Difference between revisions of "OpenTutorial:Be bold in updating pages"

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The Wikipedia community encourages users to '''be bold''' in updating articles.  
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The OPenTutorial community encourages users to '''be bold''' in updating articles.  
[[Wiki]]s develop faster when people fix problems, correct grammar, add facts, make sure the language is precise, and so on. Expect everyone to be bold.
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Tutorials develop faster when people fix problems, correct grammar, add facts, make sure the language is precise, and so on. Expect everyone to be bold.
It's okay. It is what everyone expects. How many times have you read something and thought, "[[Wikipedia:How to copy-edit|Why aren't these pages copy-edited]]?"  Wikipedia not only allows you to add, revise, and edit the article - it ''wants'' you to do it. It does require some amount of [[WP:CIVIL|politeness]], but it works. You'll see.
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It's okay. It is what everyone expects. How many times have you read something and thought, "[[OpenTutorial:How to copy-edit|Why aren't these pages copy-edited]]?"  OpenTutorial not only allows you to add, revise, and edit the article - it ''wants'' you to do it. It does require some amount of [[OpenTutorial:CIVIL|politeness]], but it works. You'll see.
  
If someone writes an inferior article, a merely humorous article, an article stub, or outright [[wikipedia:patent nonsense|patent nonsense]], don't worry that editing it might hurt their feelings.  Correct it, add to it, and, if it's total nonsense, replace it with [[wikipedia:brilliant prose|brilliant prose]]. That's the nature of a Wiki.  
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If someone writes an inferior article, a merely humorous article, an article stub, or outright [[OpenTutorial:patent nonsense|patent nonsense]], don't worry that editing it might hurt their feelings.  Correct it, add to it, and, if it's total nonsense, replace it with brilliant prose. That's the nature of a Wiki.  
  
And, of course, others here will boldly and mercilessly edit what ''you'' write. [[WP:AGF|Don't take it personally]]. They, like all of us, just want to make Wikipedia as good as it can possibly be.  
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And, of course, others here will boldly and mercilessly edit what ''you'' write. [[OpenTutorial:AGF|Don't take it personally]]. They, like all of us, just want to make OpenTutorial as good as it can possibly be.  
  
See also the [[Wikipedia:BOLD, revert, discuss cycle|BOLD, revert, discuss cycle]] article which discusses a common response to bold edits.
 
  
 
==...but don't be reckless!==
 
==...but don't be reckless!==
New users in particular are often entranced by the openness of [[:Wikipedia]] and dive right in. That's a good thing. But please note: 'be bold in updating pages' does not mean that you should make large changes or deletions to long articles on complex, controversial subjects with long histories, such as the [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]] or [[Abortion]]. In addition, making large-scale changes to [[Wikipedia:Featured articles|Featured articles]], which are recognized as Wikipedia's best articles for their completeness, accuracy, and neutrality, is often a bad idea.  
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New users in particular are often entranced by the openness of [[:OpenTutorial]] and dive right in. That's a good thing. But please note: 'be bold in updating pages' does not mean that you should make large changes or deletions to long articles on complex, controversial subjects with long histories. In addition, making large-scale changes to [[OpenTutorial:Featured articles|Featured articles]], which are recognized as OpenTutorial's best tutorials for their completeness, accuracy, and is often a bad idea.  
  
In many such cases the text as you find it has come into being after long and arduous negotiations between Wikipedians of diverse backgrounds and points of view. An incautious edit to such an article can be likened to stirring up a [[hornet]]'s nest, and other users who are involved in the page may react angrily.  
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In many such cases the text as you find it has come into being after long and arduous negotiations between OpenTutorialites of diverse backgrounds and points of view. An incautious edit to such an article can be likened to stirring up a hornet's nest, and other users who are involved in the page may react angrily.  
  
 
If you would like to edit an article on a controversial subject, it's a good idea to first read the article in its entirety, read the comments on the talk page, and view the ''page history'' to get a sense of how the article came into being and what its current status is. It's also worth reading around some related articles, as what you thought was a problem or omission may vanish after you have followed a few links.
 
