project if it was remotely enforceable. Worse still articles like [[Canal]] would be effectively unrwritable by anyone. Since there is not going to be anyone aware of all the worldwide scholarly literature on the topic. [[Canals of the United Kingdom]] would probably be impossible since even Charles Hadfield needed help with his The Canals of North West England book. -- geni _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
