Difference between revisions of "How is a Wiki Different"
(How a Wiki is Different from a Forum) |
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A forum discussion | A forum discussion | ||
| − | + | *starts | |
| − | + | *takes on a life of its own | |
| − | + | *sometimes reaches a solution / conclusion | |
| − | + | *carries on and devolves, digresses, gets sidetracked or dies | |
Someone looking for answers can | Someone looking for answers can | ||
| − | + | *start a new discussion | |
| − | + | *wait for the answer to emerge | |
or | or | ||
| − | + | *search for a discussion that looks relevant | |
| − | + | *read through the unfolding story | |
| − | + | *try to identify the answer if it is there | |
| − | + | *try to recognize the point of diminishing returns, devolution, digression, sidetrack or death | |
Some people want the answer, some people enjoy the journey. | Some people want the answer, some people enjoy the journey. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[User:ST|ST]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:59, 5 August 2006
Cliff encouraged me to share a couple of thoughts:
On a typical wiki page "the answer" is at the top. The most highly evolved version of the answer is always visible. A wiki, like a forum is largely self-correcting, but you don't have to experience the process unless you want to.
In a typical forum discussion "the answer" is somewhere near but rarely at, the end. Finding the answer is a treasure hunt and you pretty much have to follow the clues and hope you recognize it if or when you stumble upon it.
A forum discussion
- starts
- takes on a life of its own
- sometimes reaches a solution / conclusion
- carries on and devolves, digresses, gets sidetracked or dies
Someone looking for answers can
- start a new discussion
- wait for the answer to emerge
or
- search for a discussion that looks relevant
- read through the unfolding story
- try to identify the answer if it is there
- try to recognize the point of diminishing returns, devolution, digression, sidetrack or death
Some people want the answer, some people enjoy the journey.