[WikiEN-l] Ideas on a methodology

Fri Jul 4 02:01:45 UTC 2003

Erik wrote:
>In my opinion, Wikipedia should be the 
>unstable version of Nupedia, a bit like 
>Debian has a permanent unstable section. 
>Things in Wikipedia can be complete 
>nonsense, but they are always up to date. 

I agree completely except for the name of the "stable" Wikipedia distribution; 
that, IMO, should be the slightly different "GNUpedia." Of course the GNU 
people esp RMS would have to sign off on our use of the "GNU" brand. If they 
do not feel comfortable with that then we can use Nupedia. My reasoning is 
simple; Nupedia is/was a very different project and we should have a 
different name if possible (and Wikimedia already owns both gnupedia.org and 
gnupedia.com). 

I also like the "gnu" because it emphasizes the open content nature of such a 
project (since that would be the most prominent difference between it and any 
other static encyclopedia; the most prominent feature of Wikipedia, however, 
is that it is a wiki).   

>We may add a team certification model to 
>Wikipedia eventually, but I'd be happy to see 
>a simple Sifter solution as envisioned by Magnus 
>(without the limit to certified experts as reviewers 
>which I think is what Larry wanted). IMHO  it would 
>make perfect sense to use the Nupedia name and 
>domain for that project.

Like I've said before; Sifter, team certification and a "stable" distribution 
of Wikipedia are all basically the same thing in that they are trying to 
accomplish similar goals. To be viable we should make one project that 
encompasses the best aspects of all three ideas.

-- Daniel Mayer (aka mav)