[Foundation-l] Encouraging participation

[Pavlo Shevelo]

I would support Gerard's point that Wikipedia needs to have strong
community (social network in modern buzzwords) as all such projects
are results of well coordinated effort of community (with work
differentiation etc.) but not of chaotic crowd/horde  of individuals.

Common goal and work means community, doesn't it?
What is more important - community or communication is chicken-egg
dilemma obviously.

So regarding
>> Wikipedia is not a ... social networking
>> site, it is not a file/picture/video hosting service, it is an online
>> encyclopedia.

I think that Wikipedia is same time online encyclopedia (in it front
pages so to say) _and_ social networking site (to maintain project
community ecosystem) _and_ hosting service (to provide multimedia for
articles) in it back-office.

Regarding MMORG situation is much different because of strong negative
side effect(s) of this metaphor/attitude being used for Wikipedia.

Sincerely,

Pavlo

On Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 3:34 PM, Gerard Meijssen
<gerard.meijssen at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hoi,
> With due respect, the amount of wordage on our talk pages, IRC channels,
> mailing lists and even skype calls and conferences is such that I disagree
> with you. It is exactly because we do not foster communication that many
> people do not feel at home at Wikipedia. The first years of Wikipedia there
> were no social networking sites and Wikipedia gave a sense of community. Now
> that such sites are well established, we find that we do not find the new
> people that we so desperately want come to us.
>
> Yes, we are about creating educational content in our Wikipedia, Wiktionary
> and .. and .. We have however our fair share of social problems and your
> appreciation of what improved social networking functionality has to offer
> is sadly wrong. Look at Wikia they have invested in a healthy community and
> it is paying off for them because they show a healthy grow.
>
> Your suggestion of clubs at universities is in and of itself a good one.
> These clubs are welcome, they are able to bring us new contributors. The
> question I have for you is, do you realise that such a club is a social
> structure and effectively very much like what you dismissed in your
> proposal?
>
> So in conclusion, we should care for our social networks and we should grow
> them in any way we can. You are right that the creation of educational
> content is what we achieve, but we should appreciate our social networks for
> what they do; they bring us and keep us together.
> Thanks,
>     GerardM
>
> On 19 June 2010 13:51, James Heilman <jmh649 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I have found some of the suggestions for increasing participation
>> strange.  Wikipedia is not a MMORG, it is not a social networking
>> site, it is not a file/picture/video hosting service, it is an online
>> encyclopedia.  Some people like the first three.  However trying to
>> turn Wikipedia into a combination of them is not how we go about
>> writing an encyclopedia.  We need to attract people who are interested
>> in writing an encyclopedia and need to drive away / direct to the
>> appropriate venue those who are looking for something different.
>>
>> My suggestion for increasing editor numbers would be to promote
>> Wikipedia at Universities.  McGill has a Wikipedia club.  Promoting
>> the formation of clubs at other Universities would have a positive
>> influence.  Currently most University students are female ( about 55%
>> ) http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20091023110831548
>> however Asperger syndrome occurs 5 times more frequently in males than
>> females.  This might have something to do with the gender ratio we
>> see. :-)
>>
>> --
>> James Heilman
>> MD, CCFP-EM, B.Sc.
>>
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