Wikipedia Goes All DMOZ

peter_d · 09-06-2007, 10:37 PM

A lesson in how the best of intentions about freedom inevitably turn into something closer to fascism. RoughType on the downside of too many rules in Wikipedia.

http://www.roughtype.com/archives/20...of_the_wik.php

Quote:

Maybe the time has come for Wikipedia to amend its famous slogan. Maybe it should call itself "the encyclopedia that anyone can edit on the condition that said person meets the requirements laid out in Wikipedia Code 234.56, subsections A34-A58, A65, B7 (codicil 5674), and follows the procedures specified in Wikipedia Statutes 31 - 1007 as well as Secret Wikipedia Scroll SC72 (Wikipedia Decoder Ring required).

Not to be too hard on Wikipedia and DMOZ - the problem of abuse is real - but it seems the founding idea just doesn't work on the anonymous web.

John Scott · 09-06-2007, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Deletionism has become Wikipedia's reigning ethic.

Wikipedia and DMOZ both.

bond007 · 09-10-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Scott

Wikipedia and DMOZ both.

Unfortunately it seems that you are 100& right.

tbarr · 09-08-2007, 02:35 AM

At least Wiki has some transparency, I've had conversations with "senior" wiki editors and they were reasonable but alas that was 6 months ago.

Trapped · 09-08-2007, 03:18 AM

Wiki is getting on my nerves lately. They are like dominating the SERPs of Google for the most competitive keywords, they are #1 even for a keyphrase that has the word "service" in it (web hosting service) it makes me feel sick to be honest

**T0d** · 09-08-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trapped

Wiki is getting on my nerves lately. They are like dominating the SERPs of Google for the most competitive keywords, they are #1 even for a keyphrase that has the word "service" in it (web hosting service) it makes me feel sick to be honest

I wonder if the SE's will soon look at WIKI as another search engine and not rank their results so high.

WIKI has removed links to my site added by others even when my sites have been 100% on-target and don't even show any ads

tbarr · 09-09-2007, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddW

I wonder if the SE's will soon look at WIKI as another search engine and not rank their results so high.

WIKI has removed links to my site added by others even when my sites have been 100% on-target and don't even show any ads

Try using their discussion tab at the top of each page. You might get an answer or you might just undo the edit that removed you.

qbert_seo · 09-09-2007, 10:50 AM

Unfortunately, I have to agree that wiki is starting to transform into DMOZ with regards to their editorial policy. I've noticed this is particularly true for pages that rank highly in Google. i.e. their search engine optimization page. Unless you existed in the community for years, even if you add useful and relevant information, the content will be removed. Sad but the principal of an open directory inevitable seem to fail. It seems that wiki is starting to turn south. The idea is excellent hopefully people step up and wiki contributors remember its original mission.

tbarr · 09-09-2007, 06:15 PM

There are certain topics that will be closely watched like SEO and SEM. They will also closely watch external links and there will be tug of wars as to what should be in and what should be out. It is kind of amazing how much activity goes on there (look at history tab on any category you think should be dead and you will be surprised), let's hope activity won't too badly curtailed by those wanting to impose a certain style.