Introducing Demopedia: The collaborative information clearinghouse from DU

[Skinner]

In our continuing efforts to make Democratic Underground more useful for our visitors, today we are unveiling Demopedia, a collaborative, information gathering system based on the popular Wiki software. Demopedia allows DU members to create an entire encyclopedia of information on any subject imaginable. The pages are created using "open editing" so any DU member may add information to any page on any topic. Demopedia is available here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/demopedia

There is also a permanent link to Demopedia at the top of every DU page.

Demopedia is currently available as a BETA VERSION. We encourage members to log in and start writing articles and collecting information. We do not know how long this BETA testing period will last: It may be a week, or it may be a few months. Once the BETA testing period is over, we may have to shut down Demopedia for a while in order to implement changes. Anything that you add to Demopedia during this BETA testing period will be saved as part of our permanent collection of information. Do not be alarmed if we make changes to Demopedia or to the user database during this BETA testing period.

How to register to use Demopedia

In order to use Demopedia, you must have registered as a member of the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums before December 7, 2004. We have imported the entire database of usernames and email addresses from our Discussion Forum into Demopedia, but we have not imported your passwords. During this BETA testing period, we are not accepting new Demopedia registrations.

Instructions for logging on to Demopedia are available on the Demopedia Main Page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/demopedia

We think that Demopedia will make it much easier for DU members to collect and organize information on a variety of topics. We encourage you to go try it out right now!

-The DU Administrators

[knowbody0]

1. you rock

[intheflow]

2. Excellent, Skinner!

Just got my password mailed. Will probably post tomorrow.

Peace,
intheflow

[rabid_nerd]

3. umm...

I think it don't like me

Login error:
There is no user by the name "Rabid nerd". Check your spelling, or use the form below to create a new user account.

[Elad]

5. It doesn't like underscores

I'm working on it.

[Elad]

8. Alright, I think I have it working with underscores

Let me know if you have further problems.

[Walt Starr]

4. OUTSTANDING!

DU just keeps getting better and better!

What's the biggest difference between DU and Freakerland (besides political leanings)?

Why, when DU has a fund raiser, they actually make things better instead of lining somebody's pockets!

[rabid_nerd]

7. poickets? eh, wise guy...

nyuck nyuck nyuck...

yah gotz en aksent evun wehn u tipe!

Hey! No fair fixing your typo :(

[NMDemDist2]

6. thanks Skinner, kick!

:kick:

[Straight Shooter]

9. Thanks, Skinner.

:thumbsup:

[TOhioLiberal]

10. At the risk of sounding like a total geek...

...ah what the hell...this is going to be so COOL!!!!!

Is it for just political topics, or, like wikipedia, about anything?

on edit:
forget the question, just reread the post...damn this old eyes.

[HeeBGBz]

11. Excellent.

Now if I can only figure out how to use it.

[Citizen Jane]

12. Thanks very much.

I hope to be able to contribute once I get my papers graded and final grades turned in for the semester. :hippie: :toast:

[troubleinwinter]

13. A new concept to me, but

It looks like a WONDERFUL thing (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) for getting some background on a particular subject.

[Threedifferentones]

14. This is AWESOME

man this site is cool.


3D0

[kohodog]

15. Sounds Great

But i can't login. Forgot my password and though I changed it on DU, Demopedia doesn't recognize it and i don't see any help for that yet.

[Condor]

17. Hope this helps

Here's how to mail yourself a Demopedia password and log in:

1 Click the link on the Demopedia page that says Log in.
2 In the space provided, type your Democratic Underground Discussion Forum username exactly as it is written. Your Demopedia username must exactly match your Discussion Forum username.
3 Click the button that says "Mail me a new password." Your new password will be sent to the email address in our database.
4 Check your email to receive your password. The title of the email will say "Password reminder from Demopedia."
5 Return to the Demopedia Log in page.
6 Type your username and password in the spaces provided, and click the button that says "Log in."
7 You may change your Demopedia password by clicking the Preferences link.

[Condor]

16. Very good idea

Two suggestions:

- Link to currently existing wikipedia pages as far as that is allowed. I don't think DUers should spend to much time rewriting most of the excellent articles that already exist on wikipedia. The effort should go in covering what is not easily available.

- Focus on covering breaking news and in-depth research. I think that will be where this demopedia can add the most to DU.

