Stephen Gilbert wrote:
--- lcrocker@nupedia.com wrote:
But again, I think it needs to develop in a centralized way for a while before risking that. I may be labelled a heretic for saying this, but part of what make Wikipedia great is its /lack/ or freedom and universal participation. Everything2 showed us what that devolves into. We have a central goal here--a narrow focus, and people to keep the masses pointed in the right direction.
Yeah, I think that's kind of heretical. But you write good articles *and* software, so I'll engage in some religious tolerance. :)
Has anyone ever surfed around H2G2.com? Its entries seem to be of consistantly better quality than most of Everything2, and they have a peer-review system in place. I'm going to poke around there a bit and see if they have any useful techniques that could be adapted to Wikipedia. Fishing out a few new Wikipedians wouldn't hurt either.
I browsed around H2G2 a bit. I agree, the "peer" reviewed writing quality seemed good given the starting focus of Life, the Universe, and Everthing from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
The "peer" review scheme appears to be a top down controlled hiearchy. Essentially they are using site volunteers to reduce staff writing/editing workload while retaining all authority at the top (inhouse paid staff). Draft or proposed material is available in special collaboration or viewing rooms for site goers who wish to view it. The proposed material works it way upward as it is noticed and approved by the hiearchy. The focus is on entertaining material well written in a consistent site style.
In addition to promoting the material, some reviewers can bounce the material down the pyramid to a level matching their perception of its state of readiness. There is a garbage collection room named the "Flea Market" where abandoned draft work is accumulated either automatically or manually for adoption.
I did not see anything that looked easily adaptable to Wikipedia or wikis in general but I have not created an account and used their editing and collaboration tools yet.
regards, mirwin