Microsoft Wiki:Why Register



You do not have to log in to read Micropedia. You do not have to log in even to edit articles on Micropedia — just about anyone can edit almost any article at any given time, even without logging in, and many long-time contributors do not log in. Nevertheless, creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, and it is generally considered a good idea to do so for a variety of reasons.

Blocked
Shared IP addresses such as school and company networks or proxy servers are frequently blocked for vandalism which often affects many innocent editors on the same network. However, registered users in good standing can request existing blocks on their IP address be modified to only affect anonymous editors so that they can continue contributing to Micropedia.

Abilities given to users with an account

 * The ability to start new pages, including your user page.
 * The ability to edit semi-protected pages.
 * The ability to rename pages.
 * The ability to upload images.
 * The ability to send and receive e-mails from other users.
 * The ability to set personal preferences on your account.

Other benefits

 * The use of a username of your choice, provided that it is appropriate and not already used.
 * The ability to easily review all your contributions via a "My contributions" link.
 * The use of your own personal watchlist to which you can add articles that interest you.
 * The ability to customize the appearance and behavior of the website for your viewing.
 * Eligibility to request adminship
 * Your IP address will no longer be visible to other users, meaning you will have greater privacy. (Your IP address is still saved and accessible to users with Checkuser permission, but it is rare for this to be used.)
 * You will always have the same talk page, since your talk page will be tied to your account and not your IP address. This prevents you from getting warnings about things you didn't do.