[Gloria]

18. What are the parameters for a new password? I sign in with

the one sent to me OK, but when I try to change to a new password, I get the message that the password is incorrect. I've tried multiple times, no luck.

[sleepyhead]

21. Same here

I also tried several times to change my password but ended up having to use the one that was assigned to me. I would prefer to make up my own, so that my feeble brain will be better able to remember it!

[Liberty Belle]

19. I forgot my DU password

Can somebody please send me a reminder? Also, can't you set this up so that we can pick our own password? I never can remember the weird ones, don't have a good system for keeping track of multiple passwords and don't want to be unable to access this important resource.

Thanks!

[Endangered Specie]

23. The password for the Demopedia is different from your

regular username password and you must create it first.

To get your normal user password back, email or pm skinner or one of the admin.

[Liberty Belle]

24. I think I fixed the problem. Thanks!

[shuffnew]

32. Username and password

From the Demopedia instructions location, I clicked on LOGIN (didn't enter a password, but just shuffnew username. Then clicked on "send me a password" and it never arrives. Should I have put both my username and password (not just username per instructions) and then click
"email me a password"?

Or does it just take a long time to get the password to your email reader?

[Endangered Specie]

33. IT was instant for me...

perhaps you are checking the wrong email?

[kohodog]

25. Some of us who are ADD have a bitch of a time with passwords

Absolutely impossible. And to top it off, my email that i signed onto DU with is defunct so I'm on the outside looking in until I contact the admins.

[Flaxbee]

20. This is SO COOL!

You guys are all terrific, thanks for making DU such a fun, multi-purpose site!

[lostnfound]

39. Time for a donation.. :-) I LOVE this idea! Awesome!!!!! nt

[Endangered Specie]

22. OMG Im so going to be hooked to DU now!!!

I can't stop thinking of things to add!!! w00t!!!

[UL_Approved]

26. A great idea, but concerns

This is going to be a great way to collect information and such, and I look forward to it. My only concern is revision on behalf of disruptors. How will we keep track of all topics and information placed on a Wiki-style web interface? If some ill-intended people want to destroy the database, we need to track them and fix damage that they cause. Overall, though, I think this is the best idea that DU has ever presented. No more small-scale bitching release, now a fully-featured information and coordination force on the Internet. You've come a long way, baby...

[papau]

27. GREAT IDEA

:-)

[lateo]

28. It won't let me log in.

I know my password and user name and it says my password is invalid.

[Gloria]

29. Still unable to change from the emailed password to a new one....

8:25 pm Mountain Time....

[lateo]

30. I got the new password but..

found that the old one has not been changed yet.

[shuffnew]

31. Password has not arrived. How long should it take? n/t

[Skinner]

51. It should be almost instant.

Is your password correct in your DU Profile? If so, try again.

[ConsAreLiars]

34. I hope Demopedia submissions are vetted in the forums before

being submitted. This not only allows fact-checking and clarification, it allows more DUers a chance to contribute without first mastering Wiki etiquette and procedures. Of course many threads have been through that process already and just need summarizing.

A GREAT idea, since the Worst thing about DU is that much of the best work done here is buried in archives and hard to retrieve.

[NJCher]

35. yes

DU is a think tank; this gives us a research archive.

I also second the above poster's comment that when we give it goes to improve DU, not line someone's pockets.


Cher

[goobergunch]

36. W00t, wikis!

*goes into full Be Bold mode*

[Speed8098]

37. Just tried to log in

I tried using my password from DU and it wouldn't let me in. I clicked "Mail me a new Password", you did, it didn't work.

Oh well, that the story of my life.

[ClintonTyree]

38. Dem Underground is a class act................

there is a website from the opposition that we are all aware if (they troll here quite often) that has the crappiest website I've ever seen. The difference between DU and them (despite the obvious reason that their ideology is WRONG)? DU continues to upgrade and put put money back into the system. The opposition (RimJob) seems to put every penny in his POCKET!
Kudos Skinner etal. for making Democratic Underground THE premier Progressive website on earth.
All hail Skinner!
:toast: :headbang: :toast:

[mogster]

40. Incredible! You're way ahead! :-) n/t

[Soth]

41. I agree this is awesome, but...

I do share some of the concerns of fellow DUers, specifically that disruptive moles will attempt to alter, delete, or otherwise change entries.

