Knowledge

:Knowledge Signpost/2010-08-16/In the news - Knowledge

Source šŸ“

690:(which led to the Userbox Wars), lots of edits to Talk pages, & few edits to articles -- all of which were so poor that they were immediately reverted. I'm sure a larger than usual share of newbies were bitten & driven away from Knowledge at the time, although some of these wannabes wised up & became productive members. It's the same dynamic which encourages people to be "artists": they indulge in the wild, unconventional Bohemian lifestyle to the fullest, while failing to produce a single painting, sculpture, novel or even a single line of poetry. (Real artists spend most of their free time alone, working on their art. And since art doesn't pay very well -- if at all -- most of their time is consumed with the job that pays their bills. So, in the end, they don't get to enjoy that Bohemian lifestyle much; many don't even have much of a life.) -- 90: 645:
beer or pizza or money (none of which we are receiving from the Foundation). The whole room was laughing at such a bizarre statement, everyone who was in the room had applied for the position because either: a) they were active wikipedians, b) they were active participants in previous experiences that used Knowledge in the classroom or c) they were part of programs at their respective University that wanted to make it easier to work with Knowledge in the classroom. Silly reporters with Objectives! Whatever happened to an objective press!
389:) harshly criticized it as "so lazy as to be misleading, glib as to be condescending, and generally unhelpful that Iā€™m inclined to say that it sets back the public understanding of how Knowledge works all by itself." For example, the size of each edit war in the graphic corresponded to the total edits of the article, not the edits expended in the edit war, and its position on the timeline matched the article's inception, not the time during which the edit war occurred. McCandless 421: 117: 107: 33: 127: 87: 708:
It would also bring about a situation where people are editing just to get the incentive, irregardless of expertise or knowledge which would lead to huge amounts of irrelevant info being added to pages. Lastly, it would be the death of Wiki as we know it. The only way (that I can see) to combat these problems would be to charge a subscription fee to either editors (which could be offset against
137: 288:), the article also cites the Wikimedia Foundation's Public Policy Initiative as evidence for its thesis that goodwill motivations are not enough: "Knowledgeā€™s new recruiting push will not rely merely on highfalutin promises about pooled greatness and 'the sum of all human knowledge.' Instead, the organization is hoping to get students to write and edit entries as part of their coursework." 97: 246:). Among other examples, Newsweek named Knowledge: "In the history of the web, last spring may figure as a tipping point. Thatā€™s when Knowledge began to falter as a social movement." This statement was apparently based on the statistical research by Felipe Ortega, which had led to debates about Knowledge's future last year after it was covered in the Wall Street Journal (see 527:"onflict at Knowledge is said to be ā€œas addictive as cocaineā€." Like cocaine it is only addictive to those who are addicted to it. Disputes occur, they are resolved or not, sure there's always scope to "chime in" on ANI, Arbcom cases, RFCs, heated deletion debates - but most stuff just happens, or happens and gets reverted when it shouldn't have. 707:
If Wiki started giving out incentives to contributors it would create one hell of a mess. First of all previous contributors would start applying for their incentive in lieu and given the number of active contributors, even incentives of a penny per 1000 words would get very expensive, very quickly.
644:
At the Campus Ambassador Training, the Foundation people said they had also tried to diffuse the Newsweek reporter, but she would not falter in her insistence on the statement that the Foundation must be giving some type of additional incentives to the Ambassadors to get them to participate, such as
276:
The practice of crowd sourcing, in particular, worked because the early Web inspired a kind of collective fever, one that made the slog of writing encyclopedia entries feel new, cool, fun. But with three out of four American households online, contributions to the hive mind can seem a bit passƩ, and
