User:Sophie/sandbox14

Example session


[03:28] * NewWikipedian has joined #wikipedia-en-ambassadors

[03:28]  Welcome to #wikipedia-en-ambassadors, the Wikipedia Ambassadors help channel! Feel free to ask as many questions as you like, a helper should be around shortly to answer your questions!

[03:28]  Hi NewWikipedian

[03:28]  hi

[03:29]  first time I'm here

[03:29]  so how does all this work

[03:30]  This is the help channel, for English Wikipedia. So - are you a new user?

[03:30]  yes ..

[03:30]  Welcome, then. What is your username on Wikipedia?

[03:30]  actually I just joined as a member today

[03:30]  cool

[03:31]  NewWikipedian123 is my username

[03:32]  Ok, so, for a start - are you logged in now, in another window?

[03:32]  well I was til I came here .. in another window that is

[03:32]  OK - well, if you can open wikipedia, in another window or tab, and click on 'my talk page' at the top-right (near your username) you will see that I've left you a 'welcome' message

[03:33]  where is the welcome page? LOL

[03:33] <Ambassador> can you get yourself logged in?

[03:33] <Ambassador> I'll talk you through it from there

[03:34] <NewWikipedian> I opened a new tab and I"m still logged in

[03:34] <Ambassador> ok - near the top right, just after your user name, click on "my talk"

[03:34] <NewWikipedian> k

[03:34] <Ambassador> you'll see messages; one is a big "Welcome and introduction" with a cartoon picture, yes?

[03:35] <NewWikipedian> big page with lots of text

[03:35] <Ambassador> yep, ok; look for this line;

[03:35] <Ambassador> Play in your user area. For example, create User:NewWikipedian123/test.

[03:35] <Ambassador> Do you see that? in the box?

[03:36] <Ambassador> look for the red bit

[03:36] <NewWikipedian> um

[03:36] <NewWikipedian> I see a msg from ambassador-chick42

[03:37] <Ambassador> a few lines down, in the box it says;

[03:37] <Ambassador>   * You don't need to read anything - anybody can edit; just go to an article and edit it. Be Bold, but please don't put silly stuff in - it will be removed very quickly, and will annoy people.

{{color|navy|[03:37] <Ambassador>    * Ask for help. Talk to us live, or edit this page, put {{helpme}} and describe what help you need. Someone will reply very quickly - usually within a few minutes.

{{color|navy|[03:37] <Ambassador>    * Play in your user area. For example, create}} User:NewWikipedian123/test.

{{color|navy|[03:37] <Ambassador> ...can you see the part in red?}}

[03:38] <NewWikipedian> looking for a red part

[03:38] <NewWikipedian> ok I see the play in user area part

{{color|navy|[03:38] <Ambassador> ok - click the red bit}}

{{color|navy|[03:38] <Ambassador> don't do anything else; I'll go through it, one bit at a time}}

{{color|navy|[03:39] <Ambassador> so - you'll see a big empty edit box}}

[03:39] <NewWikipedian> yeah an editor

{{color|navy|[03:39] <Ambassador> we're making a test page - you can try things on it...it is in your own user area, so it does no harm}}

{{color|navy|[03:39] <Ambassador> ok, so - just write 'hello'   and then...}}

{{color|navy|[03:40] <Ambassador> ...underneath the big edit box, to the right, is a small   'edit summary'    box. Do you see that?}}

[03:40] <NewWikipedian> i c it

{{color|navy|[03:40] <Ambassador> ok - in the 'edit summary'   just put    'test'         It is important to *always* put something in the edit summary, to say what you are doing.}}

{{color|navy|[03:40] <Ambassador> then save it  (click 'save')}}

[03:41] <NewWikipedian> ok I clicked save

{{color|navy|[03:41] <Ambassador> cool; one second...}}

[03:41] <NewWikipedian> does it have a captcha thing at the top?

