Editing Template talk:RationalWiki (section)

==Wiki policy==
Above, Leucosticte is correct about lack of clear policy and practice. WikiIndex was started to be something simple, it appears, and who needs a pile of policy and practice if everyone knows what is to be done? This is a classic wiki problem. When policy and practice are not set at the beginning, it grows like topsy, as actual practice, and it can be unpredictable, and then much time is wasted, users leave in disgust, etc., etc. It's happened to many wikis without strong leadership, and, my opinion, this happened with Wikipedia, though it's not so obvious, because they have *tons* of policies and guidelines that aren't worth the paper they are not written on, except they can be used to attack the weak. (And then it also works in certain ways, but it's *highly inefficient,* so it bleeds users who burn out.)

However, I'm assuming that WikiIndex is intended to be what the name says, and what is shown to unregistered users. What is being shown is that there are users who want it to be a less obvious version of [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]], where anything goes. Or does it? Right now, there is material on WikiIndex that creates a legal hazard for the owner. Does he realize this? Does he care? Does he mind the real names and birth dates of minors (one is 13 that I just saw) being on WikiIndex? Such information is enshrined in edit history, even if blanked, and the same for the real name of a user where the page was deleted and yet the name is blatant in deletion history.

The founder noticed revert warring by a user creating this mess and said "enough," but then let the user make one more edit. (Which was okay, but was also the last edit the user made.) What I see is not uncommon in on-line fora. A founder becomes disinterested, but maintains weak control, and occasionally intervenes while being clueless, wreaking havoc with other functionaries. My training in project creation emphasizes the importance of *turning it over.* Otherwise it is basically ego, individual identity. Nothing wrong with that, per se, except it is obviously limited. --[[User:Abd|Abd]] ([[User talk:Abd|talk]]) 15:13, 24 December 2014 (UTC)
:You have to have someone to turn it over to, before you can relinquish ownership. Often, there is no one who wants that job; it doesn't pay well, and there are financial, technical, and other responsibilities involved in keeping the site running, as well as a time commitment. A lot of people just aren't up to it. During the April 2010 dispute on Libertapedia, when people were threatening to walk out, I offered to turn over the reins to any willing party, and none were interested.

:If there's nothing backing up a wiki but an individual, then it dies as soon as he stops paying the bills. If there's an organization backing the wiki, then they may keep paying the bills, but leave the wiki without anyone at the helm. [[VjWiki]] might be an example of that. [[User:Leucosticte|Leucosticte]] ([[User talk:Leucosticte|talk]]) 15:32, 24 December 2014 (UTC)
::If there is nobody to turn it over to, and if the goal was to build a community project, ''it failed.'' It may have been useful for a while. But useful for what? Some wikis became highly useful for wasting time battling spam, with owners not knowing how to handle it, or not having adequate support. See [[MeatballWiki]], a major example. Apparently domain registration and hosting is still being paid. Then it won't be, and what people built may disappear. Ultimately, that happens to all we do; however.... --[[User:Abd|Abd]] ([[User talk:Abd|talk]]) 15:42, 24 December 2014 (UTC)
:::A lot of organizations are the same way. How many rely on a key person, such as an indefatigable activist-spokesperson-organizer, and will fold if he gets hit by a bus? They may have a lot of people willing to serve in minor roles, but none are able and willing to step up to the top post and devote themselves to it the way he did. Those organizers succeeded in building a community of people involved in small ways, but did not succeed in grooming successors for themselves, and so when they died, so did the organization. WikiIndex doesn't even have a successor to Sean, in terms of someone willing to be such an active sysop; and that's an easier job than site owner. [[User:Leucosticte|Leucosticte]] ([[User talk:Leucosticte|talk]]) 15:51, 24 December 2014 (UTC)