Make the magic public - Merlin gathering is a go!

[briar_pipe]

The Merlin editing group is diving in Saturday, March 27, at noon EDT (4pm GMT) and will continue for 12 hours. We will open up again on Sunday as well. Details here.

Short version: We're gathering on Google to chat and use Googledocs to play with each others' work before posting to the Fanlore Wiki. This will reduce the spammage on "Recently updated pages" and make those unfamiliar with Wiki coding more comfortable.

All are welcome. Email theoldbriarpipe at gmail to be invited into the chat.

(Yes, Frogspace made the lovely suggestion that we use the Fanlore chat, and I was hoping to, but there's no Googledocs equivalent except the Sandbox, which really isn't equivalent at all. So we're doing it off-site. But again, everyone is welcome. It's a big job.)

Comments

[arduinna]

This is so awesome. \o/

[briar_pipe]

Thanks! \o/

[frogspace.livejournal.com]

We're gathering on Google to chat and use Googledocs to play with each others' work before posting to the Fanlore Wiki. This will reduce the spammage on "Recently updated pages"

What you call "spamming" I call activity and seeing a lot of activity is what makes other people join in. ;) Also, if you all use Googledocs and copy and paste an article as a whole, there is the danger that you will overwrite edits other people make in the meantime. Editing conflicts are somehow always surprising, so be prepared to be surprised by that. *g* One last tip, if there are discussions about changes, please use the talk pages of the articles for that. Otherwise other people won't know that something has been discussed, that there was a consensus, etc. and they are more likely to revert your changes. I'll try to sit back and just watch while you are doing your thing. I'm really looking forward to this. \o/

[briar_pipe]

^_^

We will save our chats and make them available as docs that I will link from the talk page(s). I will also provide summaries from the talk page(s), so people can see what we did and why.

Were the page(s) any more developed than they are now, I definitely wouldn't do it this way, but we've got very little up there right now. But we definitely won't be editing the main page (or anything else with significant content) this way.

Also, please join us! You can just watch if you like, but I'd love for you to see what's happening as it does.

[frogspace.livejournal.com]

We will save our chats and make them available as docs that I will link from the talk page(s).

Wait, but doesn't that mean you will defacto exclude editors who are not part of your group from the discussions? They won't have the opportunity to give input while the discussion takes place. D: That is not how wikis work...

[briar_pipe]

To answer your question, that's why I posted here and invited everyone, as well as posting directly to the Merlin Talk page about the event. And anyone is, of course, welcome to disagree and change the pages again. In fact, I hope they do! More ppov can only be helpful.

But thank you for bringing up that point, as it's something we'll definitely need to keep in mind while working!

[frogspace.livejournal.com]

Also, please join us!

Not a good idea. I am the person who wrote maybe 95% of the content on the Merlin pages and you have repeatedly criticized that it's too one-sided (ha!), that the pages are a mess, that they are in poor shape, etc., so I think it's better I'll sit this one out and let other people contribute for a change. ;)

[briar_pipe]

Oh dear. I am so sorry. That's not how I meant to come across at all, and I deeply apologize for expressing myself in such an abrasive and negative manner, especially given how much effort you've already put into the editing and the fact that the pages wouldn't exist at all without you. You have every right to be angry with me.

I don't know if it helps, but I recognize the effort you've made and I actually think that what's present is quite good. It's simply impossible for one human being to record a large fandom, or even a large pairing (I tried it once by myself, and couldn't even finish, so you're one up on me already). Clearly, I'm not good at explaining myself, and for that I really, sincerely apologize.

(I really would love for you to come, but I understand if you're not feeling it at the moment.)

[frogspace.livejournal.com]

You have every right to be angry with me.

Oh no, I'm not angry with you. I just think you are right and that there needs to be more input by other people. That doesn't mean I won't help with formatting, answering questions, explaining how things work, playing tour guide or whatever, I just don't want to be involved on the content side for this one. :)

[mrs_potatohead]

I second Doro/Frogspace's request to do it all up front, right there, live on Fanlore, rather than elsewhere first for both her reasons. I wouldn't worry about flooding "recent changes" with activity. That's what it's there for. It will entice others into participating and keeps the editing overlap to a minimum. Its transparency is also the wiki way.

If anyone is worried or anxious about wiki formatting and making mistakes or feeling foolish, don't be! Everything can be fixed, EVERYONE makes mistakes, and people will be more than willing to assist.

Also, like Doro said, it is important to use the talk pages as you go so that the process is recorded. It helps other folks down the line add info and make decisions.

With wikis, the process is often just as important as the resulting information.

I can hardly wait to see what you guys come up with. I've been following your planning and announcements, and think it's really, really neat! It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Every fandom should be so lucky.

Ready to help in any way she can,
MPH

[briar_pipe]

May I direct you to my reply to Frogspace? I will save the chatlogs and link them from the appropriate talk page(s), as well as providing a summary of them. We will also not be editing pages with significant content in this way, only extreme stubs or nonexistent pages.

It's not so much the feeling foolish, though we do have many people who've expressed that. It's a combination of speed issues, trying to overcome people's fears of Fanlore by providing access off-site (baby steps!), and allowing multiple editors to work all at once on rough, unfinished docs that normally wouldn't be of an appropriate quality to save.

I welcome you to come watch the process, even if you're not interested in Merlin fandom. We'll be on in about an hour, and I would love outside eyes to decide if this process a) works, and b) what can be done to improve it.

Gathering on Fanlore chat

[sophinisba]

It's Saturday afternoon, and we are hanging out on Fanlore chat: http://fanlore.org/wiki/Fanlore:Chat

Anyone is welcome to join us, whether or not they have a Google or Fanlore account.