{{color|navy|[03:41] <Ambassador> ...ok, is it now asking you to type in some wiggly letters?}}

{{color|navy|[03:41] <Ambassador> yes}}

{{color|navy|[03:41] <Ambassador> please do that}}

[03:41] <NewWikipedian> sec

{{color|navy|[03:42] <Ambassador> ...it's just because the account is new. It won't happen after a short time.}}

[03:42] <NewWikipedian> ok done

{{color|#36F|[03:42] * Ambassador looks...}}

{{color|navy|[03:42] <Ambassador> ...yep, great, I see the page. So - we've made a page. Called   "User:NewWikipedian123/test"}}

[03:42] <NewWikipedian> yes

[03:42] <NewWikipedian> :D

{{color|navy|[03:42] <Ambassador> because it is called    "User:NewWikipedian123/.....something..." it is in your own area, ok?}}

{{color|navy|[03:43] <Ambassador> So, you can do anything you like there;  to get the hang of editing.}}

[03:43] <NewWikipedian> ok I understand that part

{{color|navy|[03:43] <Ambassador> Now...let me show you something...}}

{{color|navy|[03:43] <Ambassador> ...if you click on  'my talk'    again    near the top right    - to get back to your talk page, with the 'welcome'}}

{{color|navy|[03:43] <Ambassador> ...let me know if you see the 'welcome' stuff again?}}

[03:43] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[03:44] <Ambassador> ok, what I wanted to explain was...}}

{{color|navy|[03:44] <Ambassador> ...the link is now blue, not red, yes?}}

{{color|navy|[03:44] <Ambassador> Play in your user area. For example, create}} {{color|blue|User:NewWikipedian123/test}}{{colour|navy|.}}

{{color|navy|[03:44] <Ambassador> ...because, that page now exists. }}

[03:44] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[03:44] <Ambassador> a 'red link' is a non-existent page. A blue one is a 'wikilink'}}

{{color|navy|[03:44] <Ambassador> cool; ok; click the blue link}}

{{color|navy|[03:44] <Ambassador> you'll see the 'hello' page again?}}

[03:45] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[03:45] <Ambassador> right; I just wanted to show you - you can always get back to it, like that. So, now, click the 'edit' tab at the top}}

{{color|navy|[03:45] <Ambassador> you'll be back in the edit box, and you'll see the 'hello'  yes?}}

[03:45] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[03:45] <Ambassador> ok; now try adding  something in bold    and    something in italics }}

{{color|navy|[03:46] <Ambassador> if you put text within three apostrophes, it will appear in bold}}

{{color|navy|[03:46] <Ambassador> 2 for italics.}}

{{color|navy|[03:46] <Ambassador> So, try that - any text you like - then  remember to fill in the 'edit summary'   - put    "trying bold and italics"    and then save it again}}

[03:47] <NewWikipedian> done

{{color|#36F|[03:47] * Ambassador looks...}}

{{color|navy|[03:47] <Ambassador> yep, great. So that's bold and italics. Let's try something else...   I'm gonna assume, now, that you know how to click 'edit' and you'll remember to put in the edit summary. So...}}

{{color|navy|[03:47] <Ambassador> ...edit the page, and try   sausage     just like that. save it.}}

{{color|navy|[03:48] <Ambassador> this is a 'wikilink'}}

{{color|navy|[03:48] <Ambassador> so you could put 'trying a wikilink' in the edit summary - but anything is ok. 'testing' or whatever}}

[03:48] <NewWikipedian> done

{{color|navy|[03:48] <Ambassador> When you save that, the word 'sausage' should be blue, yes?}}

[03:49] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[03:49] <Ambassador> ok - click on it}}

{{color|navy|[03:49] <Ambassador> you'll see the article about sausages}}

{{color|navy|[03:49] <Ambassador> so does that bit make sense?}}

[03:49] <NewWikipedian> far out

[03:49] <NewWikipedian> yes

[03:49] <NewWikipedian> how do I get back to my edit page

{{color|navy|[03:50] <Ambassador> either 'back' in your browser, or, click  'my talk' at the top right, then follow the link in the welcome message}}

{{color|navy|[03:50] <Ambassador> let me know when you get back to the test page}}

