VassarWiki:About: Difference between revisions

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Welcome to '''VassarWiki''', a wiki for the Vassar College community!

Put simply, a wiki is a collaboratively edited website.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki</ref> While many wikis are encyclopedias, they don't have to be. VassarWiki was created to be an encyclopedia and more~~. It's a~~ space for the Vassar community to collectively share and organize ~~information—building~~ a persistent institutional memory and ~~bridging~~ otherwise isolated corners of our campus.

Put simply, a wiki is a collaboratively edited website.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki</ref> While many wikis are encyclopedias, they don't have to be. VassarWiki was created to be an encyclopedia and more: an open space for the Vassar community to collectively share and organize information. We hope to build a persistent institutional memory and bridge otherwise isolated corners of our campus.

== Getting started ==

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=== How do I contribute? ===

Once you register an account, click the "Edit" button by a section or at the top of the page. You can either use the visual editor (recommended ~~for~~ new ~~editors~~) or switch to the source editor on the upper-right.

Once you register an account, click the "Edit" button by a section or at the top of the page. You can either use the visual editor (recommended if you're new to editing) or switch to the source editor on the upper-right.

Make whatever changes to the page you want, write a short edit summary, and save your changes. If your changes only contain ''superficial'' differences (e.g. fixing typos or minor formatting errors), click the minor edit button before saving your changes.

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== What can I contribute? ==

Contributions generally don't require prior approval, so '''be bold'''! If there's an issue with your edit, another ~~editor~~ can revert it and you can discuss on a talk page. ~~It's recommended that you~~ read and understand VassarWiki [[VassarWiki:Policies|policies]] ~~and~~ any relevant [[VassarWiki:Guidelines|guidelines]] before you edit, but there is no need to be an "expert~~" when you start~~.

Contributions generally don't require prior approval, so '''be bold'''! If there's an issue with your edit, another contributor can revert it and you can discuss on a talk page if needed. Please read and understand VassarWiki [[VassarWiki:Policies|policies]] before you edit. It's encouraged that you read any relevant [[VassarWiki:Guidelines|guidelines]] before you edit, but there is no need to be an expert.

VassarWiki is deliberately open-ended to adapt to community needs. There are ~~a few~~ main types of pages:

VassarWiki is deliberately open-ended to adapt to community needs. There are two main types of pages:

* ~~[[VassarWiki:Encyclopedia pages|~~'''~~Encyclopedia pages~~'''~~]] are~~ about things like [[:Category:Student orgs|student orgs]], events, classes, departments, and college lore. Content should be written from a neutral point of view and [[VassarWiki:Policies|be sourced]].

* '''Articles''' can be about things like [[:Category:Student orgs|student orgs]], events, classes, departments, and college lore. Content should be written from a neutral third-person point of view<ref>but by no means soulless!</ref> and [[VassarWiki:Policies|be sourced when possible]].

* Every contributor has a [[VassarWiki:User pages|'''user page''']] that only they can edit. You can put pretty much anything on your user page (e.g. interests, projects, org memberships, essays or freeform content, contact information).

* [[VassarWiki:Project pages|'''Project pages''']] (those with the prefix "VassarWiki") deal with the governance and maintenance of VassarWiki.

~~Other~~ types of pages:

But there are other types of pages as well:

* Every page has a corresponding '''[[talk page]]''', where you can resolve disputes about page content or otherwise talk freely about that page's subject.

* Every page has a corresponding '''talk page''', where you can resolve disputes about page content or otherwise talk freely about that page's subject.

* '''[[VassarWiki:Categories|Categories]]''' are assigned to pages to assist in navigation and organization. They are listed at the bottom of a page.

* '''[[VassarWiki:Templates|Templates]]''' are pages designed for inclusion in other pages.

* '''[[VassarWiki:Files|Files]]''' like images, videos, and audio files, can be embedded in pages. Files should almost be uploaded to [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:UploadWizard Wikimedia Commons], where they will be released to the public domain.

* [[VassarWiki:Project pages|'''Project pages''']] (those with the prefix "VassarWiki") deal with the governance and maintenance of VassarWiki.

~~If you feel limited by these page types, feel free to~~ [[VassarWiki:~~Improvements~~|~~suggest a new one~~]]!

== Policies and guidelines ==

~~'''[[~~VassarWiki:Policies|Policies~~]]'''~~ are the site's foundational principles ~~and should always be followed. Like everything on VassarWiki, they are established by community consensus~~. Put simply, ~~editors~~ should:

Policies are the site's foundational principles that all contributors must follow. Put simply, contributors should:

* Build and respect consensus when disputes arise

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* Be civil and assume other contributors come in good faith

~~'''[[~~Guidelines~~]]'''~~ are records of ~~consensus that~~ contributors should ''attempt'' to follow, ~~generally regarding more specific issues~~.

Guidelines are records of best practices in content and behavior. While there is no need to be an expert on guidelines when starting out, contributors should generally defer to and attempt to follow them.

Like everything on VassarWiki, policies and guidelines are established by community consensus and can change.

