Wednesday, October 24, 2007

More on the Baltimore Wiki

Hello, and welcome back to irrelevancy!
I've been giving the BaltimoreWiki Project more thought. When I posted about the DavisWiki and said that a BaltimoreWiki would be really cool, I hadn't meant that I should start one. That sort of thinking is kind of against everything I've ever done or stood for; I wanted to read articles about the bands I was listening to and the issues that had importance to me so I started my own magazine. I didn't think there were enough female fronted punk bands when I was 13, so I started my own, and I wanted more discussion about Baltimore's infuriating public transportation so I started to blog about that, too. (Though I haven't promoted it yet outside my circle of friends--all of which drive everywhere, but it's on my list of things to do!) What I'm saying, MCOM407 classmates, is that I have a tendency to take matters into my own hands.
Except I'm not entirely sure that I want to start the BaltimoreWiki because a project like this doesn't have an end point. Moreover, I hate to start projects and fail to finish them. There's something about the craft detritus strewn about my apartment that gives way to a nasty habit: an unfinished WikiProject would be the 53rd project I've started and not completed.
Not that it would go unfinished because I'm not interested in Baltimore. On the contrary, I'm having a hard time seeing myself in grad school in Chicago or Los Angeles because I love living here so much. I'd hate to leave my life here because I have so many strong emotions tied to this city. I worry about two big issues instead: first, that the project is not of interest to anyone else, and second, that I don't have the time to commit.
So I'd like to ask, formally, if anyone is interested in contributing to the project, should it start, and if anyone thinks it's a worthwhile project. I ask this in sincerity and hope that if you think it sounds unimportant, you'll chime in and let me know.
I wouldn't want for it to be redundant; other sites, such as the Charm City community on Live Journal, already exist.
I feel almost strange to spend this much time speaking about a Wikipedia-like project, given the websites reputation as unethical (and its connection to unethical doings by others) and its current battles with editing. Still, it's relevant in only that my previous post sparked a small debate, and I'd like to see where this goes...

Today's off-topic post is brought to you by a science lab cut short and a bag of grapes, which were consumed in the library, in secret. Thank you and have a nice day!

2 comments:

TL said...

I hope you get some takers on this idea!

mesths said...

It might be a lot to take on but it does sound like a very promising project. I'm willing to help if you need it!!
~Megan, from class