Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Editor Retention

This is the talk page for discussing WikiProject Editor Retention and anything related to its purposes and tasks.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic.
New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help.

Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36: 20 days

WikiProject Editor Retention was featured in a WikiProject Report in the Signpost on 22 April 2013.

This WikiProject has been mentioned by a media organization:

Tom Simonite (October 22, 2013). "The Decline of Wikipedia". MIT Technology Review. In July 2012, some editors started a page called WikiProject Editor Retention with the idea of creating a place to brainstorm ideas about helping newcomers and fostering a friendlier atmosphere. Today the most vibrant parts of that project's discussion page have gripes about "bullying done by administrators," debates over whether "Wikipedia has become a bloody madhouse," and disputes featuring accusations such as "You registered an account today just to have a go at me?"

One of our most obvious objectives in editor retention is to forward the idea of equality, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or creed. No one who discriminates may advertise here or be in any way a part of WER. Discrimination is completely against our entire mission, and will neither be endorsed nor tolerated.

Previous conversations about newbies, all in one place, so we can harvest ideas for solutions and not re-hash them

This section is pinned and will not be automatically archived.

This is a library of sorts. Open 24/7. No library card is required and no fines will be levied.

Back on July 1, 2012, Dennis Brown said: "I'm seeing a lot of discussion in a lot of places regarding editor retention, but not a coordinated effort. This is that coordinated effort, a way for us to actually do something beside speak out in random venues."

Retention vs attraction

This is a passing comment. I looked at Wikipedia:WikiProject Databases which is dead and articles in that area are close to death so to speak. I do nott have too much time to manage them. Could someone here do something? Thanks Yesterday, all my dreams... (talk) 16:56, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

I suggest looking at articles within its scope that have a lot of recent edits on the article page or talk page, and posting on the corresponding talk page to loo k for interested volunteers. isaacl (talk) 19:09, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

I was hoping that the young and energetic people here would do that... Yesterday, all my dreams... (talk) 19:50, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

That's not what Editor Retention is for. Intothat darkness 20:11, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

Historically speaking, I can't recall a case where posting a proposal for article improvement here has led to other people developing that proposal further, but hope springs eternal... Odds are, you're the youngest, in terms of English Wikipedia experience, and most energetic, with respect to your specific area of interest, one here. isaacl (talk) 20:19, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

Plus there is no one here that meets your requirements. Most of us are old and jaded. Buster Seven Talk (UTC) 20:23, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

Well, thank you all for your warm and kind responses. Yesterday, all my dreams... (talk) 01:43, 7 January 2026 (UTC)

Mark Miller

Editor Mark Miller has passed away. Mark was instrumental in the earliest days (late 2012) of the Editor of the Week award. He was known as User Amadscientist back then and was an integral participant in the creation discussions for Wikipedia:WikiProject Editor Retention. The awards and banners that I still use stem from his creativity. Over the years he was an infrequent but welcome visitor to second a nomination or to add his two cents to a discussion. He will be missed. Buster Seven Talk (UTC) 06:58, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Idea on how to retain editors and raise activity

You may be interested in the following proposal in the Community Wishlist – I think it could be very effective in retaining editors and to raise editor activity or make them become part of the community:

On a related note, it seems like there's no info on suggested tasks on the WikiProject page. And maybe link(s) could be added to some page that's linked on this page. Lastly, I think the welcome talk page post as well as welcome & verification email could also have some editor-activating links/info. Prototyperspective (talk) 14:41, 3 March 2026 (UTC)

Related Articles