CZ:Quick Start: Difference between revisions

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&nbsp;<br><div style="font-size:20pt">'''Did you just [[Special:RequestAccount|join]]?'''</div>
{{Getting Started}}
'''If you're new to the ''Citizendium''''', we'd love you to dive "write" in.  We recommend two things:
# '''[[CZ:Start_Article|Start an article]].'''
# '''Edit someone else's article.''' How?  Search to find an article on a topic you are interested in.  Or check [[Special:RecentChanges|Recent Changes]], [[:Category:CZ Live|navigate alphabetically]], or find article via a [[CZ:workgroups|Workgroup]].  When you've found an article you want to edit, press the "edit" tab.  Add a few sentences.  It's OK.  They just have to be a helpful addition. 


&nbsp;
Still worried?  
 
<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!'''</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, 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 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:
# '''Start an article.'''  How?  Pick a topic.  Then think of a good title for an encyclopedia article about that topic.  Then go to '''[[CZ:Start Article|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...'''
# '''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]]" or [[CZ:workgroups|workgroups]].  When you've found an article you want to edit, 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.


{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
! Worry||Why I wouldn't worry about that
|-
|-
|The above two steps look deceptively simple.  Don't I actually have to know a lot more to get involved?
|''Don't I have to know a lot more to get involved?''
|Yes and no.  Yes, to really get involved, you should join <span class="plainlinks">[https://lists.purdue.edu/mailman/listinfo/citizendium-l this]</span>, learn some of [[CZ:how to edit an article|this]], learn about [[CZ:Talk Pages|these]], track what's going on [[Special:Recentchanges|here]], and a few other things.  See [[CZ:Getting Started|this]] for lots of good links.  But on the other hand--no.  To start getting involved, all you have to do write and collaborate on articles.  ''That'' is really what it's all about.
|No.  All you have to do is write and collaborate on articles.  ''That'' is what it's all about.  
|-
|-
|I am a non-technical person.
|width=33%|''I am a non-technical person - I'll never be able to figure out how to code the pages.''
|Can you write e-mail? Then you can handle editing a wiki page.
|width=67%|You can learn how to edit by looking at existing pages (just click Edit to open the editor).  Or see ''the top'' of [[CZ:How to edit an article|how to edit an article]]. It's ''not hard''; much of the time, you can just type normal text.
|-
|-
|width=33%|I'm skeptical. I'll never be able to figure out that complicated wiki markup.
|''"Subpages", "metadata"...I'll never figure it out.''
|width=67%|Complicated wiki markup is generally not needed.  Besides, you can pick it 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]].  It's ''not hard.''  Trust us.
|You don't have to.  Do what you like to do: write.  Start with baby steps, and others will help you along the way.  
|-
|-
|Subpages and "metadata"...I'll never figure it out.
|''There are so many [[CZ:Home|instruction and policy pages]]!  How can I ever read all that?''
|Then don't try.  Someone else will add any needed technical mumbo-jumbo.  Baby steps, baby steps.  We don't have an [[CZ:Start Article|Easy Way™]] for nothin'!
|You need not read all that. The only way to really mess up is to do something that gets you banned from the project, such as self-promotion or slinging insults.
|-
|-
|Isn't this a waste of time?  How can you catch up with Wikipedia?
|''I'm no expert, and this is an expert project, right?  I won't fit in.''
|Pish-tosh.  We have the better model, we added more words than Wikipedia did in its first year, and we're accelerating.  The question is, will Wikipedia be able to catch up with us after another five years?  Besides, the world could use a more reliable free encyclopedia, no?  That's why we're here.  See [[CZ:Why Citizendium?|Why Citizendium?]] if you're still unconvinced.
|[[CZ:FAQ#This is an "Expertpedia," isn't it?  Experts only, right?|All levels of knowledge are welcome]]. Experts and the general public work well together, shoulder-to-shoulder.  
|-
|-
|There are ''so many'' instruction and policy pages!  How can I ever read all that?
|Um, who said you had to?  Seriously, you're not neglecting any duties if you fail to read all that.  The only people who do are the people who have to resolve difficult disputes and give advice about our standards.  Everybody else flies by the seats of their pants, and we still love them very much.
|}
|}
See?  No worries!
For ''more'' ideas, see [[CZ:Getting Started|Getting Started]] for good links.


=== Notes ===
<!--{{CZ:New}}-->
''We don't actually require notes, but they are nice.''
<references/>
</div>

Latest revision as of 08:32, 31 October 2024

Citizendium Getting Started
Quick Start | About us | Help system | Start a new article | For Wikipedians  


If you're new to the Citizendium, we'd love you to dive "write" in. We recommend two things:

  1. Start an article.
  2. Edit someone else's article. How? Search to find an article on a topic you are interested in. Or check Recent Changes, navigate alphabetically, or find article via a Workgroup. When you've found an article you want to edit, press the "edit" tab. Add a few sentences. It's OK. They just have to be a helpful addition.

Still worried?

Don't I have to know a lot more to get involved? No. All you have to do is write and collaborate on articles. That is what it's all about.
I am a non-technical person - I'll never be able to figure out how to code the pages. You can learn how to edit by looking at existing pages (just click Edit to open the editor). Or see the top of how to edit an article. It's not hard; much of the time, you can just type normal text.
"Subpages", "metadata"...I'll never figure it out. You don't have to. Do what you like to do: write. Start with baby steps, and others will help you along the way.
There are so many instruction and policy pages! How can I ever read all that? You need not read all that. The only way to really mess up is to do something that gets you banned from the project, such as self-promotion or slinging insults.
I'm no expert, and this is an expert project, right? I won't fit in. All levels of knowledge are welcome. Experts and the general public work well together, shoulder-to-shoulder.

For more ideas, see Getting Started for good links.


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