User blog comment:Jenburton/An Update on Message Wall/@comment-3388044-20111001062627/@comment-3388044-20111001091008

 Sovq : What kind of logic is it that says that the seldom editing, IP-only user should drive the Wikia experience? Answer : The kind of logic that reduces the experience to the lowest common denominator, that rather than elevate skillsets, reduces us all to a level somewhat below mediocrity.

If we assume that the MessageWalls that will soon replace all talk namespaces are indeed not to help Wikia compete with Facebook, etc., and are instead for the reasons given, then it is the kind of logic that says that in order to get rid of bank robberies, society has to get rid of banks. It is the kind of logic that says that in order to not have Major League Baseball players feel bad about their team not making it to the World Series, professional sport has to get rid of the World Series. Talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater!

Of course if the rationale is a market one, related to competition, then making the Wikia experience as simple as possible should indeed be the goal. But, let us not dress it up as being necessary because Wikians simply cannot learn to use talkpages. If wikis have problems with newer users not using talkpages correctly, educate them! Elevate their skillset instead of subordinating yours. Many of us have had no problem at our Wikis in teaching our new members these and other things. Let’s not write off the ability of newer Wikians to learn.

Finally, since the user experience differs from wiki to wiki here at Wikia, it is logical that some wikis would be better served by retaining talkpages while other wikis would be better served by switching to MessageWalls. Does Wikia honestly think that those wikis that have not enabled ArticleComments do not know of their existence? No. It is simply that after considering the possibility, many wikis decided that it was inappropriate for their wikis, not a good fit. There is nothing so groundbreaking about ArticleComments 2.0 (i.e., the MessageWall) that it would negate that decision making algorithm for those wikis.