Message Wall is a new feature that is replacing User Talk Pages. We'll use this space to keep you updated about feedback received and changes we're working on.
Status
Test version not yet live. (as of 9/27/11)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will signatures and templates still work?
A: Yes, we're working to make sure that as much wikitext as possible will render as it currently does now. Bylines will also built in to each message, so adding a signature will be optional.
Q: Will this feature be optional?
A: No, this feature is designed to fully replace the experience of User Talk Pages across Wikia. Currently, our plan is for this to be a site-wide change that will affect all wikis.
Q: Will other people be able to see my messages?
A: Yes, all messages are public.
Q: Will the Welcome Bot still work?
A: Yes, our current plan is that the Welcome Bot will work as it currently does: leaving the first message on a wall, signed by the most recently active admin. (Note: if you've customized your welcome message, you may need to re-customize it when this feature goes live.) However, we'll be examining this functionality in the testing phase to see if it's the best configuration.
Q: Will this make it harder to keep up with spam?
A: We certainly hope not! We care a lot about spam and vandalism control, too, and will be refining our system during the testing phase to make sure it's as manageable as it can be.
We Hear Your Feedback
We'll be collecting and evaluating feedback as we go. Here are some of the concerns and suggestions we've heard from you. (Please note: this is just a summary of feedback, not our official To Do list.)
- Requests to make it optional.
- Concerns about it being too similar to existing social networking sites.
- Concerns about the name.
- If Talk Pages are permanently archived, links won't stay current and Special:WantedPages will become cluttered.
- Many users currently have messages at the top of their talk pages, with instructions on how to get support. This may be important with the new system, too.
- A ban feature for message walls only.
- A Preview button.
- Ability to delete any messages, and/or archive any messages. (Lots of use cases for each of these.)
- Ability to customize automat signatures.
- Table of Contents
- Ability to arrange archives by priority, topic, or recent activity.
- Ability to import a user's Talk Page archives to the new system.
- Ability to View Source on a comment (especially for collaborative technical discussions).
- Allow the total number of conversations on a page to be customizable.
- Need ability to leave messages w/bots.
Quick Links
- Pre-Launch Announcement - (best place to leave feedback right now)