User:Jasper Deng/New users' guide

(Work in progress) So you just made your first edit on Wikipedia. Welcome to the world's largest online encyclopedia. Some internet culture customs are not, however, followed on Wikipedia.

Introduction
Wikipedia is a community of many volunteer editors, which anyone may join. Wikipedia is focused on discussion among users to make decisions on how articles should read. To prevent disruption of this process, Wikipedia has stricter rules regarding personal attacks, harassment, trolling, and the like.

Getting started

 * Learn your wikitext syntax: Syntax errors in articles are usually viewed as vandalism (see below for vandalism's definition). To practice, use the sandbox.
 * Learn core content policies: Unfortunately, the learning curve is often very steep for Wikipedia. These policies are usually referred to by acronyms derived from their shortcuts, and editors usually expect other editors to know them well.
 * Learn behavior policies: Wikipedia has higher expectations for users' behaviors than most other websites, but is still a dynamic Internet community. See the below section.
 * Learn the norms: The impression many Wikipedia editors get when you do things like fail to sign your comments is usually "he's not experienced". You can normally learn these norms by reading over the many talk pages of Wikipedia (see below).
 * Be prepared to answer questions: You will receive a "You have new messages" notice whenever your own talk page is edited. Only certain comments cannot be removed from your talk page, but it is preferred that you at least read what the comments are saying, and, ideally, respond to them.
 * Be prepared to be wrong: We all disagree! Even I have to put up with it when it's proved that I'm wrong. The ability to give in is a key part of achieving consensus (agreement).

Trolling and personal attacks
Personal attacks have a much stricter restriction on Wikipedia than most websites. A personal attack is when a user says something bad about another in relation to something other than violations of Wikipedia policy. Even mild personal attacks are strictly prohibited, except brief and non-directed, since it prevents Wikipedia's system of discussion from proceeding as it should. Accordingly, trolling, in almost all cases, is also strictly prohibited. The only exceptions are mild practical, non-disruptive, jokes that experienced Wikipedians may make among themselves.

Terminology
This table lists the terms Wikipedia uses in place of common internet terms. There are several additional terms used on Wikipedia. The most important ones are boldened.

Wikitext Syntax
The syntax of Wikipedia's markup language, called wikitext, can be confusing, but it's best that all users learn it to avoid being mistaken for vandalism. See Help:Editing for more details.

Talk pages
Wikipedia is built upon the idea that users must collaboratively build a free, open, encyclopedia. Therefore, Wikipedia expects all users to use talk pages to resolve editing disputes. There are thus several rules and conventions that are followed.

Other discussion pages that are not in a talk namespace
While technically not talk pages, there are a number of other pages on Wikipedia that are also used for discussion, and for which the above guidelines and conventions also apply to. These pages include Village pump, Sockpuppet investigations (subpages only), Administrators' noticeboard, and Administrator intervention against vandalism. When bringing up a user to any of these kinds of pages (Administrators' noticeboard, Wikiquette assistance, sockpuppetry (not always, especially if the master has done it a lot), and Dispute resolution, etc.), you should notify that user, with the exception of Administrator intervention against vandalism and Usernames for Administrator Attention.

Editing conventions
Wikipedia, in addition to the policies described above, has a few conventions regarding editing. Most can be seen in Wikipedia's manual of style.

Community
Wikipedia, aside from being much more formal, is very much like other internet communities. It is OK from time to time to mildly violate a policy as a non-disruptive joke (especially on April's Fools day), and Wikipedia does have some humor pages that otherwise would be inappropriate on Wikipedia. Even serious editors must take a break from time to time.

The community encompasses all Wikipedia editors, even anonymous ones, except banned users. No-one has formal status over anyone else, but in general, experienced users are trusted more than new users (unfortunately, since many new users also cause disruption), and administrators tend to be trusted more than lower-ranking users (since the level of trust for that position is inherently high).