On 6/8/06, Robert Scott Horning robert_horning@netzero.net wrote:
[snip some intersting stuff]
So are the various Wikia projects considered sister projects to Wikimedia projects? Local links (not external references) exist going both ways, including to the Uncyclopedia. My understanding was that they were very distinct groups (Wikia and Wikimedia) and the policies and even existance of a Wikia project has no bearing on Wikimedia projects. Apparently this line is being blurred considerably now with the new textbook only philosophy for Wikibooks, and it does have an impact on future content being developed on Wikibooks. Moving the How-to books to the How-to Wikia seems like an attempt (to me) of capturing Wikibooks content without having to do any work, especially given that the how-to books on Wikibooks predate the How-to Wikia. Six months ago the idea would have been considered ludicrious to even suggest removing the how-to books.
-- Robert Scott Horning
Wikia and Wikimedia are very clearly separate entities with different philosophies - as I would put it, basically, Wikimedia is for the dissemination of information and knowledge, whereas the purpose of Wikia is for building communities around common interests.
Do you mean, though, that the 'How-to' books are being removed from Wikibooks to Wikia, or simply used there under the GFDL? I hope it's the latter, but, if the former, which ones? There are very clearly How-to books that belong on Wikibooks (and that would very definitely be useful as part of an accredited course).
I can't say much on Wikibooks' policies, as I simply don't participate in Wikibooks enough, or know enough about its history. Lord Voldemort has some interesting questions here, and I can't resist answering one of them in particular:
"3. Who has control over the overall content of Wikibooks? The Wikimedia Foundation, the WMF Board, the community of Wikibookians?"
As far as I see it: the community has control over the content, and the board bears the legal liability for the content. Jimbo's unique part in this is that he retains the power to dictate policy where he deems necessary, and when he thinks a project has veered off course significantly from its goals or the goals of the foundation. I'm not sure of what other times he has exercised this power, apart from the recent debate about the content of Wikibooks - maybe someone else, perhaps Jimbo himself, can clarify this.
That's all for now..
Cormac