Thread Wiki - PLEASE!

One great feature of another forum is the ability to have a thread wiki. I believe it's automatic, but when someone creates a new thread, the second post is a thread wiki that is editable by everyone. It has a user name of WikiPost. AVS Forum is perfect for something like this. I have the Onkyo 605 receiver. The 605 thread on AVSF has 110 pages. It would probably be more like 50-60 pages if we didn't constantly get people reposting the same questions over and over again. Some of the blame can be for poor searching sure but some of the blame can also be 110 pages. If users could simply go to post #2 and see a user edited FAQ, it would benefit the users with faster more accurate information, and benefit AVSF with leaner threads and less needless traffic.

Here's an example of a wikipost - (see post #2)
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthr...d=171&t=618827

I agree about removing other peoples thoughts, but a thread wiki isn't a place to put thoughts. It's a place for facts. Where people can post the hidden easter eggs in a product or how to enter the maintenance menu on your TV. An example in the 605 forum. We get post after post after post on why people don't see "TrueHD" light up on a HDMI 1.3 level 4 receiver. It would be great to have a thread wiki with an FAQ that includes "Why you won't see TrueHD light up on your 605 receiver, and why that's OK" Or "What menu settings do I need to set on my PS3 when connecting the 605". These questions are asked over and over, and the thread OP's typically do a poor job of updating the first post to include FAQ. People could provide links to manuals, give product dimensions, etc.

Maybe it's something that can be added later to a thread? Like when a thread gets out of hand with pages a Mod can add a thread wiki on page 1? Or maybe the OP has the option of creating a thread wiki when creating a thread? What to do about Wiki Vandals? I don't know, but Wikis seem to work pretty good elsewhere. Thanks for your consideration.

The originating author can currently edit the first post anytime he wants. That's the issue. People start posts about a piece of equipment, then don't update information on the first post to help people out. By the time some people buy or research the gear, it's 54 pages of posts they have to sort out.

Wikipedia seems to work ok, even the HD DVD and Blu Ray pages. Nobody is going around vandalizing those pages, and if people are, there's enough supporters on both sides to correct and fix the pages, thats how the system works. To use powder keg topics like HD DVD and Blu Ray as an example of why thread wiki's wouldn't work is silly. Sure there might be a few special topics where you have problems, but anyone can go in and fix it, and EVERYBODY knows that wikis are user edited, not fact.

For the thousands of other threads about projectors, receivers, displays, software, stands, etc, thread wikis would provide an invaluable service to those visiting AVSF.

Searching is great, but not everybody knows what to search for. Sometimes people don't know there's new firmware or easter eggs or undocumented features. It'd be great if all of that info can be compiled into one place.

Sites like slickdeals.net have a revision history that shows who made a change and what they changed. Vandals would easily be tracked and if someone did vandalize, the wiki can easily be reverted to a previous revision with one click of the mouse.

Here's an example of a wiki history from a HD DVD thread on slickdeals with over 1700 posts. No history of vandalism. Of course this is a non hot-button thread, just like 99.9% of all avsforum threads, so there's no reason for fan boys to vandalize.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/posthis...view&p=8373201

And it's pretty simple, if it becomes an issue on a certain topic, disable the wiki. But I just don't see how people are going to vandalize user edited FAQ's on TV's or AV Receivers.

I think AVS would better benefit from an in-line wiki (like slickdeals.net) vs a separate page wiki. The problem with having two separate areas, is that you're constantly linking back and forth between the two. People don't read the wikis before posting the same ole question again. If a new AV receiver comes out, there could be pages of posts before someone creates a wiki and creates a link for it. With an in-line wiki, the second post of a thread becomes a "wiki". It's not really a traditional wiki, but more like a multi-user edited post. With a system like this, the Forum becomes the index for the "wiki". If you want info on a D* reciever, you visit the thread and you find the wiki FAQ and discussion all in one place. If something new comes up in the discussion and one wants to add it to the FAQ, they simply go to page one and hit EDIT on the wiki post.

I hate to keep going back to slickdeals.net but I really like how it works there. It's very sucessful, people use it. And I haven't seen any vandalism, even on hot button topics like HD DVD players and Microsoft software- and there can be a lot of trash talking in those threads. Here's a copy of the announcement of thread wikis at slickdeals.net. It explains how it works there much better than I can. I've asked the admins over there how they do it but haven't recieved a response. I think they custom wrote this feature.

