User:NotAracham/RaidarrArchive/Wiki explorer

A 'wiki explorer' as defined here is a user who regularly, or intermittently looks into wikis that have been created on Miraheze. This is not a very large community, often consisting of platform volunteers with spare time or an odd few users who are curious. The most effective way to explore is using Special:WikiDiscover, often tailored to recent wiki creations, filtering out private wikis and seeking wikis flagged as active, possibly inactive projects. This doesn't preclude looking at private wikis where the main page will always be visible, or checking out closed wikis however. Generally this is done simply to see what the platform has to offer, and comes with no promise of local contributions or other motive.

The main consequence is that when logged in, users will be attached to the wiki. Even if clicking into the wiki and clicking back out, the attachment is done. This leaves no prominent log entry and doesn't really affect their account, but it does attach the account when looking at the user's CentralAuth page and it does appear in the local user list. This can be avoided by browsing while logged out.

The other consequence this leads to is potential confusion when a local administration sees an unknown user. They may assume the user is a spambot, has an agenda, or in some cases is 'staff' and the wiki is being investigated, observed or has a problem. Unless otherwise stated (ie, abuse logs showing attempted spam or official notification from a volunteer), this is not the case - users are able to simply pass through and may appear in the user list. Nonetheless there are many wiki administrators unaware of this type of Mirahezian who may need to be referred to this essay as a primer if there is a problem or confusion. At worst this can result in false blocks born of suspicion; in that case the block should be appealed for the misunderstanding, and if necessary a Steward can be brought in to try and clear the confusion.

A few things for explorers to note while logged in:
 * CentralAuth can be a delicate extension. It is necessary to connect accounts together, but it was designed for the Wikimedia Foundation - a significantly smaller service as far as number of wikis go. If you intend to explore a lot, you may wish to do so while logged out, or if a volunteer/prominent on certain wikis, with a clearly declared alternate account dedicated to exploring and other casual Wiki Life. Otherwise, with thousands of account attachments this may cause issues loading your CentralAuth page or cause trouble for your login session.
 * You cannot unattach once you have visited a wiki. Global volunteers will pay little mind if you've visited an NSFW or other curious wiki, especially if you haven't edited there. Some people, perhaps you may think differently - bear it in mind.

--Raidarr (talk) (essay discussion)
 * If you have something to add to the concept of the essay, you are free to expand it. I reserve a userspace right to curate the page, within reason of Meta best practices.