Well I've succesfully managed to add content to the Phuket bit

now after this bug (post not visible) is sorted out my question again:

I am still waiting for marching orders...or can I already contribute? If yes, where to start?

I learnt very early on - Never Volunteer for Anything - Isn't that right C.B. ?

This might be the last we ever here of Soundman, J.E.P., Mr,Squigle etc,

Very brave but foolhardy lads, I wonder who writes to their parents when they go M.I.A.

That's correct uncle Ken - My grandfather volunteered for the First World War because "it sounded like a good idea at the time", my dad, his two brothers and sister were there for the rematch in '39. My brother figured it would be good to volunteer for Vietnam in case he got drafted? I volunteered in '75 and stayed in for 15 years. All of us volunteered only the once and look what happened.

Old Army volunteer jokes:

Sgt Major "I need five volunteers, take one step forward"

Not a movement to be seen in the ranks

Sgt Major "Right, everyone except you five take one step back"

Volunteer story #2

Sgt Major "I need three drivers, any of you men drivers?"

Three foolish soldiers put their hand up thinking they are in for a cushy job as a driver

Sgt Major "right men, grab those brooms and drive them all away around the compound"

Volunteer story #3

Sgt Major "I need some pilots, any of you men pilots"

Two guys who by typical military recruitment policy put qualified pilots into the infantry where the next time they see an airplane, it will be dropping bombs on them, put their hands up.

Sgt Major "right, ok go to the compound and take all the boxes and pilot into one big pile"

I do not see this as a likely outcome in the Wiki exercise and am sure it will be fun, interesting, and rewarding.

CB

RAF applies a little more thought to it .....

In peacetime, volunteer for everything to break the boredom

In Wartime, volunteer for nothing - let the bloody officers do the fighting in their zoom zooms

Well I've succesfully managed to add content to the Phuket bit

now after this bug (post not visible) is sorted out my question again:

I am still waiting for marching orders...or can I already contribute? If yes, where to start?

I think in a wiki you don't get marching orders.....you just start making entries and by a process of discussion and editing the entries are refined........I think this is how it works but I don't know for sure.

Chownah

I think in a wiki you don't get marching orders.....you just start making entries and by a process of discussion and editing the entries are refined........I think this is how it works but I don't know for sure.

Chownah

If it is as you said, I will give it a try these days...just let me think of something useful...

/edit: just tried to write something but this privilege seems to be restricted to the mods and admins so far...love Seonai's entry about Phuket, though, an to answer the question posed in the discussion tab, yes, I also think it should be written entertaining and not just dead dry as in Wikipedia. Otherwise, what would be the point other than offering an alternative to Wikipedia?

I learnt very early on - Never Volunteer for Anything - Isn't that right C.B. ?

take one step back"

Three foolish soldiers put their hand up thinking they are in for a cushy job as a driver

Sgt Major "right men, grab those brooms and drive them all away around the compound"

Before I was drafted I had heard of these and many more. So I was a bit leery when my platoon sgt. approached me in basic training and asked me if I had a drivers license. I thought briefly of saying no, but replied truthfully. Next day was a work detail day and I hung around the dayroom as company driver.

Spent the next two years mainly driving a jeep. I missed some walking in basic and AIT. Didn't drive at all in jump school. But drove alot after that. It seems officers like their drivers to be crack shots, and I was that before being drafted. I grew up with weapons in the house and a stepdad to show me how to handle them.

Maybe you have to log in to see work in progress, but the public version I see from http://wiki.thaivisa.com/ seems quite empty - but I guess these things take time though.

One thing though, I've never seen a Wiki site infested with so much Spam / Adsense, and I think this will put many people off. And don't you think it kind of goes against the spirit of Wikipedia somewhat? Anyway, one or two strips of Adsense would be OK I think, but you have to admit it's a bit much to ram some in between the search form and the toolbox, and then have a load more again below the toolbox as well...

Where are we with this one? It's dropped off my radar a bit. I wanted to add more content...

It will be a huge task to get this project up to an acceptable standard. By way of example, I had a quick look at the bit on Phuket and, while a token effort has been made, there is virtually no discussion of the demographics or history of the place and far too much emphasis on nightlife activities. Yes, the nightlife needs to be mentioned, but the plethora of other activities on the island and its rich history merit discussion. There also needs to be discussion of local government and public institutions and utilities, service organisations, etc. A read through the Wikipedia article should provide the basis for a starting point. In order for the articles to have any credibility, they must also be properly referenced.

I did not volunteer to do this work because I tend to devote all my energies to these sorts of projects. I have years of experience both in undertaking projects and managing them, and I can usually identify the magnitude and major pitfalls of a project quite readily. I am simply not prepared to make a commitment to a project of this size. I know that if, for example, I reworked the Phuket article, I would then feel an obligation by pride of addressing other areas within the site. Accordingly, the most I would be prepared to contribute is proofing/critiquing.

Herein lies the problem. It is probable that a proportion of the volunteers either do not comprehend the magnitude of the work involved (in order for it to be completed properly) or do not have the necessary skills and experience to prepare articles to a suitable standard. Clearly, the best way to ensure that this project is completed satisfactorily is to employ permanent staff to undertake the initial work. It would then be a matter of selectively appointing appropriately qualified and motivated volunteers to maintain it. This current approach of blind selection of volunteers to perform the work will bring with it the requirement of close (read exhaustive) management and the discomfort of a high level of exasperation.

It is a noble idea, but get set for a long, rough ride.