CZ:Quick Start: Difference between revisions

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imported>Larry Sanger
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<div style="font-size:24pt">'''Did you just [[Special:RequestAccount|join]]?'''</div>
<div style="font-size:20pt">'''Did you just [[Special:RequestAccount|join]]?'''</div>


&nbsp;
&nbsp;


<div style="font-size:16pt; text-align:center">'''Want to get started, but don't know how?'''</div>
<div style="font-size:20pt; text-align:center">'''Want to get started, but don't know how?'''</div>


&nbsp;


<div style="font-size:20pt; text-align:right">'''Well, don't panic!<ref>With apologies to Douglas Adams.</ref>  Just dive in!'''<br></div>
<div style="font-size:20pt; text-align:right">'''Well, don't panic!<ref>With apologies to [[Douglas Adams]].</ref>  Just dive in!'''</div>


<div style="font-size:12pt;"><br><br>


'''If you're new to the ''Citizendium'' fold,''' we love you already, and we want you to get to work right away.  We want it to be as easy as possible, and we ''don't'' want you to be intimidated by extremely high standards that either you have, or that you ''imagine'' we have!  Yes, we want high quality.  But we ain't pretentious, and we know that Rome wasn't built in a day.  It's a ''wiki.''  That means "fast."  It does not mean "when I feel ready to produce brilliant work."  Brilliance happens ''later.''
'''If you're new to the ''Citizendium'' fold,''' we love you already, and we want you to get to work right away, whether you're an author or an editor.  We want it to be as easy as possible, and we ''don't'' want you to be intimidated by extremely high standards that either you have, or that you ''imagine'' we have!  Yes, we want high quality.  But we ain't pretentious, and we know that Rome wasn't built in a day.  It's a ''wiki.'' Don't know what that means? That means "fast."  It does not mean "when I feel ready to produce brilliant work."  Brilliance happens ''later.''


'''What is the first thing you should do after you join?'''  While you can do whatever you like (it's a wiki!), we recommend two things:
'''What is the first thing you should do after you join?'''  While you can do whatever you like (it's a wiki!), we recommend two things:
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# '''Edit someone else's article.'''  How?  Find an article on a topic you are interested in or know a lot about.  (You can use the search box, or [[:Category:CZ Live|navigate alphabetically]], or enter via "[[Main Page|top articles]].")  Then, press the "edit" tab.  Add a few sentences.  It's OK.  They just have to be a reasonably helpful addition.  They don't have to be absolutely brilliant.  Brilliance happens ''later.''
# '''Edit someone else's article.'''  How?  Find an article on a topic you are interested in or know a lot about.  (You can use the search box, or [[:Category:CZ Live|navigate alphabetically]], or enter via "[[Main Page|top articles]].")  Then, press the "edit" tab.  Add a few sentences.  It's OK.  They just have to be a reasonably helpful addition.  They don't have to be absolutely brilliant.  Brilliance happens ''later.''


But you are worried?  Seriously, there is no need for that.  Let's cover some main worries.
Are you still worried?  Seriously, there is no need for that.  Let's cover some main worries.


{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
! Worry||Why I wouldn't worry about that
! Worry||Why I wouldn't worry about that
|-
|-
|width=33%|Here is my worry
|I am a non-technical person.
|width=67%|Here is why you shouldn't worry
|Can you write e-mail?  Then you can handle editing a wiki page.
|-
|width=33%|I'll never be able to figure out that complicated wiki markup.
|width=67%|Complicated wiki markup is generally not needed.  Besides, you can pick up by looking at what other people do.  If you want the basics, look at ''the top'' of [[CZ:How to edit an article|this page]].
|}
|}
See?  No worries!
See?  No worries!
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''We don't actually require notes, but they are nice.''
''We don't actually require notes, but they are nice.''
<references/>
<references/>
</div>

Revision as of 14:54, 20 March 2008

Did you just join?

 

Want to get started, but don't know how?

 

Well, don't panic![1] Just dive in!


If you're new to the Citizendium fold, we love you already, and we want you to get to work right away, whether you're an author or an editor. We want it to be as easy as possible, and we don't want you to be intimidated by extremely high standards that either you have, or that you imagine we have! Yes, we want high quality. But we ain't pretentious, and we know that Rome wasn't built in a day. It's a wiki. Don't know what that means? That means "fast." It does not mean "when I feel ready to produce brilliant work." Brilliance happens later.

What is the first thing you should do after you join? While you can do whatever you like (it's a wiki!), we recommend two things:

  1. Start an article. How? Pick a topic. Then think of a good title for an encyclopedia article about that topic. Then go to Start Article, handily linked on your left--and do it the Easy Way™! Just write a paragraph or two about the topic, beginning with a definition of the concept, or a description of what a thing is notable for. We don't mind very short articles, as long as they have a couple of sentences. They'll be expanded later, trust us. Then...
  2. Edit someone else's article. How? Find an article on a topic you are interested in or know a lot about. (You can use the search box, or navigate alphabetically, or enter via "top articles.") Then, press the "edit" tab. Add a few sentences. It's OK. They just have to be a reasonably helpful addition. They don't have to be absolutely brilliant. Brilliance happens later.

Are you still worried? Seriously, there is no need for that. Let's cover some main worries.

Worry Why I wouldn't worry about that
I am a non-technical person. Can you write e-mail? Then you can handle editing a wiki page.
I'll never be able to figure out that complicated wiki markup. Complicated wiki markup is generally not needed. Besides, you can pick up by looking at what other people do. If you want the basics, look at the top of this page.

See? No worries!

Notes

We don't actually require notes, but they are nice.

  1. With apologies to Douglas Adams.