Difference between revisions of "Why this wiki"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | == Rationale == | + | ==Rationale== |
I have become unsatisfied with keeping my notes and ideas within the structure provided by modern media. I often have ideas on themes in my life that I might have written on a "note to self" before. If it was really important, I put a reminder in my calendar to work on it later. If it was a lot of information or writing, I might have written it in a file and stored it under an appropriate hierarchy of folders in one of my hard disks. | I have become unsatisfied with keeping my notes and ideas within the structure provided by modern media. I often have ideas on themes in my life that I might have written on a "note to self" before. If it was really important, I put a reminder in my calendar to work on it later. If it was a lot of information or writing, I might have written it in a file and stored it under an appropriate hierarchy of folders in one of my hard disks. | ||
| − | == Problems with other forms == | + | Allowing other people to see my wiki I initially thought a fringe benefit. But once I realized people might actually read this wiki, I started writing intentionally for a wide audience. When I think of something I'd like to share, this is a better forum for complicated or timeless ideas than Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, Myspace. Thinking of that wide audience, I maybe censored myself at the same time. For example, when I first started the wiki I was thinking of a nice hypertext guide to people I know, but then I realized most people would probably not like to have a public profile not under their control. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Problems with other forms== | ||
*Notebooks aren't easily searchable. | *Notebooks aren't easily searchable. | ||
*Files can't have update-able links between each other. | *Files can't have update-able links between each other. | ||
| Line 8: | Line 10: | ||
*I may not always have access to a word processor or even a notebook. | *I may not always have access to a word processor or even a notebook. | ||
| − | == Limitations of Wiki == | + | ==Limitations of Wiki== |
*The contents of a wiki are not as summarily viewed as is a shelf of books. | *The contents of a wiki are not as summarily viewed as is a shelf of books. | ||
*Free-floating ideas can still be overlooked. | *Free-floating ideas can still be overlooked. | ||
*Ideas can seemingly be erased when edited from a page. | *Ideas can seemingly be erased when edited from a page. | ||
Revision as of 10:51, 1 November 2011
Rationale
I have become unsatisfied with keeping my notes and ideas within the structure provided by modern media. I often have ideas on themes in my life that I might have written on a "note to self" before. If it was really important, I put a reminder in my calendar to work on it later. If it was a lot of information or writing, I might have written it in a file and stored it under an appropriate hierarchy of folders in one of my hard disks.
Allowing other people to see my wiki I initially thought a fringe benefit. But once I realized people might actually read this wiki, I started writing intentionally for a wide audience. When I think of something I'd like to share, this is a better forum for complicated or timeless ideas than Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, Myspace. Thinking of that wide audience, I maybe censored myself at the same time. For example, when I first started the wiki I was thinking of a nice hypertext guide to people I know, but then I realized most people would probably not like to have a public profile not under their control.
Problems with other forms
- Notebooks aren't easily searchable.
- Files can't have update-able links between each other.
- Notebooks and hard drives can be destroyed or stolen.
- I may not always have access to a word processor or even a notebook.
Limitations of Wiki
- The contents of a wiki are not as summarily viewed as is a shelf of books.
- Free-floating ideas can still be overlooked.
- Ideas can seemingly be erased when edited from a page.