689:
I guess the institutional memory doesn't go back far enough to know the answer to Cryptic's question. Back around January 2006, there was a significant share of new users who were attracted to Knowledge because it was "cool". They were identifiable by their inordinate attention to their users pages
192:
Gibb's 1961 paper distinguishes between "supportive" and "defensive" communication, as summarized by Reagle: "Supportive behavior/climates are characterized by non-judgmental description, problem orientation, spontaneity, empathy, equality, and provisionalism. Their 'defensive' opposites are
182:
Knowledge is acknowledged to have been home to ā€some bitter disputesā€. Indeed, conflict at Knowledge is said to be ā€œas addictive as cocaineā€. Yet, such observations are not cynical commentary but motivation for a collection of social norms. These norms speak to the intentional stance and
486: 110: 241:
by Tony Dokoupil and Angela Wu argued that "Crowd Sourcing Loses Steam" because "most people simply donā€™t want to work for free", adding to the longstanding debate on whether user-generated content can replace that produced by paid workers (see e.g.
130: 376:
covering such examples as "should wee link to the article on Nintendo wii or the urine?" and "is it NPOV (Neutral Point Of View) to say an animal is 'cute'". The infographic was linked by many blogs during the following days, with one on CNET UK
100: 140: 193:
evaluation, control, strategy, neutrality, superiority, and certainty." Using these twelve characteristics, Reagle classified the text of 104 pages from Knowledge, including policies, guidelines, essays and humorous texts. Examples included
740:
I think the Swahili-language experiment, if it was that, proved to be pretty ineffective. New contributors claimed their prizes and left the project as fast as they came in, as I recall. The volunteer model seems to work, fortunately.
183:
communicative behaviors Wikipedians should adopt when interacting with one another. In the following pages, I provide a survey of these norms on the English Knowledge and argue they can be characterized as supportive based on
639: 784:
At the Huffington Post the editorial content of the "15 Surprising Facts ..." post has been "removed due to editorial consideration". But the post-page and the readers' comments on it remain. D-uh!
669: 732: 654: 227: 312:) intending "to help cultural heritage institutions that are putting content online to see how wikipedians are citing and annotating their stuff". It was mentioned in a talk at the 537: 612:"Good Faith Collaboration: The Culture of Knowledge"ā€”let us hope the first two words will be hyphenated, at least. Faith collaboration sounds like Sunday morning at the pulpit. 73: 522: 570: 577:
I don't quite see why it was necessary to look at his paper to avoid that misunderstanding; IMHO the Signpost article did state that the paper was about norms. Regards,
465: 773: 470: 460: 202: 586: 475: 684: 750: 501: 67: 699: 120: 605: 445: 255: 625: 450: 438: 408: 399: 259: 251: 160: 378: 393:
that Beutler had made "fair points", but that the visualization was "light-hearted, playful" and that "age edits used as barometer of controversy".
269:
Dokoupil and Wu appeared to argue that in the past, most Wikipedians had contributed to the project because it was seen as fashionable at the time:
432: 52: 41: 220:
A book by Reagle based on his 2008 dissertation about Knowledge is to appear next month ("Good Faith Collaboration: The Culture of Knowledge"). A
793: 869: 184: 756: 506: 351: 21: 844: 490: 214: 769:
is pretty sloppy. Seriously, 21 total edits? That should have been a hint to double-check that you're using the correct data.
513: 340: 839: 834: 362: 321: 778: 344: 829: 308:
analyzes external links on the English Knowledge to a given web site (providing more information than MediaWiki's own
548:"Reagle classified the text of 104 pages from Knowledge ... The majority was found to be in the "supportive" realm." 770: 373: 368:
On his "Information Is Beautiful" blog, David McCandless presented some of the "lamest edit wars" from Knowledge's
728: 339:
initially had a different name, which happened to have some obscene connotations. On August 9, blogger Kat Arney