[03:50] <NewWikipedian> back

{{color|navy|[03:51] <Ambassador> great, ok, cool. Now,  you will come up on a question; imagine you want to say    "I live in Eastwood"    BUT the article about it is actually called    "Eastwood, Florida"    - you do it like this;}}

{{color|navy|[03:51] <Ambassador> I live in Eastwood }}

{{color|navy|[03:52] <Ambassador> In the middle there is a 'pipe symbol' - you know? A vertical bar}}

{{color|navy|[03:52] <Ambassador> {{!}}}}

{{color|navy|[03:52] <Ambassador> Try that;   }}

{{color|navy|[03:52] <Ambassador> it will link the word  "Eastwood"    to the article called    "Eastwood, Florida"}}

{{color|navy|[03:52] <Ambassador> a piped link}}

[03:53] <NewWikipedian> hmm

{{color|navy|[03:53] <Ambassador> I'll go as slow as you like, so if you get lost, just say so, and I'll try to explain better.}}

[03:53] <NewWikipedian> the mouseover takes it to Eastwood,_florida ?

{{color|navy|[03:53] <Ambassador> yes, exactly}}

{{color|navy|[03:54] <Ambassador> click it}}

{{color|navy|[03:54] <Ambassador> it should link to the correct article?}}

[03:54] <NewWikipedian> it adds the underscore?

{{color|navy|[03:54] <Ambassador> no, it links to a different page name. Let me explain.

{{color|navy|[03:55] <Ambassador> Imagine that, in an article, you want to write   "He met John Smith." ok? But, we have lots of pages on lots of people called John Smith.}}

[03:55] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[03:55] <Ambassador> The one you want is, for example,   "John Smith (Labour Party leader)"    right?}}

[03:55] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[03:55] <Ambassador> So, you would write:       He met John Smith .}}

{{color|navy|[03:55] <Ambassador> Does that make sense now?}}

[03:56] <NewWikipedian> mmmmmm

{{color|navy|[03:56] <Ambassador> it is a way of linking from one word (any word, or words)  to any article.}}

[03:56] <NewWikipedian> not sure why the | is there

{{color|navy|[03:56] <Ambassador> e.g.    I am a dentist }}

{{color|navy|[03:56] <Ambassador> The | separates the name of the page from the word to link}}

{{color|navy|[03:56] <Ambassador> ok, let me show you.}}

{{color|navy|[03:56] <Ambassador> click 'edit'}}

{{color|navy|[03:56] <Ambassador> and put    I am a dentist

{{color|navy|[03:57] <Ambassador> save it}}

[03:57] <NewWikipedian> so dentistry is the name of the page and dentist is the actual link?

{{color|navy|[03:57] <Ambassador> yes}}

{{color|navy|[03:57] <Ambassador> exactly}}

{{color|navy|[03:57] <Ambassador> you've got it}}

[03:57] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[03:57] <Ambassador> ok. something more fun. try adding this;}}

[03:57] <NewWikipedian> cool

{{color|navy|[03:57] <Ambassador> }}

{{color|navy|[03:57] <Ambassador> add that on a line, on its own}}

{{color|navy|[03:58] <Ambassador> save it, see what happens}}

[03:58] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[03:58] <Ambassador> did it work? got a picture?}}

{{color|navy|[03:59] <Ambassador> ah, you're a web designer, eh? this'll be easy then. It's a bit like HTML, but simpler}}

[03:59] <NewWikipedian> :D

{{color|navy|[03:59] <Ambassador> you've already learned about half of it all, seriously}}

[04:00] <NewWikipedian> well.. yes.. web designer/graphic artist .. webmaster for a tv station

{{color|navy|[04:00] <Ambassador> ok, so - the 'thumb' thing made it a 'thumbnail', so it can have a caption.}}

{{color|navy|[04:00] <Ambassador> that's the usual way to add pics.}}

{{color|navy|[04:00] <Ambassador> We don't mess around with the sizes, and all that stuff - we keep it simple; let the reader decide how to display it}}

