When To Sign

There is an entry in the Wiki FAQ about the use of Wiki Signatures, but what's really needed is for wikizens to explore the issues themselves; it's no good trying to impose cultural standards from one wiki (or person) on another.

So, When To Sign?

• Always?
• Never?
• When writing in the first person?
• When writing something which refers to oneself?
• When one wishes to add a stamp of endorsement (eg "Flamethrowers will no longer be allowed in the OUSFG Library -- OUSFG Librarian")?

Some things to read:

• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WikiSignature
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?UseSignatures
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?AvoidSignatures
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?ToSignOrNotToSign
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?SignYourWork
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WhenYouSignYourName
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WithoutSignature
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?TypesOfSignature
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?NoNamesPlease
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?OurWordsNotYours
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?OurWordsNotMine

And perhaps:

• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WikiUserNamesHaveFallenOutOfStyle
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?BecomingAnonymous
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WikiCopyRights
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?RefactorWhileRespectingSignatures
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?PleaseDontDeleteMyName
• http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?ChangingTheMeaningOfSignedContributions

We can ignore <http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?InitialsAsSignatures> because we have a technical solution - we can make initials into Wiki Names.

Might there not also be a technical solution to how often Wiki Names were needed, namely some sort of change-history for each page which would show you a rough idea of who modified what when...? What modified when, yes; who, maybe not (it's technically doable but difficult, and anyway, comes straight back to the philosophical crux).

Category Wiki