Help:Contents/Participation encouragement

From TinWiki.org

TinWiki is a conspiracy/UFO related wiki-encyclopedia. Anyone can create or modify tinWiki articles. Additions to tinWiki must be factual, without bias, and of a neutral standpoint.

All ATS members (and, indeed, non-members) are encouraged to participate in the Tinwiki, either by creating new pages or editing existing pages.

Tinwiki will only fulfill its potential if more members of ATS (or non-members for that matter...) create new entries and/or edit the existing entries.

Contents 1 It isn't as hard as you might think 2 You're unlikely to upset anyone 3 Couldn't some vandal delete all my hard work? 4 Why bother? 4.1 Contributing to ATS 4.2 Contributing to the wider conspiracy/ufo community 4.3 Learning new skills 4.4 Points. Lots of points. 5 Any other queries or suggestions 6 Quick tip 7 Relevant links 8 Relevant Discussion Threads on ATS

It isn't as hard as you might think

If you want to edit an existing entry, it's surprisingly easy to click the edit button at the top of the relevant Tinwiki page, make any changes or additions you think are desirable, click save. "Voila", you have now changed that Tinwiki entry.

Anyone can do this. You don't even have to be a member of ATS.

There are a few commands (e.g. to create section headings, or to insert links) which it is helpful to know (or know where to find), if you want to create new entry or do more advanced editing. However, it is important to realise that editing of text alone doesn't really require any of this. Just click edit, edit the text, then click save.

If you want to learn how to create a new entry, or do more advanced editing, to make the learning process as painless as possible you may find the items available from the Help menu useful, particularly the Tutorial which contains an outline of everything you need to get you started.

The existing users of Tinwiki want to encourage others to participate. So, if something seems tricky or difficult to understand, just shout out for help on the ATS discussion forum relating to Tinwiki or send a U2U to one of the Tinwiki editors.

You're unlikely to upset anyone

Some members of ATS appear to have been deterred from making edits out of a concern that it could mess up an existing entry.

Don't worry.

The "history page" associated with each entry on Tinwiki allows the reversion back to earlier versions (for example in the case of vandalism, spam, or other). Deliberate vandalism, or even accidental deletion, is therefore easily reverted.

Similarly, if someone thinks that you have created a biased article (or introduced bias to an existing article), they can add the opposing viewpoint or other relevant facts to provide a balanced account.

Most users of Tinwiki want to encourage others to participate, so will be very understanding of those trying to learn - and will be prepared to help. If you accidentally make an edit which you did not intend, and have any difficulty at all in sorting it out, just shout out for help on the ATS discussion forum relating to Tinwiki or send a U2U to one of the Tinwiki editors.

So, there is no reason for this concern to stop you from participating.

Couldn't some vandal delete all my hard work?

The Tinwiki editors keep a pretty tight eye on deletions.

Tinwiki has had people try to vandalize work before, but it is a simple matter to undo any destructive acts, so that nothing is lost.

So, there is no reason for this concern to stop you from participating.

Why bother?

There are several reasons for participating in editing the Tinwiki, or creating new entries.

Contributing to ATS

First of all, you will be contributing to the ATS community.

The discussion forums on ATS may sometimes not be the best place to post a detailed summary of a relevant topic, or a relevant thread may become rather convoluted. Creating a Tinwiki entry may be the simplest and quickest way to start a comprehensive and comprehendable summary, which other users can develop.

Contributing to the wider conspiracy/ufo community

ATS is becoming an increasingly popular conspiracy/ufo website. By contributing to ATS, you may be helping non-members that visit ATS or simply perform a search on the Internet.

Learning new skills

Using the Tinwiki is an easy way to practice writing non-fiction on the Internet, writing concisely and precisely.

Points. Lots of points.

ATS places considerable value on contributions made to Tinwiki. This is reflected in the number of points that can be awarded to those participating in the Tinwiki.

When Tinwiki was launched, the first 100 articles received 10,000 points each. That automatic reward is no longer in place, but new entries may still be awarded up to 10,000 points. More for exemplerary submissions.

There is no limit on the number of entries that you can create, or on the number of points that may be awarded. You can create more than one entry each day.

Any other queries or suggestions

The existing users of Tinwiki want to encourage others to participate. So, if there is any concern or issue which is causing you to hesitate to participate in editing the Tinwiki, or creating new entries, the existing users may be able to assist. Just post the concern or issue on the ATS discussion forum relating to Tinwiki or send a U2U to one of the Tinwiki editors.

Quick tip

Write the article text yourself, in your own words, and name your sources at the bottom.

Relevant links

• ATS discussion forum relating to Tinwiki
  

• Tinwiki main page
  

• Tinwiki Help menu
  

• Tinwiki tutorial - help in getting started
  

Relevant Discussion Threads on ATS

• Perception of Tinwiki