[04:00] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:01] <Ambassador> ok, now try adding the following two lines, at the end;}}

{{color|navy|[04:01] <Ambassador> == New bit == }}

{{color|navy|[04:01] <Ambassador> This is a new section}}

{{color|navy|[04:01] <Ambassador> ...save that, let me know}}

[04:01] <NewWikipedian> its saved

{{color|navy|[04:01] <Ambassador> great - that makes a new ==section== }}

{{color|navy|[04:01] <Ambassador> you can have ===subsections=== and stuff too.}}

{{color|navy|[04:01] <Ambassador> Now - please just wait 1 minute...}}

[04:02] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:02] <Ambassador> I'm going to edit the page, and add a load more == sections == and some ===subsections=== }}

{{color|navy|[04:03] <Ambassador> ...ok, done that. please can you 'refresh' the page}}

{{color|navy|[04:03] <Ambassador> now there are more than 4 sections, a 'table of contents' has appeared, yes?}}

[04:03] <NewWikipedian> ok this is getting fun now

{{color|navy|[04:03] <Ambassador> the TOC is automatic; I didn't add it, I only added a load of junk sections}}

[04:03] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:04] <Ambassador> ok, right; now try adding this, at the top;}}

{{color|navy|[04:04] <Ambassador> {{unreferenced}} }}

{{color|navy|[04:04] <Ambassador> on the top line, on it's own - and save it}}

[04:04] <NewWikipedian> k done

{{color|navy|[04:05] <Ambassador> Great. The {{ }} is for a 'template'. Templates...well, they can do all kinds of clever stuff - but basically they're for adding 'standard messages' and things}}.

{{color|navy|[04:05] <Ambassador> They can take parameters, and all sorts - but that's getting a bit more advanced.}}

{{color|navy|[04:05] <Ambassador> It's like a 'subroutine' - that's all you need to know.}}

[04:05] <NewWikipedian> like javascript

[04:06] <NewWikipedian> ?

{{color|navy|[04:06] <Ambassador> ok, so - now you know how to 'tag' an article as needing references! cool!}}

{{color|navy|[04:06] <Ambassador> yes}}

{{color|navy|[04:06] <Ambassador> it's a way of putting 'some bit of standard code' on a page}}

{{color|navy|[04:06] <Ambassador> So if you find an article with no references, you could add just that.}}

[04:06] <NewWikipedian> are u here all the time?

{{color|navy|[04:06] <Ambassador> yes, pretty much, or somebody is; there are lots of other people in here, too}}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> Do you have a bit more time, to learn how to add a reference?}}

[04:07] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> ok great - just follow this bit, and it'll make sense at the end of it;}}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> Simple references. Edit the page and add these bits - it require two parts. Put these two lines at the top of the article;}}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> Chzz is 98 years old.&lt;ref> "The book of Chzz", Aardvark Books, 2009. &lt;/ref><}}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> He likes tea.&lt;ref> Tea website }}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> *Then, right at the end of the article, put these two lines;}}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> == References == }}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> {{reflist}} }}

{{color|navy|[04:07] <Ambassador> *Save it, let me know if that works.}}

{{color|navy|[04:08] <Ambassador> (copy and paste it, whatever, but - do it, for yourself - best way to learn)}}

[04:08] <NewWikipedian> which 2 go at the top?

{{color|navy|[04:08] <Ambassador> Chzz is 98 years old.&lt;ref> "The book of Chzz", Aardvark Books, 2009. &lt;/ref>}}

{{color|navy|[04:08] <Ambassador> He likes tea.&lt;ref> Tea website &lt;/ref>}}

{{color|navy|[04:08] <Ambassador> ...those two lines at the top}}

[04:08] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:09] <Ambassador> and, right at the end of the article, put these two lines;}}

{{color|navy|[04:09] <Ambassador> == References == }}

{{color|navy|[04:09] <Ambassador> {{reflist}} }}

{{color|navy|[04:09] <Ambassador> Note, it doesn't matter if you mess anything up - everything can be 'undone' - it's a wiki}}

