Wiki Section on the forum.

[Constantin]

Hey, I have a suggestion!

I think many of you will agree that a Wiki section will be very useful!

I understand that there is a lot of info in the sticky threats and all. But it would be very nice to have a Wiki where everybody can make and edit articles about parts, intalls, modifications, terms, error codes etc.

From the technical side it is not hard at all. Open source wiki platforms are available.

I see only positive outcome:

• It will be easier to find information that is needed
• People can modify the articles. For example if somebody made post about install or a part description but it is not complete others can modify it.
• Fort the owners of the forum it can serve as additional revenue stream. You can position "smart" adds or referal links to the parts manufacturer. People will be glad to buy through the Wiki - we all know it takes $$$ to run the forum.

I thinks its a win-win for everybody. Personally I would gladly contribute to the Wiki!

[Dash08]

The last thing we need is people who think they know what they're doing changing articles and how to's.

With the abundance of online know-it-alls, this could end up being a bigger mess than a bunch of separate threads.

At least with individual threads, it's much easier to consider the source of the information before taking it as gospel.

[predapio]

Sure, why don't we email all the relevant articles to brownies while we're at it?
Just search, like everyone before you and after you.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by Dash08 The last thing we need is people who think they know what they're doing changing articles and how to's. With the abundance of online know-it-alls, this could end up being a bigger mess than a bunch of separate threads. At least with individual threads, it's much easier to consider the source of the information before taking it as gospel.

True! The information integrity is very important! But, you will be abel to see who made the article. Who modified it etc. Plus, admin will be able to remove the article from modification purposes same as with the sticky treads.

Just look at Wikipedia. Anybody can edit the article, but still it is the 4th most visited website in the world!

My points is that the percentage of people who would like to "mess" with the acticles will be minimal.

Why not give it a try? You can always rely on the forum for information. I think Admin should at least give it a try and see what happens.

Originally Posted by predapio Sure, why don't we email all the relevant articles to brownies while we're at it? Just search, like everyone before you and after you.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for searching before making a post or ask a stupid question.

I am just suggesting something that will make it easier for anybody brownie or a experience tech. to find what they need, get useful feedback or share something new.

It is pretty much free to give it a try. If it does not work there is alway a "delete" button...

I just want to help around here.

[Dash08]

If you want to help the community, get involved in one of your local Nator chapters.

We appreciate your enthusiasm, but this idea just won't work. No matter how logical it seems in your own mind. There are too many variables that would cause something like this to fail. Mainly, other people.

There are many people out there who really believe they know what they're doing and they will defend themselves even in the face of absolute fact that disproves them. That is the main reason this will not work.

If people were more trustworthy, than it could possibly work.

[McGee]

Yeah, Dash pretty much was spot on. Good in theory, but won't work in the real world.
Like communism.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by Dash08 If you want to help the community, get involved in one of your local Nator chapters. We appreciate your enthusiasm, but this idea just won't work. No matter how logical it seems in your own mind. There are too many variables that would cause something like this to fail. Mainly, other people. There are many people out there who really believe they know what they're doing and they will defend themselves even in the face of absolute fact that disproves them. That is the main reason this will not work. If people were more trustworthy, than it could possibly work.

I see your point that people will mess up useful data. My main goal is to make the information easily available and searchable.

In my opinion it will work good with parts. Lets take for example End Links. Last weekend I installed Moog End links on my car. I will make a detailed post about it. But I would be happy to make an article on the Wiki section with description of the end links and pictures. I don't think it is possible to mess this kind of article.

Hey, we can put a big disclaimer: Use Wiki at Your Own Risk

Originally Posted by McGee Yeah, Dash pretty much was spot on. Good in theory, but won't work in the real world. Like communism.

Yep, communism was an epic failure. But we don't leave in exactly democratic society now.

Just out of curiosity, do you know if something like this was implemented on other forums?

[Mase]

Could always build a closed wiki...articles or submissions sent to mods for publication. It's got some merit to it...