Worse than major changes could be very slight changes...changes in things like reported numbers that might not even be immediately noticeable, but would ultimately deeply affect and possibly invalidate any research using that entry.

But perhaps you've got a way to monitor that.

Anyway, concerns aside, I think this is really cool! I look forward to both using and writing for the Demopedia.

[Condor]

42. Some defensive mechanisms

Some defensive mechanisms are in place in wikipedia, and i'm assuming they can be copied to demopedia without to much trouble. All edits are traceable, and if anyone is found to be trolling, all their edits can be undone.

Aside from this, sensitive pages can be protected or locked by admins so noone can change them. This system, combined with a "talk"-page that is used as a filter for info works quite well for sensitive pages on wikipedia.

[lycanthrope]

43. what are the copyright and licensing shemes?

I found no info about who controls copyright to submissions. Nor about how the submissions are licensed. For example, the Wikipedia uses the GFDL, a license that allows others to copy the work in full or part provided the GFDL also applies to the derivative work. What's the plan here?

P.S. I'm not a new user, I was formerly addicted to DU under a different name. Intentionally changed my password to a random number to lock myself out.

[lycanthrope]

52. elaboration

Well, let me throw out a benefit of the GFDL. If that were used, Demopedia could use articles from Wikipedia & Disinfopedia as starting points for further work. Moreover, the flow could go the other way too. With Demopedia text cross-fertilizing other GFDL sources. That's to the good if one of the goals here is to have a broader influence beyond Demopedia readers, who are probably already sold anyway.

Placing contributions in the public domain would have the broadest impact elsewhere. But, that would prevent Demopedia from using any existing GFDL text, as from Wikipedia or Disinfopedia.

Another option is that the Demopedia will be privately held, with no redistribution license. That seems the least productive option to me in terms of getting our message out. However, if that's the choice, then it ought to be made explicit.

A decision should be made quickly. Because all the contributions made right now are by default copyright of their authors, who have provided any redistribution authorization. That means that these contributions can never be reproduced outside Demopedia by anyone including the DU site owners. That's fine if that's the desired outcome. But it ought to be a conscious choice. And it ought to be spelled out at the site. Maybe it is if you try to edit, which I can't right now.

Sorry for being windy here. I just want to see maximum good and maximum influence come of this effort.

[silverweb]

44. A fantastic idea!

Thank you so much!

:toast:

[argyl]

45. Keep it up and this site will be as slick as Free Republic.

DU is a Porsche; FR is a Pinto.

[Joyce78]

46. Demopedia

I've been a member prior to December 7, 2004. I followed the instructions, received the red-letter message that my new password would be emailed to me. No new password -- no email. Thank you Demopedia ... to date, nothing.
Sincerely,
Joyce78
[e-mail]

[Joyce78]

47. Demopedia

Perhaps the neglect to my inquiry re a password for Demopedia has finally convinced this lifelong DEM to switch to another party. My aged mum (another lifelong DEM/Worker/Volunteer)informed me that she will never vote again. She's had it with the corruption and now finally I've also. Good luck DU with Demopedia. Demopedia, send the password. I'm getting angrier with you than the Repugs ... I expected more from you! I may never vote again. I live in Ohio ... Warren Cty. I'm a Dem in a Repug St. Where is your help??

[Joyce78]

48. Demopedia

I'm trying to get a password ... why are you neglecting me or lying to me ...... I've checked my emails ... no password from you despite promises. It's impossible to contact you. I give up. Many of us are tired of what Bush has done ... many of you don't care about us.

[Skinner]

50. So, you are going to switch to the Republicans...

because for some reason a piece of computer software didn't sent you a password, and then you didn't receive an prompt answer to your question which you posted at 1:00AM.

I'm speechless.

[ixat]

49. Great, but we have to streamline the process of corrections, so that

the information is always accurate and up to date.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

53. Oh, Hypercard

n/t

[agitprop]

54. .

this is a wonderful idea

[sarahlee]

55. Just what I needed

another way to spend an entire day on politics.

I hate to say how much I love this! However, the durn thing is taking advantage of my obsessive/compulsive tendencies.

You create a page and it has to have these links and so you start filling in the links and those pages have to have links and you start filling those in and suddenly, you notice the clock and it is 3:00 AM and you've been lost in Demopedia land for 9 hours!

We are going to have to start a Demopedia Anonymous group to assist the addicted get outside every now and then.