On 4/17/05, Anthere anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
we really do put up with an astounding amount of absurd behavior in the name of openness.
--Jimbo
Hmmmm. This is not the only point. There is an increasing anonymity in big communities. Not knowing an editor means you are not necessarily behaving as gently or approaching a conflict so easily.
I think this could be improved by providing new means for editors to get to know others, in particular those contributing in other areas. Ideas such as the facebook have certainly helped.
Indeed. Some basic social-software features that let users describe themselves and set up networks of friends and project-collaborators, and let others view those connections, would actually have a *purpose* on a project like Wikipedia, just as the social aspects of wiki come to have a real purpose beyond social experimenting and procrastination.