[Sigia-l] Re: Wiki wiki

[Derek R]

The problem with wikis is the same problem with blogs, namely, the
suggestion that communication comes out-of-the-box.

This is to say, both these technologies have made claims of 'changing
the rules of information exchange' when, in actual fact (i.e. reality),
the rules have remained the same, and even worse, these same rules
continue to be IGNORED by the masses who are *only* interested in the
'quick' fix (i.e. they're unbelievably lazy).

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=reckless

A wiki -- the Hawaiian word for 'fast' -- is similar to blogs in that
the software makes it easy to publish to Internet. However, just like
Mickey-D and other 'fast' food chains who have previously *capitalized*
on this marketing gimmick, using wikis or blogs is not going to help you
at all (i.e. speed kills).

In fact, wiki/blog technology will *hinder* a business/company more than
help it for the same reason as the food example -- they just don't work
(i.e. there are no short-cuts in life).

 ~ I'm sorry to always be the one to send you this sad news ~
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It doesn't matter how fast or convenient something is. The only thing
which matters is *actual* accomplishment.
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In short, no amount of Disneyland-gimmickry and promises of a 'golden
ticket' will substitute for hard-won and difficult work (achievement).

I know the name and concept of wiki *sounds* good, and, I know a large
number of wanna-bes/sheep will, must, and continue to, like
blog-technology, hop-all-over this invention because therein all their
hope lies (band-wagoning).

NEVERTHELESS, what remains is the personal *ability* to communicate and
no wave of the magic-wand-of-technology is going to change that. In
short -- sooner or later you will have to undertake a *hard and arduous*
journey of *actually* learning, and improving upon, your ability to use
language.

For instance, I cannot recall seeing an employment advertisement for a
good job which didn't include a phrase similar to "must possess
excellent oral and written communication skills" in the job description.
Here is wisdom -- even if largely ignored by the HR-people who wrote it.

SO, before we throw all our dictionaries out-the-window and embrace how
*easy* it is to collaborate with these new software products, please
remember, there are NO short-cuts in life. If you want to collaborate in
real life *you* will have to learn the (real) hard way (a.k.a. 'the only
way') how-to-collaborate. A piece of software isn't going to collaborate
for you.

Unfortunately, if you're NOT smart, you could very well end up hiring
staff with no *real* communication or collaboration skills, making your
hiring-decision based solely on an applicant's successful adoption of
said communication/collaboration technologies.

This is akin to visiting the take-out window at you favorite 'fast'-food
restaurant for sustenance ~ i.e. your business gets FAT and USELESS so
that you are immediately out-of-the-running!

It takes *real* substance to achieve in this world. You -- as a person
-- must contain skills. Technology cannot replace intuition.

So, please, use some restraint before you go bandying-about
super-phrases like "emergent intelligence" with respect to wikis -->
http://nytimes.com/2003/05/19/technology/19NECO.html

'Emergent' is just a marketing-buzzed-up word for 'fast' -- so, with
regards to publishing speed, yes -- but 'intelligence' doesn't come
out-of-the-box, and never will.


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"It don't mean nothing till you prove it all night."