[tddvrrn]

i think it could work out well. especially if changes must be reviewed and approved by a certain number of experienced members, maybe something a step below moderators. you know, trustworthy people who either know what they're talking about or who are willing to research stuff when they don't...

it would be pretty awesome to find info like that, plus pages could also link to threads on the topic so people can see what the current issues/questions are. the newb stupid questions seem to not be too bad lately, but it sure would make the forum more user friendly.

a whole shit load of work though, when most of us would rather put that time into our actual cars... (or families, work, hobbies..)

still, a promising idea me thinks.

[Raider]

Fuck Wiki.

VIPers know we are working on making a mega-thread section for you brownies who fail at searching. Been trying to come up with an organization of it for a few weeks, then stickies will be moved there.

[leon78]

OP...you could have put it in here...lass traffic tho.

Website Help/Feedback - Mazdaspeed Forums

I could care less about the idea.

[Raider]

I moved it there...

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by Raider Fuck Wiki. VIPers know we are working on making a mega-thread section for you brownies who fail at searching. Been trying to come up with an organization of it for a few weeks, then stickies will be moved there.

Thank you for "mega-thread" section. You are doing it to make thing easier on the forum.

So, why not give Wiki a test drive? There are open source platforms that cam be integrated: TWiki, MediaWiki etc. You can let it be, and see how it goes. If it proves to be a failure you will not loose anything but time it took to implement it.

If it proves to be useful its a whole different story!

[Dash08]

Finding someone who is knowledgeable and willing to give up their time to review submissions for free is going to be very difficult.

I like the idea of having everything neatly packed into one searchable section. I just don't like the idea of people being able to change it as they see fit.

The last thing we need is people blowing motors and destroying installs because they followed a poorly written wiki article with tons of misinformation.

[Raider]

Keeping it here is our plan. You are also missing a ton of stuff in VIP, too.

External links are dependent on them. If Wiki blacks out, goes kaput, or hacked, we have nothing.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by Mase Could always build a closed wiki...articles or submissions sent to mods for publication. It's got some merit to it...

Good point. However, since not that many people like the idea right off the bet, this will take more time for moderators.

I think it should be left alone for a while to see how it performs and then think about moderations, advertisement etc.

[Raider]

Originally Posted by Dash08 The last thing we need is people blowing motors and destroying installs because they followed a poorly written wiki article with tons of misinformation.

That exists. It is called Mazdas247.com and mazda3forums.com.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by tddvrrn i think it could work out well. especially if changes must be reviewed and approved by a certain number of experienced members, maybe something a step below moderators. you know, trustworthy people who either know what they're talking about or who are willing to research stuff when they don't... it would be pretty awesome to find info like that, plus pages could also link to threads on the topic so people can see what the current issues/questions are. the newb stupid questions seem to not be too bad lately, but it sure would make the forum more user friendly. a whole shit load of work though, when most of us would rather put that time into our actual cars... (or families, work, hobbies..) still, a promising idea me thinks.

It could be voluntarily Good point. Thank you!

Originally Posted by Raider Keeping it here is our plan. You are also missing a ton of stuff in VIP, too. External links are dependent on them. If Wiki blacks out, goes kaput, or hacked, we have nothing.

I'll upgrade to VIP later tonight for sure.

Wiki platform will be fully under your controle. So, it will have the same chances to be hacked as forum itself. But, I am not a developer, so can't be sure here. However, I can find out

I am not asking to move stickies to Wiki. All I'm saying just let people make Wiki articles.

[Dash08]

Originally Posted by Raider That exists. It is called Mazdas247.com and mazda3forums.com.

Apologies, I never visit those sites. So, I forget they exist.

[wankular]

Originally Posted by Dash08 Apologies, I never visit those sites. So, I forget they exist.

I finally registered at 247 to sell some old Protege parts. Cobb started a thread about Erich's 708 hp car and there were like 4 replies. Ishikage started a thread about the RB manifolds and got like 2 replies. I didn't click on any wheel threads but there are probably pages of them.

[Raider]

We will have the Mega-Section with the Sticky threads moved to it soon. Consider the top threads your Wikipedia. That, and our forum search.

