Hello,

I have been rolling around the idea of starting a Wiki to promote positive
changes in the multiple facets of Aids (research, alternative therapies,
activism, rights, et cetera). I registered AidsWiki.org back in August, but
became preoccupied with other interests (finding a salaried position, for
one thing LOL). Now that I'm happily reemployed I'm again pondering how best
to spend some time on this project. Would any members of this newsgroup have
thoughts, warnings, ideas, or links to resources?

Best regards,

Jeff

Don't.

'AIDS' is a myth and your ill concieved actions will cost more people
their lives.

Forget it as a very bad idea and do something useful with your time and
money.

Jeff Chapman wrote:


Wikipedia type rules (where anyone can edit) will turn such a project
into a mirror of this newsgroup with continuous edit wars. The potential
is good where there will be some degree of peer review and editorial
"management".

See here for the reasons why the current Wikipedia is sure to fail:

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/12/30/142458/25

"Klaus Heitman" <Klaus@Heitman.org> wrote in message
news:d0e92e$clp$1@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...
Hello Klaus,

Thanks for the link to the kuro5hin article -- a very interesting read.
Primarily the cofounder of WikiPedia highlights that:

-- Wikis are by their very nature anti-elitist and hence elude contributions
from those folks who are academic snobs or knowledge hoarders. This creates
a cultural divide between the two camps.

-- Lack of moderation promotes trolls, whereas moderation ignites cries of
censorship. Wide exposure public forums attract people who crave
self-importance and this causes tone errors and micro-tornados.

Over the years I've authored articles on WikiPedia and C2, so I have some
perspectives on both points. At the moment those thoughts are fomenting
around inside my head without verbal resolution -- I need to spend a couple
days at the gym or go on a long hike to allow my ideas to percolate <g>.

I do have related questions however:

-- How does the legal structure of the managing organization (say AidsWiki
Inc.) ultimately affect the utility of the product?

-- Does the "granularity" of the Wiki that we create affect it's utility?
Sub-Wikis?

-- How do we manage the speed of implementation? What are the pros and cons
of a carefully deliberative implementation process versus an off-the-shelf
volunteer effort?

-- Who determines the balance between stressors on the founders (legal
issues, monetary issues, ethics). How do you create an environment that
promotes the highest ethics amongst the managing partners? Is this even
possible as management participation grows?

-- How to avoid the big 3 potholes: false self-importance, false surrogate
endpoints, and tunnel vision?