If you would like to edit an article on a controversial subject, it's a good idea to first read the article in its entirety, read the comments on the talk page, and view the ''page history'' to get a sense of how the article came into being and what its current status is. It's also worth reading around some related articles, as what you thought was a problem or omission may vanish after you have followed a few links.
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If you expect or see a disagreement with your version of the article, and you want to change or delete anything substantial in the text, it's a good idea to list your objections one by one in the talk page, reasonably quoting the disputed phrases, explaining your reasoning and providing solid references.  
 
If you expect or see a disagreement with your version of the article, and you want to change or delete anything substantial in the text, it's a good idea to list your objections one by one in the talk page, reasonably quoting the disputed phrases, explaining your reasoning and providing solid references.  
  
Then, wait for responses for at least a day: people edit Wikipedia in their spare time and may not respond immediately. If no one objects, proceed, but always move large deletions to the Talk page and list your objections to the text so that other people will understand your changes and will be able to follow the history of the page.  Also be sure to leave a descriptive [[Wikipedia:edit summary|edit summary]] detailing your change and reasoning.
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Then, wait for responses for at least a day: people edit OpenTutorial in their spare time and may not respond immediately. If no one objects, proceed, but always move large deletions to the Talk page and list your objections to the text so that other people will understand your changes and will be able to follow the history of the page.  Also be sure to leave a descriptive [[OpenTutorial:edit summary|edit summary]] detailing your change and reasoning.
  
==See also==
 
  
 
[[Category:OpenTutorial guidelines|{{PAGENAME}}]]
 
[[Category:OpenTutorial guidelines|{{PAGENAME}}]]
 
[[Category:incomplete]]
 
[[Category:incomplete]]

Latest revision as of 15:07, 9 April 2006


Wikipedia Blatant Copy
This page has been blatantly copied from Wikipedia please edit it and help make it more "OpenTutorial-ish" (Dewikify)


The OPenTutorial community encourages users to be bold in updating articles. Tutorials develop faster when people fix problems, correct grammar, add facts, make sure the language is precise, and so on. Expect everyone to be bold. It's okay. It is what everyone expects. How many times have you read something and thought, "Why aren't these pages copy-edited?" OpenTutorial not only allows you to add, revise, and edit the article - it wants you to do it. It does require some amount of politeness, but it works. You'll see.

If someone writes an inferior article, a merely humorous article, an article stub, or outright patent nonsense, don't worry that editing it might hurt their feelings. Correct it, add to it, and, if it's total nonsense, replace it with brilliant prose. That's the nature of a Wiki.

And, of course, others here will boldly and mercilessly edit what you write. Don't take it personally. They, like all of us, just want to make OpenTutorial as good as it can possibly be.


...but don't be reckless!

New users in particular are often entranced by the openness of OpenTutorial and dive right in. That's a good thing. But please note: 'be bold in updating pages' does not mean that you should make large changes or deletions to long articles on complex, controversial subjects with long histories. In addition, making large-scale changes to Featured articles, which are recognized as OpenTutorial's best tutorials for their completeness, accuracy, and is often a bad idea.

In many such cases the text as you find it has come into being after long and arduous negotiations between OpenTutorialites of diverse backgrounds and points of view. An incautious edit to such an article can be likened to stirring up a hornet's nest, and other users who are involved in the page may react angrily.

If you would like to edit an article on a controversial subject, it's a good idea to first read the article in its entirety, read the comments on the talk page, and view the page history to get a sense of how the article came into being and what its current status is. It's also worth reading around some related articles, as what you thought was a problem or omission may vanish after you have followed a few links.

If you expect or see a disagreement with your version of the article, and you want to change or delete anything substantial in the text, it's a good idea to list your objections one by one in the talk page, reasonably quoting the disputed phrases, explaining your reasoning and providing solid references.

Then, wait for responses for at least a day: people edit OpenTutorial in their spare time and may not respond immediately. If no one objects, proceed, but always move large deletions to the Talk page and list your objections to the text so that other people will understand your changes and will be able to follow the history of the page. Also be sure to leave a descriptive edit summary detailing your change and reasoning.