User blog comment:Dopp/Communicate Easily with Message Wall/@comment-1788742-20110929140510

I agree with the people who say that I users should actually leave feedback about the Message Wall, as it's going to come out whether we want it or not. So here's my full opinion, condensed into one post. I've already stated that I don't agree with how Wikia keeps making Facebook-ish changes to their website, but I suppose it is their choice. As I've said before, I am strongly against this.

Not only does it make Wikia look still more like some type of social networking site, it continues, like Chat and many other superfluous new features that have been added since then, to undermine the core purpose of what Wikia is really about. Even before the removal of the Monaco skin, the staff has been pushing more and more updates that seem to detract from the purpose of the wiki, and this...just seems ridiculous.

Honestly, I'm beginning to think that Wikia is aiming to become a website like Facebook or MySpace. If I wanted to use Facebook or MySpace, I'd use Facebook or MySpace. I use this site because it's a wiki, not for these reasons. I can understand, of course, why some users would want updates like this, and I fully approve of Wikia Labs and (to some extent) the New Editor. But this is not only completely unnecessary, it seems like yet another attempt to make Wikia something that it isn't.

Wikia is a wiki— a collaborative database for one or more topics. Wikia is not a social networking site. But all of these new updates seem more and more geared toward turning it into one. I can see how some wikis would want this, but can't it be optional? I mean, I know some things, such as the new editor or the skin, can't be, but surely this can? And if it can't, why bother? It doesn't seem like there's any reason for this at all.

Yes, talk pages aren't exactly a perfect system of communication. But we already have blogs and the option of a Chat. Thus, I see no reason to replace talk pages, which are not at all a problem for anyone, so it seems.

It seems to me like all of these new updates are geared more and more toward users who prefer the "social" aspect of Wikia. I certainly enjoy the social aspect of Wikia. But Wikia is a wiki first, a social site second, which I think is something that is getting forgotten.

However, thinking this over, I think that some wikis may benefit from this. Many others certainly will not. I think in this case, this can be and needs to be optional, for these reasons.


 * For some wikis, this can be a very good thing. Another method of communication is certainly not a bad thing, but there needs to be a choice between this and user talk pages, which are a core part of MediaWiki and should remain untouched. In short: this should be an option for wikis who enjoy that type of experience, but some wikis should not have this forced upon them if they don't want it to be.
 * Another point: Why can't the Message Wall and talk pages remain available? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that you can certainly do this. Talk pages cost very little to maintain, right? I'm sure you have plenty of skilled tech people who can make this optional, or simply make it available and leave talk pages alone. And I'd like an answer to this question, so please respond.


 * Some wikis still prefer to simply edit. Without these changes. I can name plenty of good wikis who protest against this. On the other hand, some wikis prefer the "social" side of Wikia. Thus, this should certainly be an option for them. But it shouldn't be forced.


 * We have the blogs. The option of article comments and Chat. We certainly don't need yet another mandatory feature that helps us "communicate". Many wikis work just fine without blogs, chat, or article comments. I think this is something that should be addressed. Many wikis may benefit from this but not all of them.

socialization, there would be no editing, and this could be another good method of communication. But it has to be just that: another method of communication, not something that replaces talk pages. Which, contrary to what you seem to think, no one really minds.
 * Which brings me to my final point: I am not against socialization on Wikia. Without

In conclusion: This has to be optional. Or simply another means of communication, like the blogs. But it should not replace talk pages, in my opinion.