ParaWiki:Tutorial

From Paranormal and Metaphysical Wiki

ParaWiki is, like many wikis, freely editable by anyone. Well, anyone with a computer :)

With the current (January 2009) state of the wiki, almost any helpful edit you make will be welcome, although quality edits from reliable sources are best, at least for the mainspace articles. The Grimoire section is different matter; you may add whatever you please that fits into that section's gist.

A few important do's and don'ts:

Do:

• Add information, and say where you got it from (include links to websites and page numbers and ISBNs of books)
• Create articles if you have any information on the subject. Even a sentence or two will do for a start.
• Try to include multiple viewpoints into articles. Most of our subject matter is about things that are, at best, not fully known. Rival, notable theories can be given equal space, and lesser-known ideas can also be fitted in.
• Treat your fellow editors and their work with respect. Even if they're wrong. We can all learn from our mistakes. Remember that some editors may still be in school - do you expect them to be experts?
• Ask if you don't know something. The answer is usually 42, but ask anyway.
• Make your and other people's time here pleasurable. Nobody's getting paid, so don't make it feel like work!

Don't:

• Add nonsense or parody, or similarly waste your time - it takes you far longer to write it than for one of us to click Undo, mwahahahaaa.
• Insult or disparage fellow editors where they are acting in good faith. It is better to explain someone's mistake to them than to call them a moron. Have you always been right?
• Add spam, although links to local investigative group websites etc may be allowed. Basically, no using the site to sell stuff. Why not? Because Wikia depends on paid advertising to pay for hosting all of its wikis. If someone undercuts that, then Wikia loses money, and cannot host as much as it would like. Ask first if in doubt.
• Breach anybody's copyright. If someone else created the photograph, text or other file that you wish to copy make sure you have their written permission to copy it here. ParaWiki is hosted by Wikia, which is based in the USA; US copyright law applies to use of files on ParaWiki.

Happy editing!