[Marxism] Wikis (was Re; Wikpedia)

["Gilles d'Aymery" <aymery@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Louis Proyect wrote:

>>Wikis are one of those things that I have been holding at arm's
length, just as I did with blogs--until I jumped in with both feet. I am
wondering whether it makes sense to hitch a ride on anarchist Wiki.
Maybe we should  explore the possibility of launching a socialist
Wiki? What is involved?<<

As much as I am a strong blog dissenter (opponent) -- no need to ask
me why, just check the archives -- I think a Wiki would complement
and augment Marxmail quite significantly -- once its purpose and
goals are clearly defined.

Instead of being a linear forum, like a mailing list, where subjects are
promoted at a member's whim, followed or not by the members,
thoroughly or not, until the list moves on out of a) lack of
interest/persistence, b) daily events, c) moderator's lassitude (not a
critic), or d) another new subject attracting attention, a wiki would
allow to focus on *some* -- at the beginning very few -- issues of
interest that would be pursued in depth (something a mailing list is not
armed for).

It calls upon collective work rather than navel-centered work (blogs)
or pretty controlled and managed work by a handfull (like Marxmail,
Left Hook, Swans, etc.).

It allows people to contribute at length, change, edit anything that has
been written, add, augment, develop, create... *That* is the main
point...

It can be both anarchist and syndicalist at the same time. It really
depends on the overall purpose and goals, and the committment of the
participants.

The main pitfall is that any one individual can be extremely disruptive
and destructive. Let me explain. When someone subscribes to
Marxmail, it'll take some time to find out whether s/he's in for positive
or negative contributions to the list -- It'll take some time to find
out...but it's a pretty clean process. Same for Swans... A new
contributor shows up... Time goes by... and slowly one finds out what
this contributor is all about... I presume Junaid goes through a similar
process, and we all deal with the situation case by case, according to
our own ways...

In the case of a wiki, however, the wider the subjects, the more
people are involved, the more "moderators" are needed... One or two
or three individuals will rapidly be overwhelmed, for the tool is not
linear and vertical; it is horizontal... It is not chronological; it moves
laterally, by subjects. (Think hypertext...in the old meaning of the
word...)

The "moderator" issue may be the the biggest drawback of the
enterprise, coupled with making people understand the technicalities.
Without people who follow the various issues and control the process
(not the outcome...the process), one simple individual can lay wreck
to the entire endeavor.

We created a Swans Wiki in the past. It depended on a young guy
who was not committed to Swans though had been around for a
couple of years (actually, he is no longer part of the journey, if he ever
seriously was....). All other Swans contributors did not understand the
technicalities -- how to post, change something someone had written
(my object was to involve the contributors in the nuts and bolts of
Swans) -- and I simply could not take the load....and the young guy
was not up to it either. It died within a month!

A Wiki needs a handful of seriously committed people, working with
Lou and Les, aggreeing on a set of principles, and then initiate with
responsibility and perseverance (perseverance, of course, is another
ballgame altogether!!!)

A wiki, to be successful needs unity with the respect for
diversity...something that may not yet be understood within our ranks.

BTW, one can use services that provide the tools. No need for
sociapedia.org, or whatever...

Sincerely,
Gilles d'Aymery
Swans Commentary


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