gurdymonkey (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gurdymonkey) wrote2010-07-07 07:57 pm
gurdymonkey) wrote2010-07-07 07:57 pm
Been there, done that.
Good readers, I fear I cannot get terribly excited about the West Kingdom having a wiki.
Because we just went through this with the West Kingdom's Artisan Thingy. (Does anyone use it besides Rat these days?) I dutifully filled out a profile. I put up some pictures. I attempted to participate on one or two discussions and concluded that it's clunky, inconvenient to navigate and I can talk to these people in person when I like most of the time anyway.
Because the kingdom has a website. It's a lot better than it used to be. It's a work in progress. it requires maintenance and periodic updates. You know, just like a wiki.
Because a few years ago, I was begged/dared to go "fix" a bunch of articles on a wiki from another kingdom because their articles on Japanese clothing were um, inadequate is polite, isn't it? As the person who asked me was throwing himself on the Japanese militaria grenades in said wiki, I complied. Is anyone using it? I dunno. Maybe. It's still out there.
Because I have a website. I have control over what goes in it, as long as I keep paying for the bandwidth every year - unlike the kingdom website, where any sniper with a camera can send the keeper of the History Project bad photos of me.
Because even the monkey has a web page. I actually check my website traffic periodically. That page is five years old. It's still getting plenty of regular traffic, which tells me it has done its bit for introducing newcomers to the SCA.
Because I already maintain an active presence on the internet lists and forum that match my interest niche, you know, the one 99% of the kingdom isn't interested in. For the 100% of people out in the rest of the world Known and Otherwise who are interested, I'm there, sharing what I know, quite possibly to the point people wish I would shut up already.
Because I firmly believe that staring at a computer screen is no substitute for showing up at a practice or meeting or event and interacting with live human beings and asking them questions.
Because I have other things to do. Especially this month.
I'm not saying a wiki is a bad idea. I simply don't believe it's going to cure low attendance or social anxiety or fill my closet with bolts of Japanese silk or make the BOD revoke the non-member surcharge and buy us all ponies.
Because we just went through this with the West Kingdom's Artisan Thingy. (Does anyone use it besides Rat these days?) I dutifully filled out a profile. I put up some pictures. I attempted to participate on one or two discussions and concluded that it's clunky, inconvenient to navigate and I can talk to these people in person when I like most of the time anyway.
Because the kingdom has a website. It's a lot better than it used to be. It's a work in progress. it requires maintenance and periodic updates. You know, just like a wiki.
Because a few years ago, I was begged/dared to go "fix" a bunch of articles on a wiki from another kingdom because their articles on Japanese clothing were um, inadequate is polite, isn't it? As the person who asked me was throwing himself on the Japanese militaria grenades in said wiki, I complied. Is anyone using it? I dunno. Maybe. It's still out there.
Because I have a website. I have control over what goes in it, as long as I keep paying for the bandwidth every year - unlike the kingdom website, where any sniper with a camera can send the keeper of the History Project bad photos of me.
Because even the monkey has a web page. I actually check my website traffic periodically. That page is five years old. It's still getting plenty of regular traffic, which tells me it has done its bit for introducing newcomers to the SCA.
Because I already maintain an active presence on the internet lists and forum that match my interest niche, you know, the one 99% of the kingdom isn't interested in. For the 100% of people out in the rest of the world Known and Otherwise who are interested, I'm there, sharing what I know, quite possibly to the point people wish I would shut up already.
Because I firmly believe that staring at a computer screen is no substitute for showing up at a practice or meeting or event and interacting with live human beings and asking them questions.
Because I have other things to do. Especially this month.
I'm not saying a wiki is a bad idea. I simply don't believe it's going to cure low attendance or social anxiety or fill my closet with bolts of Japanese silk or make the BOD revoke the non-member surcharge and buy us all ponies.
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I can't predict whether it will take off or not -- depends on how many people choose to use it. But I think it's an experiment worth trying. The arts one fizzled, true -- it remains to be seen whether this one will do the same. Much will depend on whether there are people willing to step up and take responsibility for quality control on an ongoing basis. That's always the key to whether a wiki will work.