{{color|navy|[04:10] <Ambassador> so don't worry about just trying things out}}

[04:10] <NewWikipedian> done}}

{{color|#36F|* Ambassador looks}}

{{color|navy|[04:10] <Ambassador> ...slow internet...}}

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> OK - there it is}}

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> ok

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> notice the small}} {{color|#30F|[1]}}

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> click it}}

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> do you see how it works?}}

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> So - that is a simple reference. You can put anything you like between &lt;ref> and &lt;/ref>. As long as you have a references section with {{reflist}}, the rest is automatic. }}

[04:11] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> great}}

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> refs are really important, on articles}}

[04:11] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:11] <Ambassador> you have to say where the info comes from}}

{{color|navy|[04:12] <Ambassador> ok, I'll just show you one more bit about refs;}}

[04:12] <NewWikipedian> is that why the text I added before to an article was deleted?

{{color|navy|[04:12] <Ambassador> probably, yes. Anything without refs can be removed, by anyone}}

{{color|navy|[04:13] <Ambassador> 'coz they can't tell if it is 'true'}}

{{color|navy|[04:13] <Ambassador> (on an article, that is)}}

{{color|navy|[04:13] <Ambassador> here, on your test page, it's fine}}

{{color|navy|[04:13] <Ambassador> So - if you want to write an aritcle - it's best to work on it in your userspace first, you see - get it into shape}}

{{color|navy|[04:13] <Ambassador> then you can 'move' it to the live area}}

[04:13] <NewWikipedian> I'm not sure I understand how to add a ref to something I added to an article

{{color|navy|[04:14] <Ambassador> same way; the article would already have the ==references== section with the {{reflist}} }}

[04:14] <NewWikipedian> I was getting frustrated cuz I couldn't figure it out

{{color|navy|[04:14] <Ambassador> so, you'd just write    He was born in 1234 &lt;ref> Some Magazine, April 1st, 2010 &lt;/ref>}}

{{color|navy|[04:14] <Ambassador> or whatever}}

{{color|navy|[04:14] <Ambassador> you should put all the details - the title of the article, the author, all that}}

{{color|navy|[04:15] <Ambassador> make sense?}}

[04:15] <NewWikipedian> but I was quoting myself LOL

{{color|navy|[04:15] <Ambassador> ah, well - can't do that. It all has to be 'verifiable'. That's kinda rule #1}}

[04:15] <NewWikipedian> as in post link?

{{color|navy|[04:15] <Ambassador> hey, no worries; doesn't matter; it's a wik}}i

{{color|navy|[04:15] <Ambassador> yeah, links, if it is on the net.}}

{{color|navy|[04:16] <Ambassador> I didn't say, but... you format an external link like this:    This is Google      just that.}}

{{color|navy|[04:17] <Ambassador> So...bearing in mind you put everything between &lt;ref> and &lt;/ref>, do you now see how this one worked;}}

{{color|navy|[04:17] <Ambassador> He likes tea. &lt;ref> Tea website &lt;/ref> }}

{{color|navy|[04:17] <Ambassador> Does that make sense now?}}

[04:17] <NewWikipedian> what about .. "there is no such thing as a pixie -- just people"  how would I ref that?

{{color|navy|[04:18] <Ambassador> you can only add facts from e.g. books, newspapers, stuff like that.}}

{{color|navy|[04:18] <Ambassador> Gotta 'prove' it}}

{{color|navy|[04:18] <Ambassador> There is probably some book that says "Pixies are fictitious"}}

{{color|navy|[04:18] <Ambassador> so you could ref that book}}

{{color|navy|[04:19] <Ambassador> and you could prob find a book that says that, using Google Book search }}

[04:19] <NewWikipedian> my head hurts now lol

{{color|navy|[04:19] <Ambassador> :-)  Don't worry   - there is LOTS of help available }}

{{color|navy|[04:19] <Ambassador> you don't have to remember it; there are help pages for everything you could ever want to know}}

{{color|navy|[04:20] <Ambassador> ok - one more little thing, would be a very good idea to learn  - how to leave someone a message. OK?}}

