Comments on: Can you apply wikis to democracy? http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:09:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jorge http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-330218 Jorge Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:24:32 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-330218 The reason Wikipedia is so successful is because its articles are descriptive. While there can be disagreement over some particulars, generally it is pretty easy to achieve consensus on a descriptive article. Politics and governance are pro-active, not descriptive, so the wiki model is much more difficult to implement. However, it appears that there is now a new approach addresses this downfall of a completely open government. The main thing they add is to provide for a very sophisticated scoring mechanism, whereby users can be ranked by other users. Basically, the more that people respect you, the more say you have in governance. It's a little more complicated than that, but that's the idea. Have a look at the project: http://www.metagovernment.org It is just starting up, and they haven't even developed the scoring system, but they do now have a roadmap for how they intend to proceed. The reason Wikipedia is so successful is because its articles are descriptive. While there can be disagreement over some particulars, generally it is pretty easy to achieve consensus on a descriptive article.

Politics and governance are pro-active, not descriptive, so the wiki model is much more difficult to implement.

However, it appears that there is now a new approach addresses this downfall of a completely open government. The main thing they add is to provide for a very sophisticated scoring mechanism, whereby users can be ranked by other users. Basically, the more that people respect you, the more say you have in governance. It’s a little more complicated than that, but that’s the idea.

Have a look at the project:
http://www.metagovernment.org

It is just starting up, and they haven’t even developed the scoring system, but they do now have a roadmap for how they intend to proceed.

]]> By: Mathew Ingram http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3871 Mathew Ingram Tue, 09 May 2006 00:33:39 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3871 Fair enough -- although I'd like to think I put a little more thought into my average post than it takes to say (or type) "Bah, humbug" three times in a row. You may disagree. Fair enough — although I’d like to think I put a little more thought into my average post than it takes to say (or type) “Bah, humbug” three times in a row. You may disagree.

]]> By: Seth Finkelstein http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3846 Seth Finkelstein Mon, 08 May 2006 22:10:30 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3846 Well, not to be rude, but how often do you have the same type of content in the post (more or less)? [i.e. Web2.0/blogs/wikis ...] Well, not to be rude, but how often do you have the same type of content in the post (more or less)? [i.e. Web2.0/blogs/wikis ...]

]]> By: Mathew Ingram http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3737 Mathew Ingram Mon, 08 May 2006 18:51:31 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3737 Thanks, for the comment Rod. And I think you are right -- that's obviously one of the big threats to that kind of model. And Seth, thanks for your comment too -- although you seem to have the same type of comment (more or less) regardless of the content of the post. Thanks, for the comment Rod. And I think you are right — that’s obviously one of the big threats to that kind of model.

And Seth, thanks for your comment too — although you seem to have the same type of comment (more or less) regardless of the content of the post.

]]> By: Rod Edwards http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3716 Rod Edwards Mon, 08 May 2006 17:07:24 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/05/07/can-you-apply-wikis-to-democracy/#comment-3716 Problem: The most vocal/participatory members of society don't always/usually represent the mainstream. Its not the numbskulls that will take over, but anyone with a specific policy agenda. Problem: The most vocal/participatory members of society don’t always/usually represent the mainstream. Its not the numbskulls that will take over, but anyone with a specific policy agenda.

]]>