User talk:Tourskin

Hello, Tourskin, and welcome to the Simple English Wikipedia! I hope you will be happy helping here. You should begin by reading these pages: Wikipedia:Useful, Help:Contents, Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines, and how to write Simple English articles. If you want some ideas of which pages to work on, read Wikipedia:Requested articles or the list of wanted pages.

Even though it is a good idea to research an article (like looking at the discussion page) before making large changes, please be bold and try! Any changes you make that are not perfect can be fixed later. We are also working most on core articles and the most common topics until this Wikipedia grows.

If you want to ask a question or talk with other members, you can visit our version of the "village pump" at Wikipedia:Simple talk. Administrators on Wikipedia can also help you with more difficult problems. You can also ask me for help. The best way to do that is to leave a message on my talk page. You should always sign your messages on Talk pages by typing "~~~~" (four tildes) at the end of your words.

If you would like to test Wikipedia, please use the sandbox. Please do not test Wikipedia by editing its articles.

Good luck and happy editing!
Gwib^-(talk)- 22:21, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Byzantine Empire

About the article, Byzantine Empire, I think that you should just go ahead with it. If you do over-complicate things then another editor can always simplify it.
Gwib^-(talk)- 22:22, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Hi, and welcome! :)

Well, first, let me welcome you aboard, dear Tourskin - it's great to have a knowledgeable editor like you here :) Regarding your question, it's a good and valid point. Simplification often involves seeking the shortest way to transmit an idea; this is also the reason why short sentences are preferable. But, by all means, this doesn't mean sacrificing contents. It's only natural that, at this stage, short articles are the generality, because this project is younger, and far less populated that EnWP. But one idea I've learned after joining up is, simplicity doesn't necessarily equal to extreme brevity. While the examples are few (for the reasons I just told you) we happen to have some articles that are more extensive and complete than other Wikipedias, like Saturn (planet) or Hanami, which I wrote some time ago. It's all in what you wish to focus on: creating as many articles as possible, which will necessarily result in them being very brief; or writing deep, specifical articles. Both tasks are very, very useful at this point. Just remember: there's no reason why a Simple article shouldn't be complete. Have a beautiful day! :) Love, Phaedriel - 01:25, 26 August 2007 (UTC)