RecoveredNS112:Why create a Wikademia account

This page explains why Wikiversity participants should create a user account.

File:View source button.png

When a page is semiprotected, anyone who is not logged into a user account cannot edit the page.

Benefits explained

The English language version of Wikiversity now has 5 registered users. It has been designated as an official project of the Wikimedia Foundation since August of 2006.

Username

If you create an account, you can pick a username. When you edit Wikiversity pages while logged in, all of the contributions you make will be associated with your username. That means you will get full credit for your contributions to Wikiversity. In contrast, when you are not logged in, the edits are just assigned to your IP address. You can also view all your contributions by clicking the "My contributions" link, which is visible only when you are logged in.

You will have your own permanent user page where you can write a bit about yourself. For example, you can describe your learning goals on your user page.

Registered users have two personal pages including "my talk", watched pages and contributions lists, and the ability to edit semiprotected pages.

You will have a permanent user talk page you can use to communicate with other users. You will be notified whenever someone writes a message on your talk page. If you choose to give an e-mail address (use the "preferences" link), other users will be able to contact you by e-mail. This feature is anonymous; the user who emails you will not know your e-mail address.

File:Locked.png

If you are not logged in to a user account, semiprotected pages can be viewed but not edited.

Reputation and privacy

You do not need to reveal your offline identity, but having an account gives you a fixed Wikiversity identity that other users will recognize. Editing Wikiversity while logged in lets you build trust and respect through a history of good edits. It is also easier to communicate and collaborate with an editor if we know who you are (at least, who you are on Wikiversity). It is also easier for veteran users to assume good faith from new users who take the effort to create an account (and you may well become a veteran user yourself some day!).

If you are not logged in, all your edits are publicly associated with your IP address at the time of that edit. If you log in, all your edits are publicly associated with your account name, and are internally associated with your IP address. See Wikiversity's privacy policy for more information on this practice.

You are actually more anonymous (though more pseudonymous) logged in than you are as an "anonymous" editor, owing to the hiding of your IP address. Before selecting your username you should consider various factors, including privacy and the possibility of offline harassment. For example, if you include personal information such as your email address in your Wikiversity username you may attract junk mail to your email account.

See also

• create a Wikiversity user account
• Wikiversity:Username