[Wikipedia-l] Re: Strong request for a new edit window boilerplate

Wed Nov 13 20:16:08 UTC 2002

On Wednesday 13 November 2002 11:24 am, wikipedia-l-request at wikipedia.org 
wrote:
Axel Boldt wrote:
> I think that's a good idea. I would modify the text a bit: the rules
> are more about *contributing* rather than *using*, i.e. reading. Maybe
>
>     "By pressing save you indicate that you agree to the rules
>      and conditions of contributing to this website"
>
> or even nicer
>
>      "By pressing save you indicate that you agree to the rules
>       of our community."
>
> This could replace the current GFDL copyright notice.
>
> In any event, the [[Wikipedia:Wikipetiquette]] document right now is a
> joke and can in this form not be made part of the rules. E.g. rule 1:
> "Try to say something positive for each complaint you make." ?? If
> Wikipetiquette is to be included, than it has to be a minimalistic
> version: be polite, no personal attacks.
>
> Axel

I really like your rewording and idea to replace the ancient GFDL copyright 
notice. But it probably is still a good idea to save the core message of the 
GFDL for legal reasons (since authors give up certain rights to control their 
work when it is under the GFDL). So how about this;

       "By pressing save you indicate that you agree to the rules
        of our community and also agree to license your own work under terms     
        of the GNU Free Documentation License."

'rules of our community' would be a link to a very simplified version of our 
core policies, 'license' would be a link to Wikipedia:Copyrights, and 'GNU 
Free Documentation License' would be a direct link to our local (and 
protected) copy of GNU FDL. All the links should open up in a new window.

My idea might be too link heavy so I'm not too attached to the second or third 
links (which would be linked on the simplified policy page anyway).  

Somebody already mentioned a 'users bill of rights'. It would be nice to have 
that also linked from the simplified policy page.

-- Daniel Mayer (aka mav)