Reply interspersed below:
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Piers Goodhew <piers@...> wrote:
>
> Doing my best to keep this on topic and civil:
>
> 1 - I'm on a few lists and it drives me nuts that you need to keep
> giving mostly the same answers a few times a year. Before the web, you
> could say "see faq 3.7", but since, we have wikis (though someone does
> have to maintain them).
If the wiki were associated with the Yahoo list, this point might have some validity. How will people who find the list find the wiki? More importantly, why does this mean the wiki has to be a toy? Why can't it be a real, well established site, that already has tons of information on it?
> 2 - Do we have any verified cases of PCB wiki spamming? Unlike yahoo
> groups, which all live on one domain name, can be searched and all run
> on the same server, the world's many public wikis run on many servers
> and systems. Also, all true wiki's have a history capability and can
> have editors whitelisted if necessary (and very few do, though most
> require registration)
I can forward you literally thousands of attempts to spam massmind.org. Other wiki owners will share the same experience with you. Once a wiki becomes well enough indexed and popular, it gets spammed.
> 3 - What's at massmind really does not feel like a wiki to me - a
> search on "toner transfer" took 11 seconds and turned up what looked
> like forum posts. And it's hardly what you'd call readable - it
> doesn't even use CSS. I freely admit I didn't spend a lot of time
> there, but if there is useful info there, my first instinct would be
> to get it ported somewhere else ASAP
Where to start?
1. Why does it have to "feel like a wiki"? It has a form at the bottom of each page where you can post content. If you register, you can edit the page. Thats a wiki. Show me another definition.
2. If you think it should have CCS send me the CCS you like and I'll put it up. That is the spirit of a wiki: People consolidateing information in a centeral usefull place and all helping to make it better. Not fragmenting and each publishing thier own project on thier own ego page. Not duplicating effort. Not wasting peoples time. Seriously, I agree the site could use CCS. If anyone has some ability and time, I would appreciate the help.
3. That same search on toner transfer is now instant. Really, try it. The site learns what people want and speeds up searches for that. And although there are 2 (very relevant) posts from a really great email list, the 3rd, 4th and 5th results are all perfectly on topic and good content that would have answered those FAQs you are concerned about.
4. Again, even if you can't stand me, or my site, why not use any of the many other very well run systems that are already in existance and running like a dream? instructables, wikihow, wikipedia (which already has an entry for Printed Circuit Board) and on and on... why start Yet Another Wiki?
>
> At the end of the day, there is no magic AI that converts list posts
> into new or ammended wiki pages (which is what I really wish for), so
> I doubt I'll personally be involved in any wiki work myself, but if I
> was the type of person who did, that's what I'd be doing
>
> PG
>
The magic AI is hard working people who care about others and are willing to take the time to share what they have learned in a centeralized place.
Best Wishes.