User:Rivertorch/RevisedAnonymousWelcomeTemplate

Template:AnonymousWelcome is up for discussion. While I have used the template rather extensively, I hadn't inspected it carefully in a long time, and several good points have been raised about its wording. In response, I have drafted a replacement template.

Proposed new (or revised) template

Welcome to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia!

We look forward to working with you on building the most comprehensive, reliable encyclopedia in the world. For an introduction to Wikipedia, click here. If you need help, feel free to ask me on my talk page or go to Wikipedia:Questions. Please sign your comments on talk pages by typing four tildes (~~~~).

You don't have to log in to edit articles on Wikipedia, but creating an account is quick and free, doesn't require any personal information, and offers many advantages, such as:

The ability to select a username of your choice and, optionally, to use the same username when working on other Wikimedia projects
The ability to view a list of your contributions and the use of your own personal watchlist to let you to keep track of articles that interest you
Your own customizable user page and talk page
The optional ability to receive e-mail messages from other users without revealing your e-mail address
The ability to rename pages, upload images and other files, and use advanced editing tools
The ability to customize the way Wikipedia pages appear on your monitor
The eligibility to become an administrator (a user with special tools to help make Wikipedia run more smoothly)
The ability to develop an identity and trusted reputation without risking being confused with someone who shares your IP address

For more information about the benefits of creating an account, click here. Or click here to create an account now.

Whether you create an account or prefer to continue editing from your IP address, we're glad you're here. Thanks for contributing to Wikipedia!

Improvements

The new wording

includes additional welcoming language at both the beginning and the end;
states explicitly that users are valued even if they choose not to register;
provides links to intro and help pages;
asks users to sign talk page comments and explains how;
contains a thoroughly overhauled list of registration benefits, with fewer bulleted points that are more logically arranged and revised wording that is more up-to-date and conveys more information more clearly. Please note there is now no mention of XfD votes.

Current wording and proposed wording, viewed side by side

CURRENT VERSION
Welcome to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia! You don't have to log in to read or edit articles on Wikipedia, but creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, requires you to provide no personal information, and gives you many benefits, including:

The use of a username of your choice

The ability to view all your contributions via a "My contributions" link

Your own user page

Your own talk page which, if you choose, also allows users to send you messages without knowing your e-mail address

The use of your own personal watchlist to which you can add articles that interest you

The ability to rename pages

The ability to upload images

The ability to customize the appearance and behaviour of the website

The eligibility to become an Administrator or Sysop (can delete and undelete pages, protect them from being edited, edit protected pages, and block users for violation of our policies)

The right to be heard in formal votes and elections, and on pages like votes for deletion

Create an account.Rivertorch/RevisedAnonymousWelcomeTemplate

PROPOSED REVISION/REPLACEMENT

Welcome to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia!

We look forward to working with you on building the most comprehensive, reliable encyclopedia in the world. For an introduction to Wikipedia, click here. If you need help, feel free to ask me on my talk page or go to Wikipedia:Questions. Please sign your comments on talk pages by typing four tildes (~~~~).

You don't have to log in to edit articles on Wikipedia, but creating an account is quick and free, doesn't require any personal information, and offers many advantages, such as:

The ability to select a username of your choice and, optionally, to use the same username when working on other Wikimedia projects
The ability to view a list of your contributions and the use of your own personal watchlist to let you to keep track of articles that interest you
Your own customizable user page and talk page
The optional ability to receive e-mail messages from other users without revealing your e-mail address
The ability to rename pages, upload images and other files, and use advanced editing tools
The ability to customize the way Wikipedia pages appear on your monitor
The eligibility to become an administrator (a user with special tools to help make Wikipedia run more smoothly)
The ability to develop an identity and trusted reputation without risking being confused with someone who shares your IP address

Learn more about the benefits of creating an account. Or create your account now.

Whether you create an account or prefer to continue editing from your IP address, we're glad you're here. Thanks for contributing to Wikipedia!

Feedback

Comments and suggestions are much appreciated. (I'm aware there may be coding errors; I'm a template virgin. If I get positive feedback here, I might want to play around with background colors to make it a little more attrative, but I've tried to keep things simple for this draft.)

I placed a colon in front of the category Welcome templates, thus removing this page from the category while it is under development. Other than that, I like what I see here. Keep up the good work. Senator2029 (talk) 18:17, 9 March 2012 (UTC)