Template talk:Welcome

Derived from the Wikipedia version. Use {{subst:welcome}} to include it on a talk page. -- Taxibot Yellow 15:40, 24 Feb 2006 (PST)

I didn't even realize this was here and was getting ready to add it. Anyway, I've expanded it and added some info that may not be obvious (like changing your password and the RSS feed). --StarGeek 14:00, 3 July 2006 (PDT)

Sign or depersonalize?

Currently, the welcome message is worded in such a way that it sounds very much like a message left from one user to another, even if it does sound like a bit standardized. Language like "I hope you like..." and "If you need help, ask me on my talk page..." very much suggest that it's from one user to another.

However, this template is very often used without being signed, contrary to its own request: "Please sign your name on talk pages using four tildes (~~~~)".

I would like to propose that one of the following two changes be made:

1. We change the language to be less of a personal greeting. Get rid of references to "I" and "me", for example.

2. We make the template automatically sign itself. This can be used by adding this: ~~<noinclude></noinclude>~~. When using subst:, this will evaluate to become an actual signature. (I've seen the trick used in the past on other wikis.)

I think it's worth changing one way or the other. Without a signature, it sets a bad precedent to new users. It can also be a bit disorienting--I know my reaction to it was "cool, I'm being welcomed... but by who?".

Any thoughts? Since Snorii's the main person using this, I'd rather not make any changes to it until he has a chance to comment. -- Sekoia 15:56, 24 April 2007 (PDT)

Aggelakis brought the signing up on the forums, so I went ahead and added the auto-signing feature. It required a bit of "magic" (mentioned above) but should work. -- Sekoia 22:07, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

helpme

From the welcome message:

...or place {{helpme}} on your talk page and someone will show up shortly to answer your questions...

Template:Helpme adds the page to Category:Paragonians looking for help. Does anybody actively monitor that category? If not, maybe we should encourage people who need help to visit the forums or something instead? -- Sekoia 16:00, 24 April 2007 (PDT)