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FAQ

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Revision as of 12:42, 14 January 2005 by Scarred Sun (talk | contribs)

Overview FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

What is Wiki?

A wiki is a collaborative collection of interlinked web pages, all of which can be visited and edited by anyone at any time (collaborative software). The concept and software were invented by Ward Cunningham. You could even edit this page by clicking the "edit" link on the third tab above, or edit only a section by clicking on "[edit]" to its right. If you don't have anything to add or correct on this page and you just want to see how it works, try out the Sandbox.

What is SSonicNET Database?

SSonicNET Database, aka Sonic Retro, is a project to produce a new kind of information site that is comprehensive and free for anyone or any site to use. See SSonicNET Database:About and the Sonic Retro article for even more information.

Why is it called Sonic Retro and SSonicNET Database?

The name 'SSonicNET Database' was the beta name that was generated while Project Sonic Retro was being designed; the name Sonic Retro just stayed around, so both are in acceptable use.

What is the goal of SSonicNET Database?

Wikipedia's goal is to create a free, reliable database--indeed, the largest database for Sonic information in history, both in terms of breadth and depth. This is an ambitious goal, and will probably take many years to achieve.

Who owns SSonicNET Database?

The database is managed by SSonicNET, which also manages the operation of SSonicNET's sister projects, including Sonic Classic, SSonicNET Radio, Area 51.
The articles hosted on this site are released by their authors under the GNU Free Documentation License, so the articles are free content and may be reproduced freely under the same license. See SSonicNET Database:Copyrights and SSonicNET Database:Readers' FAQ for information on how you can use Wikipedia content.

Who is responsible for the articles on Wikipedia?

Everyone. This is a collaborative endeavor. Many people have contributed to different parts of this project, and anyone can do so, including you. All you need is to know how to edit a page, and have some knowledge you want to share. The database provides users with a certain amount of freedom.
You can learn who is responsible for the most recent versions of any given page by clicking on the "Page history" link. But if you spot an error in the latest revision of an article, you are highly encouraged to be bold and correct it. This practice is one of the basic review mechanisms that maintains the reliability of the encyclopedia.
If you are uncertain or find the wording confusing, quote the material on the associated talk page and leave a question for the next person. This helps eliminate errors, inaccuracies or misleading wording more quickly and is highly appreciated by the community.

How can I contact the project?

Get in touch with any of the administrators, or contact SSonicNET directly.

Should I create an account? Can't I just edit articles anonymously?

Users with account names enjoy several benefits, among them is the positive reputation that goes with quality work. Wikipedians with an established history are respected especially with regard to neutralising article disputes. Also, Wikipedians sometimes find collaborating with anonymous users frustrating, because it is more difficult to contact them with questions, concerns, or suggestions. This is not to say there is a hierarchy per se - though there are editors with administrative abilities (see SSonicNET Database:Administrators), these are approved by the community, and the goal of most users is to ensure that democracy, albeit with a little anarchy, remains the supreme power on Sonic Retro.
Users with user names are in a sense more anonymous than contributors that are not logged in: while anyone can see the IP address of a user who did not log in when he/she edited, only server administrators can find the IP of a logged-in user. So if you

're concerned about privacy and anonymity, you may prefer to create a username for yourself in order to hide your IP.

However, if you'd like to stay on the fringes, it's fine to edit without a login. Many valuable contributors have made this choice.

How do you know if the information is correct?

As anyone can edit any article, it is of course possible for biased, out of date or incorrect information to be posted. However, because there are so many other people reading the articles and monitoring contributions using the Recent Changes page, incorrect information is usually corrected quickly. Thus, the overall accuracy of the database is improving all the time as it attracts more and more contributors. You are encouraged to help by correcting articles and passing on your own knowledge.
See SSonicNET Database:Replies to Common Objections for a longer discussion of this point.

Site X seems to be violating Wikipedia's copyright. Do you guys know about this?

It's most likely the answer is yes, and it's reasonably likely they're within their rights. Anybody may mirror or fork Wikipedia as long as they comply with the GNU Free Documentation License.

Which wiki software does Wikipedia run on?

See: Wikipedia:MediaWiki