Thread:Talk:Article feedback/Three requests for Fabrice (new project lead)/reply (3)

I'm not exactly sure how it would work, but the software's not built yet so I think we're allowed to imagine things at this point :-) My main concern with the AFT software is the dichotomy between its ostensible reason for existence (provide useful feedback to editors) and it's actual reason for existence (convert readers to becoming editors) so I'm trying to think of ways that it can do both at the same time. I'm guessing is if someone actually leaves a thoughtful and literate comment then that's the person we'd like to be able to "convert" to being an editor. Much more useful spending our time working with her than trying to teach Wikipedia MoS to someone else who leaves a comment like "great article".

Thinking out loud... the software could possibly include a check a box for people giving comments saying "I am happy to be contacted in response to my comment" which then lets them leave their email address. Wikipedians who want to could then click "email the person who wrote this comment" which would hide the commenters' email address just like the current "email this user" system does. From there it's a matter of designing tools to encourage the commenter to engage in the talkpage discussion directly... and the next thing you know they're doing Feature Article peer reviews! :-)