WikBack blocking? Options

[guy]

That forum needs to be carefully moderated to allow for free and productive discussion between disputing parties, as a halfway house between Wikipedia's stifling talk pages and Wikipedia Reviewers' freewheeling rip-fests.

We could easily set up a rigidly controlled forum. The trouble is that I doubt that we'd get many WP bigwigs (other than those we have already of course).

[Milton Roe]

Now Wikback has banned me for a week for responding to Thekohser's smartass reply to my witty quip in the "A Thought for Today" thread, after a Moderator Warning about "off-topic" stuff in that thread was posted (which I hadn't actually read when I posted my last reply, since it had caused the thread to scroll into a new page, which I hadn't gotten to).

On the whole, that forum is moderated in an excessively anal manner for my tastes, and also seems to be of, by, and for people completely lacking in a sense of humor.

Wikback sounds a lot like the Wikipedia that owns it. I joined, but then kept trying to think of a reason to post anything.. Couldn't, so haven't. And since they make you give your WP ID, what the hell is the purpose of the thing, anyway? If they're trying to set up a forum to let pissed-off wikipedians vent, they're not going about it very well. Which is just as well. Jeez, what if they actually HAD a sense of humor? You'd be sucked in endlessly.

[BobbyBombastic]

And since they make you give your WP ID, what the hell is the purpose of the thing, anyway? If they're trying to set up a forum to let pissed-off wikipedians vent, they're not going about it very well.

I think it was supposed to be an attempt at more organized discussion than a wiki or mailing list is capable. That was a good enough of an idea, but how it's being followed through with is a different story.

Large wikis and mailing lists make for difficult to follow communication. Message board software is better suited to this, in my opinion.

[One]

Why is it a priority to post to UC's forum in the first place? I don't even understand why you'd want to. You can say what you want here, and WR must get at least as good an audience.

That's probably true. Even among admins--even among "cabal" admins--I bet that WR is more read than Wikback.

That said, Wikback posts seem to be cited on Wikipedia talk pages much more fluidly. It's more like the mailing lists--it's not a source that respectable users needs to make apologies about linking. In some circumstances it could be more influential. Besides, UC reads it, if no one else. I bet he doesn't read all of the comments in ArbCom cases, but he almost necessarily reads all posts on WikBack.

[gomi]

Moderator's note: I have moved the off-topic posts to here.

[thekohser]

Those Lutherans have their own little Spanish Inquisition going on, don't they? Now, like Tobias, I have been blocked from the WikBack -- apparently for voicing my displeasure that Dan Tobias was himself blocked for a week.

Here was the message I got when signing in:

If you don't like a host or admin decision, in the future, after your ban expires, you can take such matters up in the "WikBack itself" forum provided for the purpose.

I'll tell you what, UC -- I'll take such matters up in a forum where tin-pot dictators aren't running the show. Where liberty and free speech are respected.

What a pathetic host. Sixth-grade treehouse culture you've fostered over there.

Greg

[Jonny Cache]

I'm surprised you're surprised —

I guess that must be a meta-surprise.

I never meta-surprise I didn't like?

Don't you bet on it.

Jonny

Those Lutherans have their own little Spanish Inquisition going on, don't they? Now, like Tobias, I have been blocked from the WikBack — apparently for voicing my displeasure that Dan Tobias was himself blocked for a week.

Here was the message I got when signing in:

If you don't like a host or admin decision, in the future, after your ban expires, you can take such matters up in the "WikBack itself" forum provided for the purpose.

I'll tell you what, UC — I'll take such matters up in a forum where tin-pot dictators aren't running the show. Where liberty and free speech are respected.

What a pathetic host. Sixth-grade treehouse culture you've fostered over there.

Greg

This post has been edited by Jonny Cache: Mon 10th March 2008, 2:54am

[privatemusings]

well just so you don't feel left out, Greg - I've been banned for a week as well....for this post, I think.

I'm tempted to write that UninvitedCompany has been playing with his organ so much that he's become rather firm....

..but that would be childish, and I'd like to think that all are above such silliness here.

[Derktar]

well just so you don't feel left out, Greg - I've been banned for a week as well....for this post, I think.

I'm tempted to write that UninvitedCompany has been playing with his organ so much that he's become rather firm....

..but that would be childish, and I'd like to think that all are above such silliness here.

Well, you're better off sticking around here.

My opinions may be biased though.

[thekohser]

I suggest to Dan Tobias, Privatemusings, and myself that even when our blocks at DikSack WikBack are lifted, that we engage in an informal protest and simply don't read it or post there until May 1st. At that time, I suspect the board will be an all-but-deceased wasteland of "quote of the day" and Swatjester bemoaning that nobody posts there any more, and we won't even have a desire to participate again.

Dan? PM? What say you?

Greg

[Moulton]

The Banality of Wikipedia

The unbalanced exercise of power is so banal, there is nothing more to be said about it.

[Kato]

except to note that Privatemusings has coined a new nickname for Wikiback's Uninvited Company

"Arbonaught"

http://just-some-privatemusings.blogspot.c...nother-ban.html

[dtobias]

Anyone else here also on WikBack? Show some solidarity and get yourself banned there too... it's easy!

[Lar]

except to note that Privatemusings has coined a new nickname for Wikiback's Uninvited Company

"Arbonaught"

http://just-some-privatemusings.blogspot.c...nother-ban.html

I thought Giano coined that phrase first? Or one close (arbonauts) anyway?

Amusing as it is to come up with nicknames for people or organizations I'm not sure I care to indulge, as it tends to dilute the message, I think. Others may disagree of course.

[Moulton]

It's OK for satire and popular culture treatments of a subject.

It's not professional, for the few who still value professionalism.

[Random832]

Does anyone know a forum package that can accept post submission (including replies) via e-mail? I want to set up a forum to compete with WB, but since there are certain people who are paranoid about their IP address getting into the "wrong" hands, I want to offer this as an option so they can just use throwaway gmail accounts instead if they so choose.

[dtobias]

You could set up a Yahoo Group, which can be posted to by email or web interface. (The privacy-freak crowd may, however, not like the fact that it lets Yahoo gather information about you.)

[Poetlister]

The privacy-freak crowd may, however, not like the fact that it lets Yahoo gather information about you.

So if you have a special Gmail account for the purpose, who cares? Presumably even Yahoo can't track a Gmail account.

[Jonny Cache]

Anyone else here also on WikBack? Show some solidarity and get yourself banned there too … it's easy!

I love the idea of showing solidarity, if only for its own sake, but couldn't they just ban me in advance without me having to go through all the bother of signing up first?

Jonny

[Moulton]

The banality of Wikback, eh?