336: 313: 210: 382: 824: 420: 46: 32: 17: 552: 174: 558:
That's like assessing a corporation's workplace culture by reading its policies and procedures manual.
325: 194: 238: 532: 198: 284:
Apart from Google's Kiswahili Challenge (where the company offered prizes for contributions to the
170: 555:. As it turns out, all of the 104 articles come from the WP: space, none from the Talk: space. 295:
that "the reporter had an axe to grind, and I did my best to thwart the predefined narrative".
354:
into the Knowledge article without giving a reference on August 4, and has since been removed.
291:
Cliff Lampe, a professor at Michigan State University who was quoted in the Newsweek article,
665: 850: 716: 529: 266:
the Newsweek article for implying "additional conclusions that don't apply to Knowledge".
8: 724: 358: 206: 600: 565: 309: 243: 766: 746: 695: 497: 390: 285: 292: 789: 680: 661: 650: 369: 277:
Web participation, well, boringā€”kind of like writing encyclopedia entries for free.
324:), which described the insertion of links into Knowledge articles as an important 620: 332: 317: 298: 263: 350:'s "Media Monkey" blog on the following day. The erroneous information had been 720: 582: 166: 154: 863: 761:
Regardless of the point of that edit war visualization, not recognizing that
594: 559: 343:
the error and traced it back to the Knowledge article about the festival, as
742: 691: 347: 785: 676: 646: 812: 613: 68:
Supportive communication and missing incentives on Knowledge, and more
578: 165:
Knowledge researcher Joseph Reagle (a fellow at Harvard University's
150: 816: 808: 386: 234: 305: 593:
Yes, you're right, I misunderstood what he was referring to.
659:
When was editing Knowledge cool? Why didn't I get the memo? --
640:
Newsweek: Knowledge contributors need materialistic incentives
228:
Newsweek: Knowledge contributors need materialistic incentives
762: 551:
I found that conclusion hard to believe, until I looked at
187:ā€™s classic communication article 'Defensive Communication'. 217:. The majority was found to be in the "supportive" realm. 171:'Be Nice': Knowledge norms for supportive communication 511:If your comment has not appeared here, you can try 861: 148: 335:incorrectly stated that the music festival 523:Knowledge's communication norms analyzed 161:Knowledge's communication norms analyzed 514: 14: 862: 215:Knowledge:BOLD, revert, revert, revert 51: 169:) announced a new paper last week (" 870:Knowledge Signpost archives 2010-08 363:15 Surprising Facts about Knowledge 27: 419: 316:' (SAA) annual meeting last week ( 177:). The abstract reads as follows: 53: 31: 28: 881: 496:These comments are automatically 135: 125: 115: 105: 95: 85: 794:14:58, 20 September 2011 (UTC) 507:add the page to your watchlist 331:The August 7 print edition of 314:Society of American Archivists 211:Knowledge:Five pillars of evil 13: 1: 765:was actually a piped link to 310:external link search function 482: 383:On his "The Wikipedian" blog 18:Knowledge:Knowledge Signpost 7: 774:15:42, 17 August 2010 (UTC) 751:16:28, 20 August 2010 (UTC) 733:14:53, 20 August 2010 (UTC) 700:16:33, 18 August 2010 (UTC) 685:18:42, 17 August 2010 (UTC) 670:18:39, 17 August 2010 (UTC) 655:11:55, 17 August 2010 (UTC) 626:07:38, 22 August 2010 (UTC) 606:08:19, 18 August 2010 (UTC) 587:04:48, 18 August 2010 (UTC) 571:04:11, 18 August 2010 (UTC) 538:18:28, 17 August 2010 (UTC) 10: 886: 712:contributions) or users. 224:review is in preparation. 195:Knowledge:No legal threats 199:Knowledge:Right to vanish 203:User:Dlohcierekim/apathy 757:Edit wars visualization 771:Reach Out to the Truth 504:.Ā To follow comments, 424: 36: 423: 35: 500:from this article's 466:Features and admins 385:, William Beutler ( 359:The Huffington Post 207:Knowledge:Thankspam 491:Discuss this story 471:Arbitration report 461:WikiProject report 425: 328:tool for archives. 