Start by implementing the anti-spam measures that have been in the pipeline for oh-so-long, and which would finally make the Wiki sidebar relevant, instead of creating an ugh field around even visiting the Wiki—as I suspect is currently the case.
Next, rather than implement complex reward features such as the one proposed above, just try to catch posts and comments that contain Wiki-suitable material and point that out to their authors. Also, lead by example.
If so, not a particularly serious issue, as MediaWiki is GPL2ed (not sure what is the relevance of your remark that each wiki account has a userpage; userpages are not created automatically on registration, at least in the LW wiki configuration).
I meant that if a userpage was automatically created (I was under the impression that they were, based on this user list and my experience on Wikipedia—feel free to correct me), then it would count as a recent “change” and show up in the recent changes list.
I don’t think they are. I rarely have to delete user pages because most spammers never create a user page. The items in the sidebar with my name seem to refer to me blocking the user accounts.
Start by implementing the anti-spam measures that have been in the pipeline for oh-so-long, and which would finally make the Wiki sidebar relevant, instead of creating an ugh field around even visiting the Wiki—as I suspect is currently the case.
Totally this. It’s hard for me to take the wiki seriously when spam is such a problem.
Other ideas: make a regular post highighting recent good edits to the wiki, and thanking the authors.
This! Regular posts with a breakdown of good recent progress and desired articles sounds like a wonderful thing. I love the current occasional posts that do this on other topics.
I strongly second this suggestion. If the spam posts can be eliminated, then people who make edits can be more prominently recognized on the “recent changes” page, instead of it filling up with spam.
Start by implementing the anti-spam measures that have been in the pipeline for oh-so-long, and which would finally make the Wiki sidebar relevant, instead of creating an ugh field around even visiting the Wiki—as I suspect is currently the case.
Next, rather than implement complex reward features such as the one proposed above, just try to catch posts and comments that contain Wiki-suitable material and point that out to their authors. Also, lead by example.
As a related attention-focusing change, remove user registration notifications from (the default form of) the “Recent changes” page.
I suspect that this is hard coded actually, as each wiki account has a userpage (User:[username]), which is itself wiki-editable.
If so, not a particularly serious issue, as MediaWiki is GPL2ed (not sure what is the relevance of your remark that each wiki account has a userpage; userpages are not created automatically on registration, at least in the LW wiki configuration).
I meant that if a userpage was automatically created (I was under the impression that they were, based on this user list and my experience on Wikipedia—feel free to correct me), then it would count as a recent “change” and show up in the recent changes list.
I don’t think they are. I rarely have to delete user pages because most spammers never create a user page. The items in the sidebar with my name seem to refer to me blocking the user accounts.
(I already did, in the comment you’ve replied to...)
Totally this. It’s hard for me to take the wiki seriously when spam is such a problem.
Other ideas: make a regular post highighting recent good edits to the wiki, and thanking the authors.
...and at the end of that post suggest the next topics that should be created or improved.
This! Regular posts with a breakdown of good recent progress and desired articles sounds like a wonderful thing. I love the current occasional posts that do this on other topics.
I strongly second this suggestion. If the spam posts can be eliminated, then people who make edits can be more prominently recognized on the “recent changes” page, instead of it filling up with spam.
I agree that spam is making it less appealing to participate in the wiki community.