Jimbo's original idea(s) Options

[thekohser]

From another thread, we had the honorable and erudite Kelly Martin say:

Jimbo hasn't had a bright idea in his entire life. Nothing he's done reflects an original thought on his part. Nupedia wasn't his idea; neither was Wikipedia. He takes the credit, but the ideas came from someone else.

No, Jimbo's intended purpose for this council is to give him ideas that he will then adopt as his own and run with, because he's incapable of coming up with them on his own.

I have to disagree with this. We may need to get Danny Wool or maybe even Terry Foote to weigh in, but I have to believe that someone as crafty and sneaky as Jimbo Wales -- at some time in his life -- has had a bright idea that he then communicated effectively to at least someone.

This thread shall remain open for nominations, then we can put it to a poll to select the "best" bright idea resulting from original thought... if there are any that survive the vetting process here.

This post has been edited by thekohser:

[Kato]

What about Wikia Politics?

Jimbo wrote about the site in 2006

I am launching today a new Wikia website aimed at being a central meeting ground for people on all sides of the political spectrum who think that it is time for politics to become more participatory, and more intelligent.

This website, Campaigns Wikia, has the goal of bringing together people from diverse political perspectives who may not share much else, but who share the idea that they would rather see democratic politics be about engaging with the serious ideas of intelligent opponents, about activating and motivating ordinary people to get involved and really care about politics beyond the television soundbites.

Together, we will start to work on educating and engaging the political campaigns about how to stop being broadcast politicians, and how to start being community and participatory politicians.

How will we do that? Is it possible? Jimbo, are you crazy?

Ok, I might be crazy. I founded Wikipedia, which is of course about as crazy an idea as anyone might imagine. And you know what? I was not and I still am not smart enough to figure out how to make Wikipedia work. The Wikipedians figured that out, my role has only been to listen and watch, and to guide us forward in a spirit of sincerity and love to do something useful.

[thekohser]

What about Wikia Politics?

Thank you, Kato. Anyone else? (Without throwing the thread off track, please.)

[Kato]

What about Wikia Politics?

Thank you, Kato. Anyone else? (Without throwing the thread off track, please.)

I think Wikia Search was Jimbo's idea. He muttered something about his grand vision back in 2006, and had to clarify himself shortly after when his ramblings hit the media.

Here is his 2006 clarification to the media. And it's where the term "Google killer" was first mentioned in connection with a Jimbo-fuelled search engine.

As in his rationale for Wikia Politics, Jimbo explains how his experiences setting up Wikipedia would hold him in good stead for the new Wikia Search project.

There are a lot of things that we’ve learned in the wiki world on how to get communities involved and engaged to build trusted networks in communities.

Incidentally, at the end of that article, the writer makes an amusing correction:

Postscript: Originally I had Wales listed as cofounder of Wikipedia, but he got in touch saying he was the founder. I’d noted that Wikipedia itself lists him as founding (well, creating) it with Larry Sanger. Is Wikipedia incorrect on this, I asked? “Yes, it is wrong,” he emailed. Sanger posts his own views on the origins here.

The irony here is that Wikipedia, Jimbo's big success story, was Larry Sanger's idea.

[thekohser]

I think Wikia Search was Jimbo's idea.

Remember, folks, we are looking for "bright" ideas.