Attention

[c-m-i.livejournal.com]

Davis Square currently not on fire. The sun will set at 4:41pm this afternoon. McDonalds is currently open. Post of email sent by alderman to follow, at length, behind cut.

Seriously, do we really need a constant Davis Square update here? Occasional updates of a big nature are fine, but lately it feels like this community exists to support a horde of OCD change police who spend their entire days patroling Davis on the look out for anything new/slightly different so they can post about it before anyone else can.

Comments

[c-m-i.livejournal.com]

Given the replies to Komos's post above, it looks like the tide is against me, but since there have been a few replies to my post that boiled down to "So what's the alternative you'd offer?" I'd suggest that many, many of the posts that promoted my ire would have been better served in a wiki.

I see this group as a great source of information about Davis, but a source that is best targeted at pulled information rather than pushed. This means that we're great at offering suggestions of Things To Do in the square, opinions on local businesses, and so on. I'm much more in favor of subjective information over factual on this list. This means that we can discuss whether or no Diva's menu is worth the price, but not feel the need to list the menu in its entirety. The information provided on this, a community discussion group, imo should be primarily of a pull (ie, we asked for it) not push (here you go!) variety.

Of the pushing-1000 members of this group, how many read it on a constant basis that up-to-the-minute information on openings, offerings, and window status are actually useful? Information that we post in regards to the current status of business/project X is not useful when it comes to searching the archives a few months later. Instant updates are only of use to those that mange to catch them and I fear that their use may be lost in the long run.

A wiki, on the other hand, could become a premier Davis Square attraction. Imagine a one-stop-shop for information regarding local businesses (their operating status, special offers, links to their menus if online/or actual copies if not), ongoing civic matters, and even an archive of past alderperson/taskforce/whatever minutes/mass emails. Such a site could be a reference for the discussions/questions born on this list, which I think is better suited towards soliciting the advice and opinions of a vibrant community.

Bottom line? I think this community is a great place to ask about housing/rental prices, wonder where to get a haircut, and complain about the lack of traffic lights at a certain intersection. It is not the best forum to keep people constantly updated about the status of current Davis features. That would be best served not in another lj-community, but in a wiki that we all can work to keep up to date and accurate. Most free wiki programs have status updates so those that enjoy being in-the-know to the minute can get an RSS feed and be satisfied. Factual information at one easy location.

Of course, this post has since been dropped into the dim past of forgetfulness now that everyone, including me, has got their snark on, so I expect things to continue apace rather than set a standard of online, grassroots community building.

[cos]

A wiki could be useful but it would not be a replacement for these sorts of posts here in this community. Posts are timely updates, and each one becomes a forum for discussion, where we each can see what others have to say about it. A wiki would not serve that purpose.

[ron_newman]

I like the idea of a Wiki. If you create one, I'll be happy to contribute to it, and I bet many other folks here would do so as well. Go for it, and let us know the URL.

[ron_newman]

Adding to the above: have you considered talking to the Davis Area Resident-Business Initiative about putting your wiki on their web site? They are pretty new and they don't yet have anything to really drive traffic to their site. A wiki could be just the thing for them.