OK, not a bad idea, but there are some tactical considerations.
First for our less technical members, lets cover the basic usefullness for several technologies.
Web Site: as in the main FAOL website. (http://www.flyanglersonline.com)
The owners put up content and the users get to read it.
There is no direct mechanism for a reader to contribute. But the integrity of the information is maintained because there are controls on who gets to change the information. The tools used to create content are generally done offline with specialized editors although Dee was old school and hand typed it all **SHUDDER**
Bulletin Board: as in this beast (http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb)
This is where members may type in content and it becomes a static element of the site. The author or admins/moderators have limited control to edit what gets entered. This is a very good tool for time delayed conversations, posting of a question that gets (hopefully) answered by others that may not be present at the time the question is answered. It allows people to share and comment on many topics. It has some security, but needs to be monitored to prevent unwanted spam / porn / abusive behavior. It also has mechanisms for previewing posts before publishing them (we don't do this), and secret threads only certain groups get to see ( where we discuss things like how to prune Betty Hiner from the ranks of FAOL for instance
)
We need to change the way we do pics on the site.. It's on my list, but not high on it at the moment..
Blog: as in the bulletin boards user blogs (http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/blog.php)
This is mostly a cross between a BB and a website. It allows a blogger to enter data like a BB, and the author (blogger) allows/disallows reader commenting. It's most common use is as a journal or diary, though some use it as a daily pulpit for reporting on their favorite topic. Every member of FAOL has this feature, so if you wanted to do a Travel Journal or whatever for yourself or family and friends, go for it. We ask that it stay loosely fishing related, as this is a fishing site. The blog areas are accessible from the menu bar. They are not mainstreamed into the main forums, but if you read a great blog, or we get a large following we can always refer people to the blog in Sound off or even the main web page if appropriate. This is YOUR area of control for what gets written about.
Chatroom: We have one but use it in a limited way. (http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/chat/flashchat.php)
This is where you go to a specific web page, type text into an input box, and others that are IN the same room do the same. A great tool for socializing, or talking about a specific topic. It does require all participants to be present though. We have a schedule of "hosts" that are normally available to set a topic and answer questions. (
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/chatroom/ ) It's not entirely accurate I'm afraid, and another item on my list. FAOL has only ONE chatroom, though we could have more. The use is light enough to justify our limited chat room. In the future we are thinking about having a rare seminar hosted by prominent individuals, where a single person gives a talk and fields questions. Still in development, but we are looking to expand the use of this tool.
Wiki: we don't have one yet but Wikipedia is a great example (http://www.wikipedia.org/)
A wiki is a unique animal. Think about a limited web page that gets information added to it. It's not as flexible as a web page, but it's advantage is that EVERYONE that is given write access to it can change the page they are viewing from their web browser. A great tool for encyclopedias, how tos, and other STRUCTURED INFORMATION.
It comes at a cost however. If (I'll pick on Betty again) Betty wrote a page describing FAOL user policies and how long we kept the login id, another member can simply go in and edit or completely change what she wrote, followed by yet another user and another and another. Think about the BB and when you anger someone. Instead of responding, they have access to change the original text.
A VERY powerful tool, but will need policing. Wikipedia is constantly having to do that. Another issue is how the Wiki gets organized. If you throw open the doors and let anyone create new pages and link them to prior pages, you end up with a mess in a hurry.
Still, a great idea, but I'd want a small group that is responsible for policing it, and this moderator group would be the ones that maintained the structure of the beast. I have one day a week (and occasionally part of a weekend) that I can give to FAOL, so I don't have the time to do this.
Ron Eagle Elk and Denny have their hands full with the BB, so that leaves administration of a wiki in unchartered waters. Still this is a site for you and mostly by you, so come up with a nominee list for who will admin it and I'll run it up the flagpole past the boss.
--Ron--
FAOL Wiki Page
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