-----Original Message----- From: boost-users-bounces@lists.boost.org [mailto:boost-users- bounces@lists.boost.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Garland Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 1:10 AM To: boost-users@lists.boost.org Subject: Re: [Boost-users] The Boost Community

I'll just respond in general to the thread. It's great to see some enthusiasm from the boost user community. I'm afraid to say, however, that I'm a bit of a skeptic. Having started the Boost Wiki in 2001 after a burst of similar discussion and the initial creation of the Boost-user mailing list, I consider the wiki to be basically a failed experiment. That's not to say that

Boost_User Wiki hasn't been very useful to many people (especially Boost developers). But I'd say that there has never been sustained "user" support to help grow the Wiki and make it more useful for Boost users. The initial vision was that users would contribute 'tutorial' and other useful information. It's been sparse at best.

So my thought is that before we go and grow another technological solution and diluting our resources even more, we need to really think about what

'users' want to achieve and why the current site doesn't meet those needs. Why don't more "users" contribute to the current Wiki? What is it that users really want to contribute to Boost? Why not build on some of the good things on the current wiki (like the 'effective xyz' pages? Why not band together and help work on the current Wiki? If it's additions to docs there are certainly many ways that can be done currently and is done all the time by a variety of users. It's alot of work to do it well I believe -- more

Jeff, Please let me offer a suggestion- I like the boost wiki- I think the problem is it is "another paradigm" separate from the list. People can only handle so many paradigms. Now, if you "connect the two", then the Wiki will get more people using it. My suggestion- is add to the Wiki site- something that lets a person browse the MAILING LIST. If you can get the interface to the list working as good or better than the email version, then more people will start to use the web tool, by using the web tool, they will see the Wiki on the way in. In this way, the Wiki is put closer to their paradigm. While I think my suggestion is a good idea, I must give the credit to KMART for putting the display of "canned meat" right in front of the bathroom entrance. :) the the than

I can do. And if we want to augment with other technologies we can -- I'm fully open to expanding the hosting I already provide.

As for the wiki spam problem, I believe it to be a non-issue at this point. The problem really started to take off in mid-2004, but a series of measures have been implemented to reduce and resolve the problem. Yes, spam still appears from time to time, but it is quickly and completely reversed. The spammers that get thru initially get blocked out because the new content filter stops them from posting links to spammer sites after an admin update. The more organized and dangerous spammers seem to have moved on to easier targets. And at this point, any open content system is going to have to face this problem -- so be prepared.

Jeff

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