[Gardeners] ALU Wiki and the "discuss this page" option.

[Peter Seibel]

On Dec 20, 2005, at 10:44 AM, Larry Clapp wrote:

> On 2005-12-20, Peter Seibel
> <peter at gigamonkeys.com> wrote:
>> The ALU Wiki has a feature whereby every page has a cousin page to
>> be  used for discussing the first page. (Well, not every page--the
>> page  discussion pages can not be discussed.)
>>
>> I suggest that we *not* use that feature for project
>> discussion--i.e.  if you're talking about stuff a project should or
>> should not do or  adding information that would be useful to folks
>> working on the  project, do that on the project page proper.
>
> Or on the project mailing list (though none of "our" projects have
> their own lists yet), or here in the Gardeners' list.
>
> In my experience, "threading" in a Wiki sucks.  I like to know who
> said what, when, and to whom they're replying.  If someone wants to
> digest the discussion and put it on the wiki, great, but don't make me
> try to follow a discussion there.  Cf the current thread on web forums
> and how much they suck to a lot of people.

Yes. Discussion that does happen on the Wiki should probably be  
quickly digested into proper content on the page. If someone makes a  
suggestion and the champion likes it, make it part of the plan. If  
someone asks a question, modify the page so the question is  
retroactively pre-answered (if you take my meaning) and remove the  
question. I agree that threading on Wikis is bad news--we should  
strive to keep our pages in "wiki normal form" where each page  
reflects the current best thinking on a topic organized as best as we  
know how.

-Peter

-- 
Peter Seibel           * peter at gigamonkeys.com
Gigamonkeys Consulting * http://www.gigamonkeys.com/
Practical Common Lisp  * http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/