Wikipedia opening a Teahouse?, Not to be confused with Teahot Options

[melloden]

I noticed this developing "Teahouse" project today. It seems to be yet another one of their make-new-editors-fit-in initiatives, and given that it's being organized by "community fellows" I would assume that the WMF is paying for this.

The Teahouse is a populated, user-friendly welcome center/help space that organizes experienced editors to actively reach out to new users in a many-to-many setting and provides on-wiki encouragement and peer support to promising new editors to promote increased engagement and retention.

Here's the problem I see with them wasting time and money on things like this, which are destined to end up as useless like every previous program with the same goal (Wiki Guides? Mood Bar? Wiki Love?): Wikipediots don't want to be "user-friendly" and "reach out." They're usually nerds, antisocial Internet addicts, or awkward social outcasts who don't understand the concepts of "encouragement" or "peer support."

Why does the WMF not realize this? Or does this Teahouse idea actually have a chance or succeeding? I doubt it.

[timbo]

I was invited to participate at the Teahouse but turned down the offer since it was not limited to English WP and I have no desire to learn about, participate in, or promote in any way Wikimedia Commons...

Basically I believe that the "tea house" concept is to establish a big help desk for editing tips, recommendations of where certain content might be best applicable (WP vs. Commons vs. Wiktionary, etc.), and so forth.

The concept seems related to helping serious new editors through the steep learning curve at WP.

I just found the original email, which did come from a WMF employee, I believe:

First, thanks for all your contributions to Wikipedia! I've noticed you have a special "knack" for working with new users on English Wikipedia. On that note, I'd like to take the time to personally invite you to apply to participate in a new pilot project that we are developing: Wikipedia Teahouse.

The project focuses around a new, fresh, on-Wikipedia environment that will bring together Wiki-educated, friendly and experienced users with promising new users. This will be based on a "many-to-many" environment - you'll be working with a great team of Hosts, and helping us truly create a fresh and cool environment to help inspire and educate new users. All with the hopes that they move on to become experienced editors like ourselves, and inspire others, as well!

Please visit http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:Teahouse/Hosts to learn more about he role I hope you'll consider, and you'll find a link to our quick and easy application at the bottom.

Thanks Carrite, and please feel free to email me with any questions, or concerns! I look forward to hosting with you...at the Teahouse!

This post has been edited by timbo: