As many of you well know the internet is quite a powerful tool. It was the internet that allowed many of us to have the organization exposed before our very eyes for what it really was, men who had raised themselves up to the level of God.
There are just tons of Ex-JW sites on the net. From time to time someone will mention on this board the idea of ex-jws 'getting organized' and making something happen. We all know this is a bad idea for many obvious reasons, but I got an idea the other day that is kind of along these lines.
The real power of the internet is the ability it has to bring people togeather from all across the world like never before. Wikipedia is one of the fastest growing websites in the world, with unmatched popularity. The real success in Wikipedia is not the staff that code the software and run the website, but it is all of the people who spend time adding to its value.
We all know about the war that goes on over at the official 'Jehovahs Witness' page on Wikipedia. While a number of us have contributed to that site, it can be quite frustrating at time. In addition there is reall only so much information you can put in the wikipedia about JWs without it getting lost.
So anyway I was thinking, the Wikipedia software is free for anybody to use and create their own 'wiki' type website. Why not create a wikipedia website dedicated to documenting everything we know about the Watchtower? I have read article after article of information written by people on this board that would make for an amazing collection of informtion. We also could make available many of the public domain publications as well.
I've actually got the wikipedia software up and running on my server. I was hopeing to get 10-20 posters on this site to help me build out the beta release before it will go public. I think this is a great idea and would love to work with any of you (especially with those who have been aroudn for a long time and have lots of reasearch under your belts). Let me know what you think.
-Drew
Attention all Ex-JW Researchers, New Wiki Project Needs you....
by drew sagan 25 Replies latest jw friends
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drew sagan
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Gerard
For any information, to have value in Wikipedia, personnal opinion and experiences are of no use.
Spend a couple of days going through the Wikipedia tutorials and learn not just the rules but the tools. Remain objective and learn how to enclose valid references to books and articles.
No better web site for such wonderful project.
G
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drew sagan
I suppose my main thinking with this idea is not that it will try and replace what is up on the net over at wikipedia. What I had in mind was a projcet that has a very differant purpose. Kind of like community based ex-jw website that has unending growth potential.
Of course I also feel people whould have to moderate one another as well and many of the same basic rules would apply. -
chasson
Drew, i have the same project, and i have contact privately some of poster here who are OK for this project in english. If you want to take a look at my wikimedia site in french: http://www.tj-encyclopedie.org. You will see that i have incorporated some Ajax tools and some dynamic list (like the new article) on the main page. I have adapted a javascript as a wiki hook that embedded the NWT of the Watchtower website in the core of an article so when you click on a bible verse a pop up show it. I have no problem with the php of the wikimedia software, so i am not scared with the monobook.php and other css or js... If you can wait a week (i will away from internet this week) we can make something together, i have still buy a domain name for this project, and i could redirect it on your website, or if you have a too small space, we can make it on my website. Bye Charles
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drew sagan
Great job on your site Charles!
I allready have a domain, server, and all of the software set up. The server is quite fast and I really don't see the site using up all of the bandwith I have per month (I have a ton). I you want to work togeather send me a pm with info, mabye we can have a chat about it.
-Drew -
abbagail
I admire your ambition, both of you.
Just as an FYI, I ran across this little article a week or so ago. It mentions another open-encyclopedia site that is just starting up. Some folks may want to put some WT stuff there, too. Jump down to the next to last paragraph... /ag
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GodTube - the Christian answer to YouTube
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17662283/site/newsweek/
What would Jesus download? One of the hottest sites on the Internet is GodTube.com http://www.godtube.com/ , the Christian answer to YouTube. It's a goofy, fascinating window into the world of Christian youth. There's a clip of Ray Comfort, the popular evangelical preacher, demonstrating the perfection of God's creation with an actual banana.
Another clip sends up the hip-hop anthem "Baby Got Back": This version is called "Baby Got Bible" and contains hilarious lyrics like "Bless me, bless me and teach me about John Wesley." --(LOL./ag)--
GodTube is the best example of a new group of Web sites that aim to do the same things regular Web sites do, but with a Christian (or Christian conservative) point of view.
Like the idea of MySpace, but hate the thought of your children as prey? Try Famster http://www.famster.com/ , a secure online community for families.
Like Wikipedia, but chafe at what you see as its liberal bias? Try Conservapedia http://www.conservapedia.com/Main_Page .
All three sites are brand-new and have some kinks to work out. But no matter what your religion, you'll find that banana clip priceless.
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Gerard
I understand now. You were not talking of creating a new Wikipedia article but using its software to create a new web site.
By all the goats in Limerich, GO FOR IT!
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drew sagan
Yeah, I just want a place where all of us can put our files (legal ones) and research all in the same place. An ever growing resource that we all can have a part in.
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XJW4EVR
For any information, to have value in Wikipedia, personnal opinion and experiences are of no use.
I don't neccessarily agree with this poster. I think personal opinion and expereince are vital in showing someone that is in the questioning mode the reality that there is something better out there. It will give a human touch to the facts that the WT$ has lied to them from the get go.
I think this is grand idea, and should be looked into and implemented.
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Leolaia
I like this idea a lot too, mainly because it is sometimes very difficult to get information criticial of the WTS to "stick" on the Wikipedia page before it is removed or "adjusted" by apologists. I have long been interested in doing a wiki-style history of people in the JWs, important events, etc. Unfortunately, my time is too limited to really work on this, but it would be something I would love to have a hand in. The strength of such a site, in addition to allowing some material considered "original research" on Wikipedia, is that it would limit editing to a small number of scholarly-minded people, preventing the problem of vandalism found elsewhere. The neutrality of such a site in terms of approach and tone would also greatly recommend it (for those sensitive to such things) over personal sites that take a more aggresive or impassioned stance towards the WTS.