Re: [Bug-gnupedia] (long) summary: GNUpedia's direction (and nupedia)

[Imran Ghory]

On 20 Jan 2001, at 15:20, Seth Nickell wrote:

> 2) GNUpedia becomes a free library. Possible names include
> GNU/Alexandria, Foundation, GNU/Nalanda, GNUledge...some others. The
> act of becoming a library may help remove some of the more onerous
> issues, as it becomes clear that works of opinion / contention are
> acceptable entries. Once again, editors might be provided as a
> resource. 'GNUpedia' now seeks to archive and present the most
> complete picture of human knowledge that it can. Works ranging from
> articles, to books, to snippets, to poetry, to music, to novels appear
> to have a home in a free library. Some mechanism to avoid clear
> spam/trolls will presumably be needed. This seems to have the current
> active support of Jimmy Whales, Hector Arena (pending RMS approval),
> Mike Warren, Bernd Kulawik, Bryce Harrington, Bob Dodd, Rob Scott, and
> myself. Others have referenced the notion positively, though their
> opinions are not clear.

I'm not supporting this idea as "free" library project are already in 
existance. 
I think this will have the same problems as 1.
 
> 3) GNUpedia becomes a free software project focusing on providing the
> technical underpinnings for a free encyclopedia.  The only name I have
> seen proposed in relation to this is "GNU Open Content Framework".
> Presumably the project will have a database, possibly that of Nupedia.
> The project will seek to not only provide solid well-understood
> software, but will have an additional research focus, experimenting
> with various forms of information sorting, presentation,
> classification, sifting, etc. This idea has the support of Duncan Lock
> and has been mentioned as a good idea by others including myself.

I'd support this idea as it could easily be used as a basis of an 
open encyclopedia. However it would need to run alongside an 
encyclopedia content project to get real-life testing.
 
> 4) GNUpedia and Nupedia merge. Propenents of this usually believe the
> projects are fundamentally compatible in purpose and method. This idea
> hasn't been discussed as much recently, but seems to have been the
> initial plan of RMS and Nupedia. It was originally supported by Jimmy
> Whales, and others (such as Bill Volk), and Robert Horning with
> reservations.

I'd oppose this idea for two reasons,

1) I don't like Nupedia stance on accepting articles
2) Nupedia's model doesn't seem expandable

> 5) GNUpedia and Nupedia maintain a symbiotic relationship, maybe even
> sharing the same database (different parts though). Anything in
> Nupedia would be in GNUpedia, and Nupedia would draw on what they saw
> as the best articles in GNUpedia. Wasted effort would be minimal, and
> technical solutions and content can be easily shared. GNUpedia and
> Nupedia essentially become different presentations of a similar
> database, with different standards for submission of content into
> their respective subsections. Imran Ghory and Mike Warren appear to
> support this idea.

Yes, this is the one I'd most favour, one option would be to branch 
the project, into an Open Encyclopedia part and an Open Library 
part. The two could co-operate in getting content for the good of all. 

I for one would support the Open Library project if it didn't mean 
loosing the Open Encyclopedia project. I would be willing to 
contribute content to both depending on which was more 
appropriate for that content.

Imran