What is Thread Wiki?
Many of you have undoubtedly heard of Wikipedia - free web based encyclopedia where all content is contributed by its members. Thread Wiki is a post in a thread right after the first post for better visibility by another thread viewer, where all content is contributed by more than one SlickDeals.net user.

How does it work?
Pretty simple, really. Members have complete freedom to Create, Contribute, Control.

Create
When a new thread is created, the first post of the thread will contain a button, which you click on to create a wiki - on demand. Once a wiki is created, the second post in the thread appears, listed under the "helper" user wikipost (slickalerts' sister). The post will contain a pre-set brief information.

Contribute
Right after creation, the user who just clicked the button is taken to Edit mode - just as you would with a new post, and adds the information he or she believes is important for a thread. This information can be anything... information about the thread (Cliff Notes anybody?), a new price, a better price, a new rebate, a fillable rebate, a coupon... push your imagination.

Control
Okay, so someone added something, and you don't think it's valid, or you think you can do better? Do it. It's controlled by users, and as long as it's within forums rules - it can contain anything, really.

A few more things bound to be asked, a.k.a. The FAQ:

Q: Can I see previous contributions to Thread Wiki?
A: Absolutely. Just like with real Wiki, you can see every edit. Just click the "REVISIONS" button.

Q: Can I restore to a previous revision?
A: Yep, you sure can. When in Revisions mode, use "REVERT" button to restore to a previous version. While at it, you might as well contribute if you need it, as everything is done using a standard Edit dialog. One catch - you can't restore a current version, marked by a slightly different color and "CURRENT VERSION" button.

Q: Can I delete a revision I really don't like?
A: Yes.... if you are a moderator . You can still Mod Alert a revision if you believe it's in violation of forum guidelines, just remember to mention who made it. Remember, use Mod Alert button on a Wiki Post, as you can not modalert the actual revision from the Revisions screen.

Q: Can I rep the contributor?
A: Yes, just like with any post in forums where it is enabled, you can give reputation to a contributor. One per post (regardless of how many contribution that user has made), as usual . Although you can rep 2 or more different users who contributed to Thread Wiki.

Q: What if someone tries to add/edit a Thread Wiki when I am doing it?
A: Not to worry, since all revisions are tracked separately, the information you or ther other person adds will not vanish. So if an edit happens simultaneously, you can still add it by copying it. Once a Thread Wiki is added the button will no longer be there to add, but one can Edit the Wiki Post.

Q: Can there be more than one Thread Wiki?
A: One per thread, sorry . You are free to post under your own name, however .

Q: Can I easily see what has been updated when looking at Revisions?
A: Absolutely. The new text between 2 subsequent revisions is higlighted with green color and italics. Text that has been removed is crossed out. Changes are tracked line by line. So if a line is changed, the changes will reflect that.

Q: Can anyone Create, Contribute and Control?
A: Yes, as long as you have a valid SlickDeals.net account (what? you don't have one yet? ), which is in good standing and is not under moderation. Anyone (including anonymous users) can view the post, however, just like with any other post in the forum.

Q: What about vandalism?
A: As with real wikis, vandalism can be an issue. And just with any wikis, members can fix it without having to wait for a moderator. If you see anyone posting anything inappropriate, anything in violation of forum rules, offensive, etc - feel free to edit it out, modalert the Thread Wiki post, and mention who made the offensive edit. The moderation team will be happy to assist with this. Thanks in advance. Wannabe vandals - beware, a new warning has been added for wiki abuse. Excessive abuse will result in the removal of wiki privileges.

What is Post History?
Post history is a feature, which is shared with Thread Wiki, and allows you to view your own post history using the "Revisions" button just like you would with a Thread Wiki. The only exception is that only you can view that history, unlike with Thread Wiki, which is viewed by anyone as described above. The same rules apply, there is a Revert button, the Current Version label, and the only thing absent is obviously the Thread Wiki button, since well, it's not a Wiki. We hope you put it to good use, in case something ever happens to your own post, and you need to restore changes.

David, I've been looking!
I haven't found anything either! I'll keep looking and bugging slickdeals. I was a programmer in a former life, maybe I'll create something and donate it to AVS and sell it to others.

Glad to hear this is something you're still looking in to. I honestly believe it will be one of the most popular and used feature on the site. I've been following a few projector threads but haven't been on in a while. It would be so awesome if I could simply to go to the first page of the thread which has the inline wiki as the second post and catch up on all the important information that has trickled it's way from the hundreds of pages on info, into the wiki.

Keep up the good work guys!