Off topic policy
I think it would be a good idea to have a stated [Off Topic Policy] - if there is one, please point me in the right direction.
I am not sure how I feel having this done to peoples posts: "Since this post is off-topic, I am disabling further comments here."
I would be more interested in saying, hey, this isn't on topic, so I am moving it to your own weblog page. That way we encourage people who got something to say, to say it in the right places, while keeping the integrety of the site mission.
What do other folks think?
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Yes, I think we definitely need a policy
My intention is to build such policies as we go along. For now, I'm winging it.
Also, there is a moderation system built into Drupal. It basically works like Slashdot where moderators vote on which posts get to the front page. I'm planning on working that into this site at some point. Right now, there just aren't enough people. I'm not planning on remaining judge jury and executioner.
But I think there definitely needs to be some proactive response to curtail off-topic posts keep the signal to noise ratio here high. This community is here for a very specific purpose and we should stick to that purpose. That's why I have put the mission statement on all pages. There are plenty of other web sites out there for talking about unions. This site is about the Internet and how it pertains to unions.
Now there is a wiki page to
We'll see
Let's not get ahead of ourselves as to what is good and what isn't. Let's keep our options open. As the community evolves, we'll roll with it and see what works.
Go ahead and take a stab at writing the off topic policy, if you want. We can pick up the debate there.
I'd like to see spaces in our wiki titles, by the way. Normal people (non-geeks) aren't going to get into CamelCase.
Not sure what you mean by
Not sure what you mean by "Let's not get ahead of ourselves as to what is good and what isn't. Let's keep our options open. As the community evolves, we'll roll with it and see what works."
I started this because you called something off topic and closed down the discussion option.
The first [OffTopicPolicy] I see from that is:
If it is not related to unions and communication technology, then post it as a weblog entry on your communicate or die weblog space, not as a forum topic. If something is deemed off-topic by Steve, he will move it to your weblog.
What I was referring to
I responding to your assertion that Slashdot-like moderation is Feature Creep.
Like I have suggested already, go ahead and write up the policy and we'll debate it there.
New forum category for this kind of discussion
The original post here is as a blog entry but it probably belongs to a forum topic. I just created a new forum topic for these kinds of issues, called Site Administration and Policies: http://www.communicateordie.com/forum/43
Ironically, one thing we will need to do is hammer out an editorial policy on what kind of post constitutes a blog, which is a story, and which is a forum topic. The lines can get very blurry.
Too blurry in my opinion.
The blurriness has good qualities and bad
Does Doonesbury belong on the op-ed page or with the rest of the comics? Does a particular topic warrant a full-length article on the front-page or should it be buried?
These are all editorial decisions a newspaper editor has to make. Similarly, we have to make editorial decisions here. The only true difference between many of the different "node types," as they are called in Drupal, is how they are displayed and arranged.
The difficulty is in figuring out how to get users (like you) to follow the editorial policy. In effect, they become editors when they choose a node type. This is good because it gives them direct power to shape the site, but it is bad because if they don't know the editorial policy, things get messy.
I will lay out a policy at some point in the forum I have designated for such discussion.
On Camel Case
The proper technical term is "camel case."
It may signify to you and me that it is a wiki, but the vast majority of users, and especially labor leaders, will just look at it as a jumbled mess and go cross-eyed. We need to tailor the site to the users as much as practical.
Off Topic - Defined - what processes to use
Hi Folks,
I ran accross this a few days ago on another forum and saw this discussion where I think it can clear some definitions.
Rachel Hamilton-Williams to wisewomen
More options Jun 27
Hi
Not that I'm an expert in either
> Can anyone compare Wiki vs. blogs and what makes more sense for a
> customized page?
We do things with both -
Use a Wiki where people are working together on a document, where it is
intended that they be able to substantially change/rewrite a documment
make additions deletions etc - so like sending an article through a
series of sub-eds.
Use a Blog where people are commenting on a document rather than
directly changing it.
So depends on what you're trying to achieve.
cheers
R
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Rachel Hamilton-Williams
General Manager
Katipo Communications Ltd
Phone: +64-4-934 1285
Mobile: 021 389 128
E-mail: rachel@katipo.co.nz
Web: www.katipo.co.nz
Wiki still in development
Wiki is still experimental at this point. And it's still called the "book" module which is very confusing. I have to do some more work before it's ready for prime time.
Beginnings of editorial policy
Go to http://www.communicateordie.com/forum/43 for the beginning of our editorial policy.