304:A new tool called 244:Carr-Benkler wager 42:ā† Back to Contents 37: 779:16 Strange Things 767:Knut (polar bear) 736: 719:comment added by 604: 569: 515:purging the cache 476:Technology report 286:Swahili Knowledge 262:of 2009). Ortega 47:View Latest Issue 877: 853: 735: 713: 623: 618: 597: 562: 518: 516: 510: 489: 443: 435: 428: 411: 403: 370:own list of them 175:available online 157: 139: 138: 129: 128: 119: 118: 109: 108: 99: 98: 89: 88: 59: 57: 55: 885: 884: 880: 879: 878: 876: 875: 874: 860: 859: 858: 857: 856: 855: 854: 849: 847: 842: 837: 832: 827: 820: 800: 799: 781: 759: 714: 642: 621: 614: 603: 568: 525: 520: 512: 505: 494: 493: 487:+ Add a comment 485: 481: 480: 479: 436: 431: 429: 426: 415: 414: 412:"In the news" ā†’ 409: 406: 401: 333:The Independent 301: 230: 163: 158: 147: 146: 145: 136: 126: 116: 106: 96: 86: 80: 77: 66: 62: 60: 50: 49: 44: 38: 26: 25: 24: 12: 11: 5: 883: 873: 872: 848: 843: 838: 833: 828: 823: 822: 821: 802: 801: 798: 797: 796: 780: 777: 758: 755: 754: 753: 705: 704: 703: 702: 641: 638: 637: 636: 635: 634: 633: 632: 631: 630: 629: 628: 609: 608: 599: 595:Andrew Gradman 574: 573: 564: 560:Andrew Gradman 556: 549: 524: 521: 495: 492: 484: 483: 478: 473: 468: 463: 458: 453: 448: 446:News and notes 442: 433:16 August 2010 430: 418: 417: 416: 407: 398: 397: 396: 395: 394: 366: 357:On August 10, 355: 329: 300: 297: 282: 281: 280: 279: 229: 226: 190: 189: 167:Berkman Center 162: 159: 144: 143: 133: 123: 113: 103: 93: 82: 81: 78: 72: 71: 70: 69: 64: 63: 61: 58: 54:16 August 2010 45: 40: 39: 30: 29: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 882: 871: 868: 867: 865: 852: 846: 841: 836: 831: 826: 818: 814: 810: 806: 803:Keep up with 795: 791: 787: 783: 782: 776: 775: 772: 768: 764: 752: 748: 744: 739: 738: 737: 734: 730: 726: 722: 718: 711: 701: 697: 693: 688: 687: 686: 682: 678: 674: 673: 672: 671: 668: 667: 663: 657: 656: 652: 648: 627: 624: 619: 617: 611: 610: 607: 602: 596: 592: 591: 590: 589: 588: 584: 580: 576: 575: 572: 567: 561: 557: 554: 550: 547: 546: 545: 544: 543: 542: 541: 539: 535: 534: 531: 517: 508: 503: 499: 488: 477: 474: 472: 469: 467: 464: 462: 459: 457: 454: 452: 449: 447: 444: 440: 434: 427:In this issue 422: 413: 405: 404:"In the news" 392: 388: 384: 381:"pure gold". 380: 375: 374:visualization 371: 367: 364: 360: 356: 353: 349: 346: 342: 338: 337:The Big Chill 334: 330: 327: 323: 319: 315: 311: 307: 303: 302: 296: 294: 289: 287: 278: 274: 273: 272: 271: 270: 267: 265: 261: 257: 253: 249: 245: 240: 237: 236: 225: 223: 218: 216: 212: 208: 204: 200: 196: 188: 186: 180: 179: 178: 176: 172: 168: 156: 152: 142: 134: 132: 124: 122: 114: 112: 104: 102: 94: 92: 84: 83: 75: 56: 48: 43: 34: 23: 19: 805:The Signpost 804: 760: 709: 706: 660: 658: 643: 615: 528: 526: 455: 451:Spam attacks 439:allĀ comments 348:The Guardian 290: 283: 275: 268: 250:coverage on 247: 233: 232:An August 9 231: 221: 219: 191: 181: 173:", preprint 164: 151:Tilman Bayer 851:Suggestions 715:ā€”Preceding 662:Cryptic C62 601:WP:Hornbook 566:WP:Hornbook 498:transcluded 456:In the news 260:30 November 252:23 November 65:In the news 533:Farmbrough 379:calling it 306:Linkypedia 264:criticized 256:7 December 79:Share this 74:Contribute 22:2010-08-16 845:Subscribe 721:Kendroche 553:his paper 502:talk page 293:commented 185:Jack Gibb 155:Theo10011 864:Category 840:Newsroom 835:Archives 817:Mastodon 813:Facebook 729:contribs 717:unsigned 402:Previous 391:conceded 387:User:WWB 352:inserted 299:In brief 248:Signpost 235:Newsweek 222:Signpost 121:LinkedIn 101:Facebook 20:‎ | 809:Twitter 743:Carrite 692:llywrch 372:, in a 361:listed 318:summary 239:article 111:Twitter 786:VivekM 677:Sadads 675:Haha, 647:Sadads 622:(talk) 322:slides 258:, and 213:, and 131:Reddit 91:E-mail 830:About 341:noted 16:< 825:Home 790:talk 763:Cute 747:talk 725:talk 710:good 696:talk 681:talk 666:Talk 651:talk 616:Tony 583:talk 579:HaeB 530:Rich 410:Next 153:and 141:Digg 815:or 807:on 345:did 326:SEO 149:By 76:ā€” 866:: 811:, 792:) 749:) 731:) 727:ā€¢ 698:) 683:) 664:Ā· 653:) 585:) 540:. 536:, 400:ā† 320:, 254:, 209:, 205:, 201:, 197:, 819:. 788:( 745:( 723:( 694:( 679:( 649:( 598:/ 581:( 563:/ 519:. 509:. 441:) 437:( 365:.

Index

Knowledge:Knowledge Signpost
2010-08-16
The Signpost
ā† Back to Contents
View Latest Issue
16 August 2010
Contribute
E-mail
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Digg
Tilman Bayer
Theo10011
Berkman Center
'Be Nice': Knowledge norms for supportive communication
available online
Jack Gibb
Knowledge:No legal threats
Knowledge:Right to vanish
User:Dlohcierekim/apathy
Knowledge:Thankspam
Knowledge:Five pillars of evil
Knowledge:BOLD, revert, revert, revert
Newsweek
article
Carr-Benkler wager
23 November
7 December

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.

ā†‘