Editing Eurovision Wiki:Village pump (proposals) (section)

== Explanation of the Proposal Process ==

You have a sentence or two at the top of this page for where to post for various kinds of topics, but nowhere (accessible) do you have an explanation of the steps in the proposal process or of ways to help shepherd the proposal to approval or even to get an acknowledgement of awareness by people who make decisions on proposals.

The lack of the explanation does not properly acknowledge people's efforts in making a proposal, and it can result in just a waste of time for the proposer and anyone who reads the proposal and especially comments on it.  This ultimately discourages people from making proposals to try to improve Wikipedia.

Thank you for your consideration. [[Special:Contributions/&#126;2026-90420-1|&#126;2026-90420-1]] ([[User talk:&#126;2026-90420-1|talk]]) 16:21, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

:Proposals are posted here and discussed by those interested in doing so to reach a consensus. For high profile issues, a mass message drawing attention can be sent out, though we try not to pester people, either. 
:The best thing that someone can do to persuade others to support a proposal is to explain what concern/issue the proposal is trying to remedy and why the proposal is the best way to do that.
:I'm guessing you've wanted to offer proposals but have felt discouraged? Please offer one now, if desired. [[User:331dot|331dot]] ([[User talk:331dot|talk]]) 17:02, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
::I actually already made a proposal, which did include the reasons for the proposal -- appearance and sustained readability.  It was discussed on various points, people went out of their way to contribute some helpful graphics and other things, *there was no controversy to draw many comments*, and then nothing more happened, and it went to archive (227).
::My point in this proposal about the explanation is that I have no idea how the proposal is supposed to get the attention of actual decision makers.  I have no idea what progress would look like or what the criteria are to help the proposal go in that direction.  And then there's no demonstrable justification for the proposal to just fade away.
::That comes across as Wikipedia saying, "We just don't care.  And we don't care that you put time and effort into proposing something, and that other people put time and effort into noticing it and commenting on it (and more).  We just don;t care about the efforts of anyone who was involved in this proposal."
::"And given that we don't explain anything about the process ahead of time, we don't care if you waste your time again in the future."  I think that Wikipedia probably does care; that needs to be demonstrated. [[Special:Contributions/&#126;2026-15808-31|&#126;2026-15808-31]] ([[User talk:&#126;2026-15808-31|talk]]) 19:10, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
:There is not a single Wikipedia voice. The {{tq|people who make decisions on proposals}} are you, me, and anyone else who comments. In practice, in order to get anything accepted, it needs someone (who may be the originator of the proposal) to run with it and ensure that consensus is enacted. You, too, can be that person. [[User:Phil Bridger|Phil Bridger]] ([[User talk:Phil Bridger|talk]]) 20:14, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
::First, that's interesting information.  And as I said, it should be included at the top of the Proposals page.
::Second, included in the explanation of the proposal process, what does "run with it and ensure that consensus is enacted" actually mean?  How is something enacted? [[Special:Contributions/&#126;2026-15808-31|&#126;2026-15808-31]] ([[User talk:&#126;2026-15808-31|talk]]) 12:41, 13 March 2026 (UTC)
:::How something is enacted depends on what you're trying to do. If for example your proposal is to modify a particular policy or guideline, then you enact it by making the necessary edit. [[User:Athanelar|Athanelar]] ([[User talk:Athanelar|talk]]) 16:26, 14 March 2026 (UTC)
::::Thank you for that information.  Again, it needs to be at the top of the page.  And that needs to include how you know when consensus is reached to make the change appropriate.  And how do you edit the Proposals page?
::::Also, the experience that led to this is the proposal that's now archived at 227, regarding another background color option.  I program, but not web pages.  That's a broadly technical change involving whatever the mechanism is to add the option where the Dark Mode option is, and changing at least one part of the CSS.  Obviously, if not done correctly, this could be very harmful.  So, who enacts that?  (Who enacted the Dark Mode option?)
::::So again, it's important to have this information beforehand to be sure of how and where to guide any type of proposal, so that you don't just waste the time of anyone who contributes their time to the process.
::::227 is an example.  It would indicate that this likely happens more regularly than that.  So, that's a lot of wasted time.  It's also a lot of missed opportunity to improve Wikipedia.  How many good ideas have just faded away because the process wasn't handled as it needed to be? [[Special:Contributions/&#126;2026-15808-31|&#126;2026-15808-31]] ([[User talk:&#126;2026-15808-31|talk]]) 05:58, 15 March 2026 (UTC)
:Are you talking about [[Wikipedia:Village pump (proposals)/Archive 227#General Background Color]] ? [[User:WhatamIdoing|WhatamIdoing]] ([[User talk:WhatamIdoing|talk]]) 04:11, 19 March 2026 (UTC)