[04:22] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:22] <Ambassador> Let's say you want to write to me. Click on 'my talk' again. Notice that I have 'signed' my name on your talk page - it looks like this:     Ambassador (talk)}}

{{color|navy|[04:22] <Ambassador> Can you see my 'signature' thing?}}

[04:23] <NewWikipedian> k i c it

{{color|navy|[04:23] <Ambassador> ok; notice that if you hover over the left part - the 'Ambassador' - it is a link to user:Ambassador - that is my user page.}}

{{color|navy|[04:23] <Ambassador> If you hover over the    (talk)    it is a link to   User talk:Ambassador}}

[04:23] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:23] <Ambassador> I mean, if you move the mouse over the right-hand bit of my sig...you'll see it is a link. So - click it.}}

{{color|navy|[04:24] <Ambassador> you'll then be on my talk page.}}

{{color|navy|[04:24] <Ambassador> You should be on   User talk:Ambassador    (at the top, in big letters)}}

[04:24] <NewWikipedian> User:Ambassador

[04:24] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[04:25] <Ambassador> ah, no - you got the wrong bit.}}

{{color|navy|[04:25] <Ambassador> can you click 'back'}}

{{color|navy|[04:25] <Ambassador> The 'Ambassador' part of my signature links to user:Ambassador   my USER PAGE}}

{{color|navy|[04:25] <Ambassador> The word (talk) in brackets, on the right of my sig, links to   user TALK:Ambassador    my TALK PAGE}}

[04:25] <NewWikipedian> will try again

{{color|navy|[04:25] <Ambassador> ok - or, just go here;}}

{{color|navy|[04:25] <Ambassador> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Ambassador }}

{{color|navy|[04:26] <Ambassador> same thing}}

[04:26] <NewWikipedian> User talk:Ambassador

{{color|navy|[04:26] <Ambassador> great. So - to leave me a message, click the   'new section'   tab, at the top}}

[04:26] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:26] <Ambassador> And you get an edit screen - with a box for the "Subject/headline" and a bigger box?}}

[04:27] <NewWikipedian> yes

{{color|navy|[04:27] <Ambassador> ok, great - put in any subject you like, and any short message you like, and...}}

{{color|navy|[04:27] <Ambassador> ...at the end of the message, put ~       that is, four 'tilde' characters}}

{{color|navy|[04:27] <Ambassador> then save it}}

[04:28] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:28] <Ambassador> superb. Seriously, you've now learned more stuff than most people learn in their first 3 months on Wikipedia.}}

[04:28] <NewWikipedian> yeah?

{{color|navy|[04:29] <Ambassador> yep; so - now, I have a big orange bar, saying "you have new messages"}}

{{color|navy|[04:29] <Ambassador> so, one sec, I will reply on your talk page - please dont' do anything at all yet.}}

[04:29] <NewWikipedian> k how do I get to my talk page lol}}

{{color|navy|[04:29] <Ambassador> wait a bit; don't click anything}}

{{color|navy|[04:30] <Ambassador> right - now, please can you click on  'random article'    which is on the left, just under the wikipedia globe}}

{{color|navy|[04:30] <Ambassador> you'll see some random article. But, the point is...you should also see a big orange thing at the top, saying "you have new messages"}}

[04:31] <NewWikipedian> k

[04:31] <NewWikipedian> i c it

{{color|navy|[04:31] <Ambassador> great}}

{{color|navy|[04:31] <Ambassador> and you can click it, to see the reply.}}

{{color|navy|[04:31] <Ambassador> That's about it.}}

{{color|navy|[04:31] <Ambassador> Whenever anyone leaves you a message on your own talk page, that orange thing appears.}}

{{color|navy|[04:32] <Ambassador> ...and that is how we chat to each other on-wiki}}

{{color|navy|[04:32] <Ambassador> the ~ thing was to 'sign' your name - which does two things;}}

[04:32] <NewWikipedian> the reply goes to the bottom of the page?