== Governance ==

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Welcome to '''VassarWiki''', a wiki for the Vassar College community!
-Put simply, a wiki is a collaboratively edited website.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki</ref> While many wikis are encyclopedias, they don't have to be. VassarWiki was created to be an encyclopedia and more. It's a space for the Vassar community to collectively share and organize information—building a persistent institutional memory and bridging otherwise isolated corners of our campus.
+Put simply, a wiki is a collaboratively edited website.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki</ref> While many wikis are encyclopedias, they don't have to be. VassarWiki was created to be an encyclopedia and more: an open space for the Vassar community to collectively share and organize information.  We hope to build a persistent institutional memory and bridge otherwise isolated corners of our campus.
 == Getting started ==
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 === How do I contribute? ===
-Once you register an account, click the "Edit" button by a section or at the top of the page. You can either use the visual editor (recommended for new editors) or switch to the source editor on the upper-right.
+Once you register an account, click the "Edit" button by a section or at the top of the page. You can either use the visual editor (recommended if you're new to editing) or switch to the source editor on the upper-right.
 Make whatever changes to the page you want, write a short edit summary, and save your changes. If your changes only contain ''superficial'' differences (e.g. fixing typos or minor formatting errors), click the minor edit button before saving your changes.
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 == What can I contribute? ==
 {{See also|VassarWiki:What should I contribute?}}
-Contributions generally don't require prior approval, so '''be bold'''! If there's an issue with your edit, another editor can revert it and you can discuss on a talk page. It's recommended that you read and understand VassarWiki [[VassarWiki:Policies|policies]] and any relevant [[VassarWiki:Guidelines|guidelines]] before you edit, but there is no need to be an "expert" when you start.
+Contributions generally don't require prior approval, so '''be bold'''! If there's an issue with your edit, another contributor can revert it and you can discuss on a talk page if needed. Please read and understand VassarWiki [[VassarWiki:Policies|policies]] before you edit. It's encouraged that you read any relevant [[VassarWiki:Guidelines|guidelines]] before you edit, but there is no need to be an expert.
-VassarWiki is deliberately open-ended to adapt to community needs. There are a few main types of pages:
+VassarWiki is deliberately open-ended to adapt to community needs. There are two main types of pages:
-* [[VassarWiki:Encyclopedia pages|'''Encyclopedia pages''']] are about things like [[:Category:Student orgs|student orgs]], events, classes, departments, and college lore. Content should be written from a neutral point of view and [[VassarWiki:Policies|be sourced]].
+* '''Articles''' can be about things like [[:Category:Student orgs|student orgs]], events, classes, departments, and college lore. Content should be written from a neutral third-person point of view<ref>but by no means soulless!</ref> and [[VassarWiki:Policies|be sourced when possible]].
 * Every contributor has a [[VassarWiki:User pages|'''user page''']] that only they can edit. You can put pretty much anything on your user page (e.g. interests, projects, org memberships, essays or freeform content, contact information).
-* [[VassarWiki:Project pages|'''Project pages''']] (those with the prefix "VassarWiki") deal with the governance and maintenance of VassarWiki.
-Other types of pages:
+But there are other types of pages as well:
-* Every page has a corresponding '''[[talk page]]''', where you can resolve disputes about page content or otherwise talk freely about that page's subject.
+* Every page has a corresponding '''talk page''', where you can resolve disputes about page content or otherwise talk freely about that page's subject.
 * '''[[VassarWiki:Categories|Categories]]''' are assigned to pages to assist in navigation and organization. They are listed at the bottom of a page.
 * '''[[VassarWiki:Templates|Templates]]''' are pages designed for inclusion in other pages.
 * '''[[VassarWiki:Files|Files]]''' like images, videos, and audio files, can be embedded in pages. Files should almost be uploaded to [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:UploadWizard Wikimedia Commons], where they will be released to the public domain.
+* [[VassarWiki:Project pages|'''Project pages''']] (those with the prefix "VassarWiki") deal with the governance and maintenance of VassarWiki.
-If you feel limited by these page types, feel free to [[VassarWiki:Improvements|suggest a new one]]!
 == Policies and guidelines ==
-'''[[VassarWiki:Policies|Policies]]''' are the site's foundational principles and should always be followed. Like everything on VassarWiki, they are established by community consensus. Put simply, editors should:
+{{Main|VassarWiki:Policies|VassarWiki:Guidelines}}
+Policies are the site's foundational principles that all contributors must follow. Put simply, contributors should:
 * Build and respect consensus when disputes arise
@@ Line 47: / Line 46: @@
 * Be civil and assume other contributors come in good faith
-'''[[Guidelines]]''' are records of consensus that contributors should ''attempt'' to follow, generally regarding more specific issues.
+Guidelines are records of best practices in content and behavior. While there is no need to be an expert on guidelines when starting out, contributors should generally defer to and attempt to follow them.
+Like everything on VassarWiki, policies and guidelines are established by community consensus and can change.
 == Governance ==