DJB WIKI

In a recent secret interview with Kaine Mandaala, this reporter was able to glean some information. The Following is an interview via holonet. This reporter can neither confirm or deny these allegations.

1. Why was the DB Wiki created?
The DJB Wiki was created to be the definitive source for all things relating to the club. The idea had been kicking around quite a bit, even when I was still on the DC. I believe it was a request from Sarin and Kromtal that eventually got the ball rolling.

2. What do you see as the role of the DB Wiki in the Brotherhood?
The open-ended editing and simple formatting syntax make it accessible to anyone. Unlike other resources such as the Codex, the wiki allows anyone to update the information, providing accurate details and cross-referencing it to other relevant topics. This way when anything changes, be it a policy, requirement, image (for medals and the like) the wiki article can be updated by anyone at any time and help keep the membership up-to-date. We don't have to wait for the DC to edit the article, which takes alleviates their workload for far more pressing issues. Having been there, I know all too well that other projects can distract you, keeping you from doing the little things like updates.

One thing it has already made easier is the Order of Battle. Korras went through and entered all the framework information for Clans to come back and elaborate upon, but now the OOB can be managed right on the wiki instead of an independant website. If something changes, or a ship changes clans, it's switched in seconds with no chain of command to go through. Lag in updates should be a thing of the past since it's no longer the responibility of one person to maintain it. Anyone from a clan can change something, and again that helps the leadership as well as being a possible way for members to devote some activity to the DJB.

Aside from the new or current topics like the last GJW or the OOB, there is a lot of DJB foundation information out there, and not a lot of people know how we got to where we are. With the wiki, now you can look at any topic and see why we have it, where it came from and who is responsible. I've been trying to build up the Obsolete Data category, which provides information on positions, clans and other DJB items that no longer exist. One such article is for Clan Aquillas, though not many people remember enough to make that one worth reading.

It's also tough to get articles together for people who are no longer in the DJB but rather important to the history. In most cases these people want nothing to do with the club, and either have "dead" e-mail addresses or just ignore any attempts at contact. Worse yet are the ones that no long have a dossier.

3. What role does the staff play?
Currently the staff is concerned with standardization, which means they're going around and making sure that articles have categories, and that the articles all in the same category look alike. Also Tron has been working with some automated features that give some life to the main page, such as a Featured Article bulletin.

4. What could be improved?
There is much that could be improved, from filling in missing data to reformatting articles. Still, the project is very 'new' and I know there are a lot of eager people out there. The focus of Wiki should be the content and not so much the presentation, but I'd rather it all look a little better, a little more uniform.

My only true peeve is that some are treating their personal character articles as a replacement for their dossier/ACC character sheet by throwing on every last detail from them on their wiki article. Really, the wiki should be a supplement to those resources, and not a mirror of them. I also take issue with those that have page after page of background for themselves. It's great that you've expanded the character, but the wiki article isn't the place for it. Make yourself a website and throw your novel on there.

5. What do you consider your "favorite" task or function?
Currently I've been filling in the gaps about the past. Working on the Obsolete Data category, redirecting links, renaming articles, moving articles… it's putting things in order that I like, and working with the staff to make more templates to help standardize the whole project.

6. Why did you get involved?
Originally I wanted to be able to serve the DJB without joining a Clan. I left the position of HRLD when I was overwhelmed with real life obligations. These have since dwindled a lot, enough that I can find a sufficient amount of time to aid the DJB, and this project really allowed me to do significant with a great deal of flexibility.

As for the Tribune post, I was asked by Jac after a suggestion from Sarin. Sarin was the first choice but he felt his other duties would suffer if he were to devote himself to another position that demanded such attention.