{{color|navy|[04:32] <Ambassador> 1. It adds your name, and the date/time}}

{{color|navy|[04:32] <Ambassador> (yes)}}

{{color|navy|[04:32] <Ambassador> 2. It provides a link to your own user page/user talk page}}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> yeah - we always add new stuff at the end of talk pages}}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> a new thing in a new section}}

[04:33] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> if you're replying to something, you can just put it in the same section}}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> you can indent with a colon}}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> Hello ~ }}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> :Hello to you too ~ }}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> ::How are you ~ }}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> :::I'm fine ~ }}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> ...etc.}}

{{color|navy|[04:33] <Ambassador> making a thread}}

[04:34] <NewWikipedian> k

{{color|navy|[04:34] <Ambassador> fantastic}}

{{color|navy|[04:34] <Ambassador> any questions, about anything?}}

[04:34] <NewWikipedian> mmmmmm don't think so

[04:34] <NewWikipedian> oh wait... yes

[04:34] <NewWikipedian> who r u ? :D

{{color|navy|[04:35] <Ambassador> I'm just "Ambassador" :-)}}

{{color|navy|[04:35] <Ambassador> If people want, they can be anonymous. Nobody really knows much about me.}}

{{color|navy|[04:35] <Ambassador> I'm in England.}}

[04:35] <NewWikipedian> man / woman / live in the US?

{{color|navy|[04:35] <Ambassador> Nobody knows if I'm a man or a woman. }}

{{color|navy|[04:35] <Ambassador> They guess, but they're not sure :-)}}

[04:36] <NewWikipedian> mmmmmmm it was like that when I was an msn sysop .. no one knew

{{color|navy|[04:36] <Ambassador> OK - what will impress you - as a web person - is this; the history thing on pages.}}

{{color|navy|[04:36] <Ambassador> If you go back to your test page here;}}

{{color|navy|[04:36] <Ambassador> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:NewWikipedian123/test }}

{{color|navy|[04:36] <Ambassador> ...and then click the 'history' tab}}

{{color|navy|[04:36] <Ambassador> ...I think you'll be impressed}}

{{color|navy|[04:37] <Ambassador> You can see every single edit to the page - ever. You can view any old version. You can undo changes. Nothing is ever lost.}}

{{color|navy|[04:37] <Ambassador> And you'll also see why the 'edit summary' is important}}

{{color|navy|[04:38] <Ambassador> (well...it is on articles, anyway - when there are hundreds of people editing them, for years)}}

[04:38] <NewWikipedian> I saw that page earlier when I was stumbling around trying to make sense of everything earlier today

{{color|navy|[04:38] <Ambassador> great, eh?}}

{{color|navy|[04:38] <Ambassador> so you can see who did what, and when}}

{{color|navy|[04:39] <Ambassador> and you have the links to talk to them}}

[04:39] <NewWikipedian> yes}}

{{color|navy|[04:39] <Ambassador> that's how it all works.}}

{{color|navy|[04:39] <Ambassador> and that's how ALL wikis work - not just English Wikipedia}}

[04:39] <NewWikipedian> nice

{{color|navy|[04:39] <Ambassador> so it's a great skill to know.}}

{{color|navy|[04:39] <Ambassador> Wiktionary, Wikiversity, German/French/Japanese Wikipedia, Wikibooks, Wikiquote, etc etc etc}}

{{color|navy|[04:39] <Ambassador> all same}}

[04:48] <NewWikipedian> nothing like learning something new

{{color|navy|[04:48] <Ambassador> yes; it really is good fun on Wikipedia}}

{{color|navy|[04:49] <Ambassador> I warn you - it's *very* addictive!}}

[04:49] <NewWikipedian> yeah sure ... lol if I don't get it all deleted cuz it's not perfect syntax

{{color|navy|[04:49] <Ambassador> yeah - unfort, it is quite a steep learning curve, the first bit}}

{{color|navy|[04:50] <Ambassador> it's supposed to be 'anyone can edit' - and they can...but...there are all our policies and rules and stuff.}}

{{color|navy|[04:50] <Ambassador> we do try and keep it simple, but it's massive; 3 million articles}}

{{color|navy|[04:50] <Ambassador> there are literally hundreds of edits, every minute, every day}}

{{color|navy|[04:50] <Ambassador> new articles every minute, too}}

[04:51] <NewWikipedian> so I can add something to an article if I have a &lt;ref> link to where it was said elsewhere?

