WikiIndex talk:What is a WikiIndex entry?

Language

Tone I've noticed that here the tone is sometimes more conversational than encyclopedic and I like that. I think we should encourage more discussion like this but make it clear that we don't exist to denigrate or promote any particular wiki. Does that make sense? Koavf (talk) 04:43, 6 January 2015 (UTC)

First of all, describing WikiIndex entries as "encyclopedic" is problematic. However, beyond that, an "entry" should be distinguished from discussion of an entry. The latter belongs on the attached Discussion page. On the other hand, Discussion pages are often considered to be only about working on the content of the Index page.

This is a clear conflict: informal discussion is not encyclopedic. Opinion is not encyclopedia unless attributed (typically to a notable person, but in a totally inclusive encyclopedia, opinion would still be attributed even if the person isn't notable). Encyclopedic information should be verifiable.

On Wikiversity, we handle the problem by creating subpages. Discussion pages *may* be used to discuss the topic, rather than simply improving the content of the Resource. We allow linking to discussion pages, sometimes calling them "seminars." We allow owned subpages, i.e., pages attributed as the opinion, point of view, original research, of a named user, who is then, defacto, given administrative power over the page. (Basically, such open ownership is accepted, and someone revert warring with such an "owner" is likely to be warned. But it almost never happens. In fact, I can't think of any recent example.)

So there is WikiIndex proper, mainspace, and it's primarily about wikis. However, then, "Wikipeople." Okay, we allow such entries. What are the standards? And if we are going to discuss people, we open the door to an area known to generate conflict. Conflict causes loss of participation. There are users who, when they see high conflict, will simply leave. Most women, by the way, are like that. (There are certainly exceptions!) But it's not just women, either. Wikis have often avoided addressing the issues, because it's difficult. So they continue to make ad hoc decisions, and some long-time wiki users are inured to conflict, they consider it part of what is attractive -- to them -- about wikis.

However, Wikiversity demonstrates that a wiki can be very active with very low conflict. What it has taken is defacto policies and practices that avoid setting up the conditions for conflict. I'm proud to have been a part of that. Conflict on Wikiversity is almost never about content, it's about people, about users and administrators. On Wikipedia, the same, except that there is a constant creation of conflict over content, coming out of how the wiki developed. Wiki labor is cheap, i.e., not valued. --Abd (talk) 15:47, 6 January 2015 (UTC)

Defaming or promoting

"Entries in WikiIndex shouldn't exist for the sole purpose of defaming or promoting a site, though: this is neither free hosting space for other wiki communities nor is it a message board for gripes and sniping about problems with other wikis." What is the solution when one encounters a listing that solely defames or promotes a site? Deletion so that the page can be rewritten from scratch, or editing to add balancing information so that other points of view have due weight? Leucosticte (talk) 04:54, 6 January 2015 (UTC)

Deletion I'd imagine that we should rewrite before delete because if nothing else maybe an infobox would be correct. I would play fast and loose with tone--this isn't an academic encyclopedia or a newspaper, so we don't have to have professional writing. Koavf (talk) 04:56, 6 January 2015 (UTC)