User:Fiolli/SWF

Thoughts on what SWF can do to improve its community. I am writing this now because undoubtedly an administrator will look at this, and I am feeling bold enough to not fear being banned. Although, I concede it might happen. Read on, and why I state that will be clear.

Illustrate community
In honesty, this it the largest point for me. Other than my previous connection with Ataru on Wookieepedia, I never really felt like I was welcome on the wiki. Sure, there was a welcome message way back when from a user, but there was never a sense of a place where I could do more than simply exist. I recognize that there may not be the infrastructure of individuals that other wikis, such as Wookieepedia have, but it always felt like everyone was doing their own thing and just ignoring anyone else unless they broke the MoS, LG, Image rules, or some other policy on SWF.

In a way, the site comes across as elitist. Having been here long enough, I understand exactly what things are. But, to a newcomer&mdash;and to a returner such as myself who had been away for a long period of time during which things changed dramatically&mdash;it appears as an elitist group who self-promote and self-sustain. Why bother trying to break into an impregnable core? Again, I understand how things work because of my time and the usage of common sense. That said, there are things in place that still illustrate exactly what I mean. Take a look at the "featured articles" tab on the left-hand side (monaco skin). Most of these articles are by, well, Brandon Rhea. On top of the fact that SWF (more often times than not) appears to be his site, this does not show community. I understand that Mr. Rhea is one of the most active users in the history of the site and has among the most FAs and best articles on the wiki. This is not a criticism. Yet, there is no diversity of users who have done such as well. Then again, I have not bothered with a featured article because of my primary focus: a novel. That said, I sometimes wonder if anything I write would even be considered for FA status if nominated. My reasons for that are personal and I will not expound further.

In a nutshell: if you want community, sow community. There are enough people around already to at least start! Things such as the recent meeting should have been more public than buried on the Alliance of Fanon forum. The forums that are posted via MediaWiki:Sitenotice are policy based and really are not for the new individuals since the voting policy is as it stands. (For the record, I have no objection to that policy; my point is that new users could care less if they cannot vote.) Where are the community happenings? Site events? Anything other than the "Wiki Awards?" What about things for newcomers or is it the same old people? To be honest, if people do stick around as I have and quietly go about their business, they will continue to do such. Why bother trying to get involved when there is nothing to get involved with? (Again, rhetorical and from the perspective of new users.)

Some ideas like Project Cruentus and Ataru's What's the (back)story? are great things at building community. Of course, finding these things is a challenge if you do not know where to look. I wager that most new users have no idea to even look for these things let alone to find them buried in a forum. Speaking of which: Why is it that there are more forums under the Forum menu than Quarren on Dac? Which one is which? Which forum is used for which? This really is not clear to the average user. If things were consolidated a touch, it might help. This is, of course, with the exception of the Critics Lounge and another thought about the Writing Center which will be below.

Empower the user
In the name of progress it is easy to forget how things are viewed from the outside. I understand this in real life and sit in on other classes and other professors at times just to analyze how I come across to my students. New users that come to the site already have to sift through the lack of community&mdash;if they, in fact, need that environment&mdash;in order to begin writing. Before a user even begins, a welcome message from SWF courtesy of User:Wikia or an admin is tacked onto the talk page. On it, important links, policies, guidelines, and infrastructure is pointed out. This is fine. Yet, notice what is written: links, policies, guidelines, and infrastructure. Now, before any goes catatonic about how we need these things, let me state something. I agree with you! We need them! The policies are not the problem, it is the execution. Pun intended.

This may include doing some things that might be viewed as a "step back" by those who have pushed for major changes. I am not suggesting that any initiative be compromised. Rather, empower the users to express themselves. Yes, the boundaries are there and need to be honored. A new user should never be faced solely with a set of don'ts. The current set up comes across as dogmatic and overbearing. Admittedly, I feel I am taking a huge risk even writing this page. I have gone on IRC multiple times to ask if something is considered fair play or if I run the risk of a ban or having something deleted. I follow the rules, and took the time to read them, but there is no reason why a user should have to walk on eggshells. Of course, I have asked a prominent administrator on multiple occasions about something and having those individuals tell me via IRC, "Didn't you read the policies? Just follow them and you'll have nothing to worry about." To me, this is not overly supportive and borders on demeaning. Then again, maybe I am the not the normative user in that I try to follow the rules. As a grown individual and writer&mdash;although not of fiction&mdash;I nevertheless understood the context. To an average user who is undoubtedly going to be younger than me, where is the empowerment? What about what the user can do? How about letting the user know that SWF adheres to standards, but try to express yourself within those bounds. Younger users, which come at times, need encouragement to support growth. Make them into the users you want them to be! Scaring them off will not benefit the site.

Writers should write because they want to write, not to garner awards or accolades. Fostering good writing would go a long way for many people and for the site. Instead of immediately slapping a somewhat-condescending message or a warning on the talk page, offer help or assistance. If the user resists or does not try, then be harsh, swift, and act accordingly. Maybe the Writing Center could be reformed to an area where someone suggests a topic and what they plan to do with it and ask for input from seasoned users. Maybe this would not be successful. I think I might be worth a try.

Embrace the seasonal user
It almost seems like a fear to the administration of the wiki, but seasonal users probably account for the majority of activity apart from the admins themselves. I understand that traffic is down on this end, as well, but I believe there are activities that could be geared to seasonal users. At first, I came, wrote an article, then left. I had spoken my peace. This should be encouraged and embraced by the administration. Sure, transients are not a good foundation. Yet, the foundation is already in place with the administration and other key users who are active. Those who attended the recent meeting are a solid foundation to allow a group of transients to help build the site.

An oft-overlooked thing that accompanies this point is advertising. How will people even know about the site if there is no way to find out. Writing sites, maybe even TF.N might be useful in drumming up support. Of course, some bridges might need to be rebuilt with some sites such as TF.N and Wookieepedia in order to do this. The antics of the past should be that, of the past. Some rebuilding here might be/is necessary.

Regarding comments and closing remarks
Undoubtedly, this message will pique the attention of some users. I ask that comments be made elsewhere, not on this page. I also request that this page and the contents herein not be archived. This is a temporary message and I plan to use it only for this season. That is why this is being placed on a user subpage rather than in a forum.

I want to emphasize that what is written is not a criticism of SWF as it stands or of any users. Rather, it is a series of long-standing observations that I feel should be shared so that SWF can continue to move forward and grow. There is a lot of potential on the site and I hope that it can develop. Until then, God bless.

&mdash; Fiolli  {Alpheridies University ComNet} 03:35, 14 August 2009 (UTC)