Wiki vs forum

[Mark hadley]

Hi, it strikes me that for some topics a wiki page would be a more appropriate platform than the forums that we have.
For example border crossing information. Rather than the challenge of reading all possible threads in the regional forum and hoping that I dont miss the vital comment, I'd prefer a page that was up to date. It would slso save the reptition of travellers asking the same information time and again.

[Threewheelbonnie]

I'm not sure it works for information that may change over time. I follow some articles on Wikipedia itself to view the state of edits and re-edits as urban myths are repeatedly typed out and typed over. With the forum approach you get both the "anyone who sets foot in Africa gets....." plus the "I've been there it was fine" response.

The articles in the Home/Get..../Gear.... bar above the forum give a balanced starting point from what I've read too?

Andy

[Tony LEE]

Yes, you are right for topics that don't require personal interaction. Describing things objectively. No subjective stuff.
Example is topics wanting to list camping spots willy-nilly. Useless because updating isn't possible except by writing a new post. The other way - more or less a wiki - is like iOverlander has for points of interest useful to overlanders. If you look up a place you know it is the most up to date record available and you know the date as well. If there is nothing there, sign in and put something there. If it is no longer there, mark it closed. Dynamic, so can be current.

Question will be have you got the resources to manage many independent wikis because although someone can add or edit, and those changes do go through immediately, someone with authority (and knowledge) needs to keep an eye on things and review each change before confirming or rejecting it.

Worth considering

[Tony LEE]

At the risk of getting banished from HUBB tied backwards on to a vespa scooter, there is a wiki - WikiOverland, the encyclopedia of Overland travel - which has gradually been gaining momentum and I wonder whether there would be any .......
Nah, wouldn't be practical

[chris]

I fully concur with the idea of a wiki being much better than a bulletin board like this one for factual information. All the stuff you need in one place and no fluff to sift through. It just needs someone with the time and inclination to "for no remuneration" administer it.

On a recent trip around South America, I found the above mentioned iOverlander far superior as an information resource in comparison to the hubb/HU Facebook. People who had actually recently been there!... And with gps coordinates... What was interesting too, was that virtually nobody fom iO had cross-posted onto the hubb. Usability/functionality of the hubb/hu is a major reason for this, IMHO.

[chris]

Just looked at WikiOverland. Looks like an excellent resource as long as there's a critical mass of people willing to contribute to it.