[WikiEN-l] Forum vs. project

[Poor, Edmund W]

Wikipedia is not a public forum. It's not a place for people to come and
exchange views. The Internet already has such a place: it's called
Usenet, or "newsgroups".

Wikipedia is a project to create freely editable encyclopedia articles.

Unlike a forum, Wikipedia has strict rules of etiquette. Whereas it's
perfectly acceptable in forums to impugn the character of other
participants, Wikipedia has a "no personal attacks" policy. 

Unlike a forum, Wikipedia has no interest in determining the "winner" of
a debate. So it doesn't matter who's cleverest, loudest, or keeps at it
the longest. What goes and what stays is determined only by (a) accuracy
and (b) NPOV.

Unlike a forum, Wikipedia produces an ever-increasing body of work,
which is organized for the benefit of the public.

I could go on, but I hope you get the point.

Uncle Ed