[Bug-gnupedia] Call to split the list up, Need for editors

[Robert Scott Horning]

Dear Hector,

    I am currently subscribing to the mailing list for the GNUpedia (via
an e-mail account at home... this is my work e-mail address) and
monitoring the list via the archive interface.

    You seem to be worried about whether we will have content and how it
should be sent in.  While this is important, I hope you realize that the
content will be there in a real hurry.  What is desperately needed is
some sort of organization regarding the article editors, and a
convenient way of letting somebody take baby steps on the way to tackle
larger aspects of the project.  I sincerely encourage the use of some
sort of hierarchy, whether it is something like the Dewey Decimal
system, Library of Congress Catalog Numbers, or some other scheme to
break down knowledge into discrete categories that can be further
subdivided when editors of a particular category gets overwhelmed.  This
also leads to allowing volunteers to help out, because they only need to
work on a small portion of the project at a time.

    As can be told from the volume of the mailing list, there are a pile
of good ideas out there.  Good luck on trying to put a handle on this
whole thing.

    BTW, I think it would be a good idea to break up the mailing list
into a couple of categories, such as:

    Technologies - Designing a web interface.... programming and
creating the back end for the project.
    Policies - Establishing the policies for the project and the general
legal stuff like licensing (I know we will be using the Free Document
License, but what other considerations are also involved, or will we
accept content distributed under other licenses, etc.)
    Editors - Discussion of Editor issues, gripes about spam, what junk
people are submitting, etc.
    Newbie - With the large number of messages being posted, in a very
short time it will be difficult for people to understand all of the
issues.  This would be a forum for people to "get their feet wet" and
ask questions that probably should be in a FAQ (and may even be) but
won't cause the veterans to say "Read the FAQ first".  This isn't
necessary right away, but should be implemented for completeness.
    General - A miscellaneous catchall for general grips about the
project.... essentially the current list, but reduced with (hopefully)
stuff thrown off to the other lists.

    You are doing a good job, and this is going to be a very unruly mob
for the next little while.  Keep the faith and after all is said and
done, your efforts will be worth it.

--
Robert Scott Horning
Trans-Lux West
1651 North 1000 West
Logan, Utah  84321
Phone: (435) 716-8696
FAX: (435) 752-8513
E-mail:  address@hidden