[uncorked11]

I think search and using the stickies are fine, its laziness that makes things difficult.

I.E. simple MSF google search of cold air intake yielded the official Intake thread 6 links from the top of the search page.

I think a better idea would be to create a sub-forum for just hard parts and ATR tuning stickies in the Mazdaspeed forums lounge and new member welcome much like what was done for photography.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by Dash08 Finding someone who is knowledgeable and willing to give up their time to review submissions for free is going to be very difficult. I like the idea of having everything neatly packed into one searchable section. I just don't like the idea of people being able to change it as they see fit. The last thing we need is people blowing motors and destroying installs because they followed a poorly written wiki article with tons of misinformation.

Some articles can be blocked from editing some not. It could be up to the author. Plus articles can have a rating, so other can see who voted + or -.

For example @Jarods7920 is working on AWD MS3 and decided to make a separate blog instead of keeping it all in a thread.

Or, if somebody just wants to share the history of mods for his car, sort of a blog.

I think Wiki is a very good solution for such projects.

[Raider]

He needs up update his blog

[Dash08]

Originally Posted by wankular I finally registered at 247 to sell some old Protege parts. Cobb started a thread about Erich's 708 hp car and there were like 4 replies. Ishikage started a thread about the RB manifolds and got like 2 replies. I didn't click on any wheel threads but there are probably pages of them.

And, yet some people think we're exaggerating when we say how horrible that place is.

[Jarods7920]

Originally Posted by Raider He needs up update his blog

Yes, he does! I will do that soon, i finally remembered the password.

[Haltech]

I can add a very powerful wiki... Only problem is, the moderators would have to authorize each change as I wouldn't allow anything to be openly modified. This is a lot of work for them.

[Mase]

Originally Posted by Haltech I can add a very powerful wiki... Only problem is, the moderators would have to authorize each change as I wouldn't allow anything to be openly modified. This is a lot of work for them.

Little behind eh? Yeah this is always the problem with wiki's...but I guess if moderators are dedicated....

[Raider]

We have a thread in VIP gen mayhem for the Knowlegebase section name ideas. What name, how to sort. We just need it made now.. I'll pm you again if needed. Once made, ALL mods need to help move all the mega threads (many in the last link in my sig) there in the right section. Lots of great threads.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by Haltech I can add a very powerful wiki... Only problem is, the moderators would have to authorize each change as I wouldn't allow anything to be openly modified. This is a lot of work for them.

Thanks for the reply! Can we start with parts review wiki? So, people will be able just to leave the review and not start a discussion. Also, there could be a dedicated section with links to the threads where each part is reviewed and discussed.

I understand that making tuning articles in the wiki will be challenging. Though you can diactivate the editing ability to anybody but the owner. And don't have any ability to post reply, just to vote. People can see who made the article and who voted, and their status on MSF.

On parts review. You can post moderate adds of the suppliers - which is additional profit for you.

So, vendor/manufacturer will make the ordinal article and customers (us) will be more then willing to post a review or link a thread. Reviews can have voting...and you'll be able to clearly see who posted it.

I can help out with various stuff. So, let's try with parts review and will see how it goes.

[Haltech]

We can do both if needed, but there would have to be perm people assigned to moderate all entries to the wiki. I just don't want it flaked out on like Demi did.

The software will also allow these to be created into books. It has some pretty interesting features.


Raider I never found the thread you were talkin about in VIP. Send me a pm about the section and I'll knock it out this evening.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by Haltech We can do both if needed, but there would have to be perm people assigned to moderate all entries to the wiki. I just don't want it flaked out on like Demi did. The software will also allow these to be created into books. It has some pretty interesting features.

Can you ask for volunteers? I don't know how the moderation process works here, but I'm sure some of the moderators will be interested in trying it out.

The book option is also very cool. And very usefull especially to newcomers.

I can ask NATOR FL for help with this. Many members are preaty active here. I'm sure they'll help out.

[Constantin]

@Haltech, so any new about "wiki" from you last post here I can tell that you do want to implement something similar...I can help