EvoWiki/Discussions/Main Page

This is a reference page. It contains pure source material rather than an article. As such, please refrain from editing what is preserved here, except to make corrections. We have more of these out back. EvoWiki is now a project of the RMF. Article originally here.

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Minor, but prominent HTML dumpage

On [[Main_Page]] is presently two visible closing (literal) TD html tags. Those shouldn't be there. --[[User:ChadMiller|ChadMiller]] 23:57, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

It does look untidy. --[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 01:21, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

Directory versus Contents

Does anybody have any views on what the heading of the page listing section should be? Current is "Directory", but "Contents" or "Index" might look better... -- [[User:Steinsky|Steinsky]] 15:21, 19 Sep 2003 (BST)

I would change the heading of "Directory" to "Contents" to be more consistent with usage. -- Jerry Farm 2004.05.05 jfarmnospam@treeswallow.com

The directory

I reformatted the lists in the directory, after the flood sub-pages were removed, so that the directory covers all the important general topics, I don't think the front page should get too cluttered with lots of individual arguments, but these should be listed on the relevant topic pages. Hope nobody's too annoyed with me reverting their hard work! --[[User:Steinsky|Steinsky]] 20:23, 23 Aug 2003 (BST)

Can we have a link to our extensive fallacy list somewhere in the directory, probably under "philosophy of science"? --[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 12:44, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Front page organization

Our Front Page started out very nicely formatted but has gotten a bit messy as we add announcements, etc. to the top stuff. Perhaps we could emulate http://www.wikipedia.org/ with just a short and sweet introduction at the top of the front page, then the sectional links? Probably the very brief intro would need links to (1) a longer intro for newbies, including how-to-start-EvoWiki-ing, (2) A "what's new" page including both links to Special pages and links to articles we want to highlight, and (3) an EvoWikipedian news/discussion page which is the central place for us to bring up issues/announcements etc. IMO, other suggestions welcome... --[[User:Oplopanax|oplo]]

OK, I'm fine with this is you want to ahead and create maybee an [[EvoWiki:News]] and [[EvoWiki:How to start using EvoWiki]] page, and move things there (open to suggestions for better page titles etc...). I also think some of the more minor pages on the Main Page Directory could be removed and placed on pages like [[List of Evolution topics]] and [[List of controversies]].. --[[User:Steinsky|Steinsky]] 19:23, 26 Dec 2003 (GMT)

Some more external links

Perhaps these should go in the "Resources" section on the main page:

• The Tree of Life web page: http://www.tolweb.org/
• Wikispecies: the same idea, but user-editable: http://species.wikipedia.org/

Other

I don't know if there's a way to change the navigation list to the left of the main page. In any case, the third link, "Creationist claims", is a broken link. The only difference between it and the link that works is a case difference. Solutions: (1) Fix the link. (2) Either make the site case-insensitive so there could not be two pages with a difference of case, or set such differences to automatically redirect. -GRB.

Inactivity?

How comes there hasnt been a post on this page since feburary? this site is so neccessary, and thats y it needs to be constantly on the change!!! I just wanted to say that the picture at the top right of this page looks a bit wierd. maybe a better pictures is possible? if anyone can find a better one then please do so!!!! Ar! just realised u cant edit this page :(. O well... does this page have to be protected? and if so how comes there isnt any explanation as to why on the link to [[project:protect]] page?

If this page were not protected, it would be the main victim of vandalism. What do you want to change? Just write it here, someone will make the changes. --[[User:Thomas Kettenring|tk]] [[User_talk:Thomas_Kettenring|(t)]] 19:20, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

yer, i understand that now. But that picture, the evowiki logo, what is it meant to be? can no one change it?--[[User:Spiderboy06|Spiderboy06]] 21:06, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Hm... to what? I don't have any pictures. Suggestions? One would have to upload a picture first. --[[User:Thomas Kettenring|tk]] [[User_talk:Thomas_Kettenring|(t)]] 21:22, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

It would be nice to be able to upload pictures... Then we would be able to spruce up alot of our non-rebuttal pages.--[[User:Apokryltaros|Mr A.]] 00:12, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

yer! it wuold be nice. So can we not upload pictures anyways? i was thinkin that the evo wiki logo could be changed to somethin that represensts evolution a little bit more. More than a mily way, if thats even what it is. Maybe a picture of darwin, or the gradual evolution of man, or a dna strand, or somethin that stands out a bit more. And could it be made possible for us to upload pictures?

