Forum:Become a Liaison: Guidelines and Policy

Becoming a Liaison is an unofficial effort to reach out to new (unregistered) authors with the ultimate goal of gaining new members. Liaisons also can connect with new (registered) users with the ultimate goal of creating a welcome environment.
 * It is easy and anyone can be a Liaison.
 * Comments and discussions are on the talk page.

Policy for new authors:
Liaison policy is unofficial and is only posted so that individual members may unite in a focused effort.
 * 1) Respect of all non-vandal authors: Treating them just as members of the community.
 * 2) Taking the time: Adopting a method to systematically allow openings for invitations to join.

Guidelines for new authors:
Talk to new authors. Use individual discretion on when to do this and keep it related to the authors contributions. This may build a rapport with the author. If the situation calls for it, invite the new author to join the community.


 * 1) Thank new authors. If a new author adds contributions that doesn't need clean-up, you can always thank them.
 * 2) Try to discern what the author intended to add and transform it into content that is usable.
 * 3) This may not always be possible and the edit may have to be removed.
 * 4) When needing to delete an authors edit, use UNDO and have a summary that alerts other Liaisons to look into it as well. Ex. Cannot discern content
 * 5) Take the time to copy the authors edit and post it on their talk page with a follow up question on what was intended.
 * 6) Encourage new authors. If a new author is adding sub-standard content, you can point this out but encourage improvement and further edits. Always let the author know that we will always try and keep any content they wish to add.

These are methods in which the community may have many more possible invitations to join without being overbearing.

Guidelines for new users:
Talk to new users. Individual discretion is used and you must be prepared to follow up. Don't take on the whole wiki yourself.

If you have any common ground on the authors edits, make a friendly comment on their talk page.

If someone is having trouble keeping their content up, offer up assistance on their talk page:
 * 1) Don't assume that new users read the summaries. You can follow up with direct explanation.
 * 2) Give them a nudge in the right direction. Eg. If they are putting up information in the wrong place.
 * 3) Tell them how to do a grammar check (source button).
 * 4) Encourage them to directly edit, you may suggest a alternative that they can use.
 * 5) Lastly, you can be an advocate and offer to edit on their behalf.

Otherwise, just be helpful in general. When the situation calls for it:
 * 1) Anytime an opportunity presents itself, start their talk page and add a comment.
 * 2) Provide links to information.

Declaration:
Everyone knows that people will post things that doesn't meet up to the standard. A Liaison understands that the gap between good content and bad grammar is attainable. Furthermore, even a small child can know things about games and it is up to us adults to recognize the intent and treat that intent with respect. The only true goal is improving the wiki content and providing a friendly environment.

Policy on members:
As a Liaison, it might become necessary to intervene with another member of the community. Understand that you must be respectful to the member but your ultimate loyalties are to wiki content and respect of all authors.

Contributions:
17:33, March 11, 2011 (UTC)