[WikiEN-l] Webypedia - another doomed alternative to Wikipedia

[David Gerard]

On 30 August 2010 01:14, William Beutler <williambeutler at gmail.com> wrote:

> I do think alternative wiki projects that seek to fill "gaps" created by
> Wikipedia's choice not to include some types of information stand the best
> chance of success -- going head-to-head with this entrenched incumbent is
> foolhardy, unless the Wikipedia community falls apart and the site falls
> into total disrepair -- even then I think there is so much value here
> already that it's far more likely Wikipedia would be resuscitated, than any
> rival wiki encyclopedia taking the lead.


I said a few years ago that in ten years (so 2015 or so), the only
general encyclopedia would be Wikipedia or a fork of it. This was
intended with trepidation, not triumphalism.

There are various niches for other wikis.

* Subject-specific and allowing original research. This is quite a
common format.
* Subject-specific and allowing opinion. (TV Tropes is a huge winner here.)
* Just use MediaWiki as a CMS, not functionally a wiki at all. (Wikileaks.)

Having a lax notability policy is a common divergence, but others are possible.

* Multiple articles on a topic - Wikinfo, arguably Knol. Gives some
writers what they want, not a hit with the public.
* Credentials required. Dangerous - CZ tried this and was infested
with cranks and pseudoscience. Cranks may not have expertise, but they
sure know about pieces of paper.

What have I missed?


- d.