{{color|navy|[04:51] <Ambassador> It has to be 'notable' - which means...}}

{{color|navy|[04:51] <Ambassador> significant coverage in reliable, independent sources}}

{{color|navy|[04:51] <Ambassador> (that's the policy)}}

{{color|navy|[04:51] <Ambassador> so - 3 or more newspaper articles about it, fine}}

{{color|navy|[04:51] <Ambassador> some books}}

{{color|navy|[04:52] <Ambassador> something like that}}

[04:52] <NewWikipedian> always wondered bout that

{{color|navy|[04:52] <Ambassador> (there is a whole lot more to it, but that is the gist of it)}}

[04:52] <NewWikipedian> ppl r always quoting wiki articles

{{color|navy|[04:52] <Ambassador> yes, well...of course, not all articles are good}}

{{color|navy|[04:52] <Ambassador> lots are terrible.}}

{{color|navy|[04:52] <Ambassador> but...you shouldn't trust the article - you should check the references out}}

{{color|navy|[04:53] <Ambassador> we do have quite a lot of articles rated as 'good article' and 'featured article' - they are all pretty accurate}}

{{color|navy|[04:53] <Ambassador> but we do also have a LOT of really bad articles, with no references}}

{{color|navy|[04:53] <Ambassador> we're working on it}}

{{color|navy|[04:54] <Ambassador> the idea is, every day, it gets just a little bit better}}

[04:54] <NewWikipedian> so how'd ya'll delete my additions so quick if you have so many w/o references?

{{color|navy|[04:54] <Ambassador> we watch edits, pretty much as they happen.}}

[04:54] <NewWikipedian> hmm

[04:55] <NewWikipedian> I'll keep trying to add some text til I get it right lol

{{color|navy|[04:56] <Ambassador> heh; well; you can start off w/ easy stuff. Like, just, fixing spelling, or fixing a section heading error, etc.}}

{{color|navy|[04:56] <Ambassador> by doing so, you pick things up; like, IDK, how to change the size of a pic or something}}

[04:56] <NewWikipedian> I'll read the code

{{color|navy|[04:57] <Ambassador> ...and you talk to people, and learn how things work. You maybe get involved with the discussions about deleting bad articles...whatever.}}

[04:57] <NewWikipedian> that's what I do .. analyze code

{{color|navy|[04:57] <Ambassador> There are loads of different things to get involved in.}}

{{color|navy|[04:57] <Ambassador> Ah - yeah - the templates; they're fun}}

{{color|navy|[04:57] <Ambassador> it's not exactly a full-blown programming language}}

{{color|navy|[04:57] <Ambassador> but, it's quite impressive, what you can do}}

{{color|navy|[04:58] <Ambassador> like e.g. that {{unreferenced}} thing. When you add that to an article, it is also put into }}

[04:58] <NewWikipedian> might be fun to learn it

{{color|navy|[04:58] <Ambassador> (only, because that test page was in user space, it actually didn't add it to the category! it's clever)}}

[04:59] <NewWikipedian> so r u retired programmer

{{color|navy|[04:59] <Ambassador> it only adds live articles to the category}}

{{color|navy|[05:00] <Ambassador> My professional background is mostly in IT. Not really programming though - well, a bit}}

[05:08] <NewWikipedian> well I better get to bed.. thanks for your help

{{color|navy|[05:08] <Ambassador> no problems}}

[05:09] <NewWikipedian> nice to meet u btw

{{color|navy|[05:09] <Ambassador> yes - nice to meet you too, NewWikipedian; I hope to see you again. Cheers!}}

[05:10] <NewWikipedian> salute! :D

{{color|DarkGreen|[05:10] * NewWikipedian Quit (Quit: Page closed)}}