Forum talk:Setting expectations
[edit] Diminishing expectations
Perhaps it is time to examine why so few users are actively involved in the development of the project, particularly in regard to writing mini articles.
I would suggest it is a result of the following:
- no obvious improvement in the overall functioning of Wikia Search;
- an apparently increasingly long number of identified bugs with no easily accessible reports on which bugs have already been fixed;
- in regard to the mini articles: lack of clear guidelines, difficulties with upper/lower case, apparent conflicts between keyword links and standard links using square brackets, incorrect functioning of REDIRECT;
- confusion between language versions, particularly in connection with names of places, people and companies;
- no clearly defined strategy for using the content of mini articles to improve search over the medium to long term (although this appears to be a stated goal).
I believe it would be possible to bring back many of the original enthusiasts by providing answers or comments on these points. Even an explanation of the difficulties being faced and the likely timeframe for progress would help. And last but not least, clearer explanations about the priorities for mini articles over the next couple of months might provide for stronger participation in certain areas.
I look forward to reactions on this discussion page and hope they will contribute to clearer planning and objectives for the project as a whole. Ipigott 09:51, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
- I agree with you on all accounts. My impression is that the project owners very rarely read these forum pages. Since you have valid points (and I feel your pain, too), I suggest that you post your concerns to the mailing list, where they are much more likely to be heard.
- Also, I suggest we keep this discussion on the forum page itself (if you agree, go ahead and move it there, minus this comment). Forum pages are intended for discussion. If a forum page does not look like discussion, it may be appropriate to make it a non-forum article instead (and discuss on that article's talk page).
- --Rainer 11:24, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
Thanks for the quick response and the support. Unfortunately I have tried using the mailing list in the past and have had no response. I even went as far as asking for confirmation that my message had been received. No one sent me a confirmation. The only possibility is to send individual messages to those who seem more interested or more active. However, I would have thought that the whole point of having a forum discussion is to encourage those in the project to pay attention to what people think! Let's just see if there are any more reactions in the next 24 hours.--Ipigott 11:46, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
- Asking for confirmation on a mailing list is highly unusual. Whom do you expect to reply?
- Are you sure your mailing list posting got through? Did you check the archives? You have to register to be allowed to post, but as far as I can see, the mailing list is not moderated. Every time one of my postings did not show up and I suspected a problem with the list it turned out an error on my part. Usually I sent the mail to "searchwikia" instead of to "searchwiki" at wikia.com.
- As an aside, an advantage of discussing on a Forum page (instead of on a Forum talk page) is that changes to Forum pages make the Forum:Index entry go to the top of the list.
- --Rainer 12:24, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
- In that case, the entry will have gone to the top anyway as I included an additional line on the Forum page asking for discussion. Ipigott 13:49, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
It appears to me also, that this topic would be worth making it a dedicated article, link there from the forum posting, but discuss it in the posting. Schneckl 03:17, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
- If it becomes a dedicated article, where would you like to put it and from where would you link into it? These pages are only useful it people actually read them and contribute. They are important not only for those writing the minis but, more importantly, for those behind the project like Jimmy and Angela so that some priorities can be set. There has however been one positive development over the past 24 hours: the introduction of the Popular search term category (I'm told it is based on instructions from Jimmy) which gives some initial guidance on what people are searching for. Unfortunately, you cannot see the terms which are not already the topic of a mini.--Ipigott 08:43, 13 February 2008 (UTC)