Jess walked on stage; Amber, Kathy, Jason, Sapph, Jane, and Red at her side. The audience chattered for a moment before dying down, then Jess cleared her throat and stepped up to the podium, adjusting the microphone.
“Hello, everyone. Can you hear me?”
At least twenty people nodded. Megan screamed “YES I CAN!”
“Today I will be presenting you all with something special. A month long challenge. This contest is no trick. It is serious business. Most of you know you belong to the Wiki family, but many of you do not realize how important our family is.
“My relatives, you stand on the brink of our greatest challenge. Each of you have the potential to succeed. Most of you, I’m afraid, will decline the challenge and run away with your tails between your legs. Only one of you will succeed, and each of you must sacrifice your time to participate.” Jess paused, her eyes were as bright and hard as steel. “If you accept, you will be given a chance for glory. I now beg you all to listen to Kathy. Allow her to explain the rules. Think long and hard before you make your choice.” Another pause. “I’m counting on you all. Good luck, and good-bye.”
With that, Jess walked backstage, leaving Kathy at the podium. There was a murmur from the crowd as they let what Jess just said sink in. A challenge? What challenge? What’s in it for them?
Kathy waited at the podium for it to quiet down. “This challenge is a chance to make one of you the User of the Month. Your avatar and a link to your user page will be seen on the Community Corner of the Wiki Activity page. You’ll be celebrated, heaps of awards await you if you accept this challenge and win. Those of you who wish to leave this auditorium and not take part can now.”
Several of the Wikians stood up and left, muttering about this being a time waster. It was decided beforehand that these people will be shunned. Thirty seconds later, it was quiet again.
“The beginning of June launches our month long Stub Editing Contest.” She began again. “We are asking you- yes, you- to take part of our amazing wiki and add to our stubbed pages, making the wiki flourish!”
Eyes in the crowd lighted up, a chance for User of the Month, and making our wiki flourish? That could potentially draw in friends from the actual Message Board! YES!
“If you all would refer to our wiki’s editing policy, there you will find our most basic requirements. There will be a few more rules, to make this challenge work smoothly.”
Kathy continued, “First of all, you have a total of 5 stub edits a day. You can only edit the same article three times a day. All stub edits must be labeled, or they will not count.”
“How do we label our stub edits?” Chu called up from the crowd of eager editors.
“That is probably the best question I have heard all day, Chu.” Jason spoke up, clicking a button from a clicker. On the projector behind the group, this picture showed up:
“We expect you guys to use that “Edit summary” box. In the summary, you need to write: Stub Contest. Only then will we count it.”
Kathy spoke into the mike once again. “You can only edit the same article three times out of those five edits. Any more than that, the edits will be considered spam and not counted.” Jason clicked the clicker again.
For example:
Is acceptable. This will not be counted:
“One word edits will not be counted,” At this, Amber took over the microphone. “Do not remove the stub template, even if the article is full. The administrators will keep score of the edits, and at the end of the month we will let you know who won.
“Here is the twist though: If you do not follow the rules, any of the rules mentioned above or in the Editing policy, you will lose a point. Each point you lose keeps you from getting the grand prize.
“Do you, fellow Wikian’s, accept the challenge?”
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If you have made it this far, that means you have already accepted the challenge or didn't want to read that.
Here are some links that will help you during this contest. These are the only clues that will be handed to you:
Here is a list of Article Stubs. And here is the Editing Policy.
And just for kicks, here are some answers to questions you might have.
Do I get to see where you are keeping score?
No. If you could see it, you could tamper with it, and that will not be allowed. We will reveal the scores to you at the end of the month.
Where are the scores being counted?
You don’t get to know. Sorry.
Do I have to participate?
No, you do not have to participate, but we would love it if you would. It shows us that you are willing to be an active member of our community, and by taking part you stand out above those who don’t.
Also, if you don’t you will be shunned forever. Forever.
Are we going to have more contests?
We might, if this one goes well. Any ideas for different contests are much appreciated.
I do not understand the rules.
Every time you edit a stub article the correct way; with the summary being “Stub Contest” and more than one word or grammar error fixed, you will receive a point. Every time you edit a stub without the summary being “Stub Contest” or a one word or grammar error edit, you will lose a point. Any time you edit a stub properly more than three times in a day, you will lose a point. Any time you edit stubs more than five times a day, you will lose a point. You do not have to have five edits a day, if you can only edit once or twice, that's fine too.
What do I get if I win?
A chance for glory. You get to be our first User of the Month, and you will be recognized in our Community Corner on the Wiki Activity page.
Why does that speech sound familiar?
Please read the first few chapters of The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, starting when Grace Cahill is on video talking to her relatives.
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Good luck, Wikians. The race is on.
Jess 00:40, June 1, 2015 (UTC)