Are we kind to newcomers?

Question

I hope we always are but I've been noticing more and more lately that there seem to be an increase in abrupt and/or unkind comments to posts made by folks new to WikiTree. 

While I was perusing Wikipedia earlier, I came across their "Please don't bite the newcomers" page.  That whole page is worth reading but I especially like the first two paragraphs:

Wikipedia articles are improved through the hard work of both regular editors and newcomers. Remember: all of us were new editors at Wikipedia once, and in some ways (such as when editing an article on a topic outside our usual scope) even the most experienced among us are still newcomers.

New members are prospective contributors and are therefore Wikipedia's most valuable resource. We must treat newcomers with kindness and patience—nothing scares potentially valuable contributors away faster than hostility. It is very unlikely for a newcomer to be completely familiar with Wikipedia's markup language and its myriad of policies, guidelines, and community standards when they start editing. Even the most experienced editors may need a gentle reminder from time to time.

Certainly, we can apply the same thoughts here at WikiTree, yes? Just something to keep in mind when engaging with newcomers (or any member) whether it's here in G2G or somewhere else in the tree. :) 

Answer 1

I love the sentiment on that page. We were all new here once, and I remember being gently guided along my way by a number of people here, and I still hold them in high esteem. :-)

Those of you who take the time to welcome, befriend and teach our newer members are invaluable. Thank you!

Answer 2

You guys put up with my sense of humor and antics two years ago and I'm still here. I've found that we're nice to newcomers. The problem is some people tend to come here with bad attitudes and that leads to confrontations.

You do bring up solid points, though. =D

Comments

Sure, but that doesn't mean we need to respond with the same attitude. 

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Of course not. =) There are more creative ways to respond than with vitriol.

Answer 3

It's always good to have a reminder.  Thank you, Eowyn.

Answer 4

Great link for everyone at WikiTree. Thanks, E 

Answer 5

Your timing is perfect Eowyn, I too have noticed some not rude or unkind comments and answers, but maybe impatient is the word.

Especially when newcomers post on here for help, they don’t yet know what they need to include in their question to make it easy for us to help them and it’s so important we remember that and don’t say things that could appear dismissive.

I treasure some of the people who helped me in my early days and I’m now lucky enough to work alongside some of them in Project work :-) all because they coached and guided me both on G2G and personally :-)

Comments

Thank You for bringing it up. Eowyn.  But it is really not anything new.  I've been on this site since 2013.  I no longer even try to work my profiles because of some peoples attitudes.  One can only be put down and critisized for so long before moving on.

In contrast to that I have worked together with some amazing people.

Answer 6

Hear, Hear!!!!!

Thanks Eowyn!

Answer 7

Just so anyone might know: This is a common refrain with Open Source projects everywhere. WikiTree is not alone in this regard. Neither is Wikipedia. Any technically-based collaborative project that is sufficiently advanced with a cohesive community will go through this phase.

Comments

Hence the reminder.  . Thanks!

Answer 8

WikiTree is like any community or workplace, when new people come in who want to learn or be guided, then we are at our best, wanting to help and guide them through the WikiTree world.

It's the people who come in and in our eyes almost immediately have new ideas, or want to suggest changes, or we think are criticising what we do here.  For those people we are more likely to say 'your new, get used to us first', or 'we tried that and it didn't work', or 'who do you think you are, anyway'.

They're the newcomers I think we have to work really hard at welcoming, because new ideas can be challenging, but they can also be exciting.  A way of working we might not have thought of, new possibilities to improve WikiTree.

And yes, realistically those ideas may just not work on WikiTree, but we can still thank them for trying to improve on what they see.

Answer 9

The Wikipedia article is hypocritical in the extreme. I spent two days writing an article on Royal Raymond Rife once, to have the whole thing deleted by a very argumentative member whose sole purpose was to protect the status quo on medical issues. So I wouldn't use Wikipedia as a good example of a co-operative environment.

I do agree with your sentiment though. Newbies need to be encouraged, and to that end I'd like to state that as a relative newbie myself, I've found the community here to be very welcoming. The onboarding process in particular helped orient me to the task at hand.

If I have any criticism about Wikitree it is that the help categories aren't easily navigated, leaving one often with questions on policy which then clutter the G2G pages. Apart from that, it's a cakewalk.

Answer 10

Never hurts to have a reminder; even a 35 year veteran pilot goes to refresher flight school from time to time.

Any way to incorporate a "don't bite the newcomers" statement into the help pages?

Answer 11

Good question, Eowyn. I think we should be kind to everybody, all of the time. I once answered someone's query about registering as a full member, here on G2G to the best of my ability and got shot down in a private communication by someone else on here with a badge, for not quite getting it right. Result: I don't help people as much as I used to, because I don't want the nastiness, particularly in an e-mail. I have medical issues which make my memory not quite as good as it used to be. If I get something wrong, I expect it to be pointed out in a pleasant tone that "thanks for trying but actually it's a not b", but I don't expect to be made to feel like c--p for it, either on the boards or in private message. New people getting treated like that will almost certainly not come back, I know I wouldn't have if I hadn't been here for as long as I had.

Answer 12

I certainly hope everyone is kind to new member, so they feel welcome and like to stay, i think it is so important to be kind to everyone because Wikitree I feel are e big family.

I can’t imagine that any wikitreer would not be kind to all the newcomers.

Comments

Ahhh, but Susan, you have such a good heart you cannot imagine the bad side of some people.  ♥ ♥

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Thank you Melanie you are sweet.  I like to believe the best of wikitreer members so everyone just love being here and found there anchestor with help from the many expert that are here