Re: [Bug-gne]GNE 's Not Nupedia

[Jimmy Wales]

Christopher Mahan wrote:
> Yes, of course. All I am saying is that for each thousand they have 
> attracted, there might have been another thousand who were disappointed and 
> left the site without bothering.

I think this is absolutely correct, and a very important criticism of our
website.  Let me explain how this came about -- and this is my own personal
view, probably not shared by other members of the Nupedia community.

We have been very successful in recruiting academic professors to the Nupedia
project.  That's really great, but one of the downsides is that many of them
are new to the ideas of free software and free information.  They are accustomed
to dealing with long bureaucratic processes, and I feel that they have set up a
system which is overly complex.

However, it is not set in stone, and in fact the process in place now is a 
significant simplification of what we used to do.

One of the most exciting things about the exposure we have gotten recently
is that we have an influx of volunteers who have a much better understanding
how open communities can make rapid progress.  I think that these new people
(and I mean _you_) are going to have a huge impact on the process over the
next few months, so that the website will be more friendly, welcoming, etc.

It's really ironic that someone accused of us being Dilbert-esque marketing
types.  I only wish we were, ha ha, because then our nerdy and complicated
website wouldn't frighten so many people away. :-)

--Jimbo


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