--[[User:Spiderboy06|Spiderboy06]] 08:04, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

Pictures

I've noticed that the fossil picture above the side menu has the url EvoWiki.org written in it, but that doesn't work. Perhaps we should change it or remove it. Also, now that we have pictures, do you think we could add a little picture to each large menu section (like a picture of Darwin next to the 'Scientists' menu, or a fossil of Archaeopteryx under 'Controversies'. Or perhaps even a 'Featured Article' page, where we could link to any of our well done articles, especially those with pictures. After all, it is the first page people see, and we do have to compete with the pretty creationist sites and brochures to get people to read. First impressions often count in people judging whether they will take notice or take something seriously.--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 01:51, 23 April 2007 (BST)

I'm all for that myself. I've only uploaded a few pictures for articles, since I wasn't sure how much bandwidth this site has for them and didn't want to make them burdensome, but having a few pictures on the front page wouldn't hurt. As long as people don't slack off on content in favor of presentation =P --[[User:KeithJM|KeithJM]] 02:21, 23 April 2007 (BST)

Pfft. Bandwidth is unlimited. As for hard drive space, eyebrows will probably be raised at about 25GB. The sever space is donated by a friend who runs a record company on it. They host MP3s. They don't even notice us here! [[User:Steinsky|Joe]] [[User_talk:Steinsky|(t)]] 19:57, 7 August 2007 (BST)

Broken Link

If it's possible, we should remove the link to [[Evolution and Learning]] from the Main Page. That page was deleted about a month ago I think, but it's still linked to. --[[User:KeithJM|KeithJM]] 02:23, 23 April 2007 (BST)

Main Page Layout and Style

In order to attract more attention, and thus attract more potential contributors, I have been toying around with styles and layouts for the main page. Currently they are located at the bottom of this page: [[Sandbox]]. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on that layout or style, before I try to complete the entire page. How are the backgrounds? The pictures ok? Do you think we need a "This month's featured article" section (I'd like one). Notice also I turned the main page from html to the wiki markup code, for ease of use. Appreciate the help.--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 02:53, 17 July 2007 (BST)

I think the main page looks better with the pictures you want to add although the pictures some times cover the text on the sections of the "main page" but i think it could be fixed by making the pictures smaller or changing the format of the "main page". Also i think a "This month's featured article" section would be good and that the articles [[History of the Earth]] or [[Human evolution]] would be good candidates to be included in the "This month's featured article" section because they are the longest and the most detailed.--[[User:Fang 23|Fang 23]] 03:17, 17 July 2007 (BST)

Yes, there was a problem a few days ago with the pictures of the "Creationism" section occluding the text, but I fixed it (I hope). Does it still do it now? I think we would have a nomination each month for the featured articles - some of JGK's avian evolution ones are nice too, but perhaps ones with pictures would be prettier for the main page.--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 10:47, 17 July 2007 (BST)

It appears that the pictures in the sandbox are still covering the text on the "Creationism" section today.--[[User:Fang 23|Fang 23]] 14:18, 17 July 2007 (BST)

Yes, the text would push its cell into that of the picture, even if I specified the width of the cell. So, both the picture and the text are now in the same cell, meaning that the picture must now go under the subheadings, but I hope that should prevent any further issues. Anyway, how are the colour choices? Would a lighter grey be more professional, or is the pastel look ok?--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 04:14, 18 July 2007 (BST)

We can add pictures to JGK's avian evolution articles to make them look better on the "This month's featured article" section.--[[User:71.234.233.163|71.234.233.163]] 14:31, 17 July 2007 (BST)

I had intended to replace the main page with this: [[Main Page/New]]. That was when I was actively expanding the project and improving articles, but then I found more important things to do. If we can get some articles good enough to "feature", we could push ahead with that? [[User:Steinsky|Joe]] [[User_talk:Steinsky|(t)]] 15:37, 19 July 2007 (BST)

By 'that', do you mean your new page or mine, or do you want me to make up a illustrated version of yours? Or maybe vice versa (you modify mine...)--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 07:42, 20 July 2007 (BST)

I'll go ahead with your page. But, instead of the encyclopaedia heading, I will put a link to "Directory". Then, on that Directory page, we should put my main page design (perhaps without the pastel backgrounds). Also, I think your page needs more pictures on it. Where should we put them?--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 13:00, 25 July 2007 (BST)

Sorry I didn't reply earlier. I didn't mind either way, but this way works. My only issue is with the essays section -- I'd put that on my test page in the explanation that we'd start writing more of them, but that doesn't seem to have happened. Actually, I've written a few more here, but they're not neccesarily directly related to evolution. I have two potential solutions:

1. We start writing, and we start asking bloggers permission to republish their best essays.
2. We replace the essays box with a "New replies to creationist claims" box.

Of course, we could always do both, and have have yet another box. Perhaps a featured picture? (The Wellcome Trust image library is under the same Creative Commons license as us, after all.)

It has occurred to me that many of our most visited pages are actually "creationist claims" pages. Thus, I had toyed with the idea of replacing the featured essays with featured claims. However, I left it be because I kind of want to write an essay on evolution and randomness. As for the featured picture idea, I'm all for it, but how much space do you have for pictures on the server?--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 00:17, 7 August 2007 (BST)

Use of the word 'believe' on main page

Should the main page really use words like "believe"? This word tends to get misinterpreted by creationists who think the scientific opinions of the origin of the universe etc are faith based positions. [[User:Mintz|Mintz]] 22:14, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

Indeed. I'm set to change that part of the main page, so the featured article (the one called '[[History of the Earth]]' that contains the word 'believe') will go. And I think I'll end up removing the 'pro-science' part too, in favour of pro-evidence (or words to that effect).--[[User:Doddy|Doddy]] 23:12, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

I changed believe to thought.--[[User:Fang 23|Fang 23]] 00:58, 29 September 2008 (UTC)