[WikiEN-l] Re: Fwd: Google Alert - Wikipedia

[Timwi]

> For those of you who were around when it kicked off... when it went
> live, was it intended to become a reference tool *on the web* like it
> has now, or was the web process intended to be somewhat less obvious
> than it became (a top-40 site, eek)? Open, yes, freely editable, yes,
> but a live "proper" encyclopedia from Year One?

I'm not much wikiolder than you are, but one observation I think I've 
made is a relatively sudden decline in eventualist attitude in 2005.

In 2003 I think most if not all Wikipedians were still of the mindset 
that yes, we want to be an encyclopedia, and yes, we know we're not 
there yet and we have a long way to go, but we're confident that we'll 
make it and we don't care how long it will take. Now in 2005 we suddenly 
realise we've come way farther way quicker than we thought we would, and 
in particular we are suddenly being used as an actual reference left and 
right while at the same time being scrutinised (if not criticised) for 
(lack of) accuracy and reliability. The mailing list threads that take 
place regularly now about average article quality and readability, have 
never occurred before 2005 (at least not with anywhere near this frequency).

I've become less active as a Wikipedian and I think it's because I liked 
the eventualist atmosphere more. It gave us more room for mistakes, and 
it allowed us to worry less and be more relaxed. I think eventualists 
tend to assume good faith more, precisely because they are less worried 
and more relaxed. The more someone worries about Wikipedia's quality or 
reputation, the more likely they are to intervene vocally when they 
perceive some change as detrimental, giving a somewhat higher chance of 
generating an unpleasant environment.

Timwi