CZ:About: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:06, 31 October 2023

Citizendium is a wiki for providing free knowledge where contributors use their real names. We regard information as a public good and welcoming anyone who wants to share their knowledge on virtually any subject. Our online community prides itself on being congenial and supportive.

Citizendium's contributors help create online encyclopedia articles that are different from what Wikipedia now offers. We recognize Wikipedia's limitations, and that's why we support Citizendium as an alternative or supplement. The Citizendium provides a different kind of collaborative environment than Wikipedia now offers: we use real names, so you always know whom you are dealing with, and we have a modest number of active authors so that it becomes possible to know each other well. We strive for objectivity and quality--and civility. Please see We aren't Wikipedia for more details about how the two platforms differ.

It is okay to use The Citizendium as a staging area for an article to be copied elsewhere later (such as to Wikipedia, where it will likely be seen by more eyes), as long as the article meets our stylistic and content guidelines. Copying our articles to another platform is legal, with the following caveats: the article remains behind on The Citizendium (may not simply be deleted), and at its new home, attribution is given to The Citizendium as per our site license. In fact, we find these cases interesting to watch over time, to see how the two parallel articles evolve in their different hosts.

We are a growing community, and we'd like to invite you to join us in building Citizendium! Please use our application form (Google Account required). It typically takes a few days to get a response for an application, so please be patient.

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-{{TOC-right}}<br><div style="font-size:1.2em">The ''Citizendium'' ([http://www.citizendium.org/cit.mp3 sit-ih-ZEN-dee-um]), a "citizens' compendium of everything," is an open [[wiki]] project aimed at creating an enormous, free, and'' reliable ''encyclopedia. The project, started by a founder of Wikipedia, aims to improve on the Wikipedia model by adding "gentle expert oversight" and requiring contributors to use their real names.  We have over 4500 articles and hundreds of contributors.</div>
+'''[[Welcome_to_Citizendium|Citizendium]]''' is a wiki for providing free knowledge where contributors use their real names.  We regard information as a public good and welcoming anyone who wants to share their knowledge on virtually any subject.  Our online community prides itself on being congenial and supportive.
-== Why is another online encyclopedia necessary? ==
+Citizendium's contributors help create online encyclopedia articles that are different from what Wikipedia now offers.  We recognize Wikipedia's limitations, and that's why we support Citizendium as an alternative or supplement.  The Citizendium provides a different kind of collaborative environment than Wikipedia now offers: '''we use real names''', so you always know whom you are dealing with, and we have a modest number of active authors so that it becomes possible to know each other well.  We strive for objectivity and quality--and civility.  Please see [[CZ:We_aren't_Wikipedia|We aren't Wikipedia]] for more details about how the two platforms differ.
-The world needs a trustworthy free encyclopedia.  We aim to create that by providing a responsibly governed global community where real-named contributors work under expert guidance and all are accountable.
-==What is Citizendium trying to achieve?==
+It is okay to use The Citizendium as a staging area for an article to be copied elsewhere later (such as to Wikipedia, where it will likely be seen by more eyes), as long as the article meets our stylistic and content guidelines.  Copying our articles to another platform is legal, with the following caveats: the article remains behind on The Citizendium (may not simply be deleted), and at its new home, attribution is given to The Citizendium as per our site license.  In fact, we find these cases interesting to watch over time, to see how the two parallel articles evolve in their different hosts.
-'''''Quality'''''<br>
-Our goal is to accurately capture the full range of humanity's knowledge.  Over time, our expert-approved articles will be authoritative, error-free, and magisterial, as expected of encyclopedia articles.  Toward this end, varied experts will not only help write articles but offer project guidance.
-'''''Quantity'''''  <br>
+We are a growing community, and we'd like to invite you to join us in building Citizendium! ''Please use our {{ApplicationForm}}''.  It typically takes a few days to get a response for an application, so please be patient.
-Paper and print space does not constrain us&mdash;our project is digital.  ''Millions'' of detailed, nuanced articles are possible.
-'''''A new sort of online community''''' <br>
-We welcome experts as well as the general public.  We are governed by a regularly changing group of people tasked to manage a public trust in conformity with a relatively stable code of rules.  We have little tolerance for disruption and abuse.
-==I don't see myself as an expert. Can I still participate?==
-Yes!  ''Most'' of our contributors are authors and some may have no degree at all.  We're ''guided'' by expert editors, '''not'' ''experts-only'', and there are many levels of expertise.
-Some experts have [http://www.citizendium.org/editortestimonials.html explained why they're involved].
-Both editors and authors can [[Special:RequestAccount|register here]].
-==My native language isn't English. Is there a role for me?==
-{{seealso|CZ:International}}
-Our contributors are from around the world.  If your English skills are not near-native, however, you'll need to hold off for a Citizendium in your native language.  You can discuss that [http://forum.citizendium.org/index.php/board,21.0.html here].
-==What progress has occurred so far?==
-{{seealso|CZ:Statistics}}
-Since our public launch late in March 2007, we have grown to over 5,200 articles and 2,200 contributors.  And many thousands of messages have been exchanged on our forums and mailing lists.  We expect not only continued growth but acceleration.
-== Will someone else profit from my contributions? ==
-We are a nonprofit project that is nearly 100% volunteer.
-==Will I be paid for my contributions?==
-All contributors donate what they write under the [[Creative_Commons_CC-by-sa_3.0|Creative Commons-Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported]] license.  We are a free project.
-==Why do you ask for donations on the front page?==
-Server rentals and bandwidth costs money, plus we try to pay a technical person and the Editor-in-Chief.  Your help sustains this important work, and all [https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=15045 donations are tax-deductible].
-==How can I find out more about your contributors?==
-All of our authors and editors use their real names.  You can [[:Category:CZ_Authors|browse Citizendium authors]] and  [[:Category:CZ_Editors|Citizendium editors]].  Or you can just [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:Search?ns2=1&&searchx=Search search for a name].
-==What do Authors do?==
-Authors are our lifeblood.  Information about the Author Role can be found [[CZ:The_Author_Role|here]].
-==What do Editors do?==
-The Editor role is a distinctive aspect of Citizendium. You can learn more about it [[CZ:The_Editor_Role|here]].
-==Where can I find out more? ==
-* [[CZ:FAQ|FAQ]]
-* [[CZ:Fundamentals|Statement of Fundamental Policies]]
-* [http://www.citizendium.org/oneyearandthriving.html The Citizendium one year on: a strong start and an amazing future] (October 2007; first year progress report)
-* [[CZ:Press|Press]]
-* [[CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Oct302007|Latest press release]]
-* Older press releases: [[CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Oct172006|1]] | [[CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Jan242007|2]] | [http://www.citizendium.org/release_003.html 3]
-* [http://www.citizendium.org/essay.html Toward a New Compendium of Knowledge] (September 2006; original project manifesto; outdated, but articulates the grounds for the project; [essay_shorter.html shorter version])
-* [http://www.citizendium.org/whyczwillsucceed.html Why the ''Citizendium'' Will (Probably) Succeed] (March 2007)
-* [http://www.citizendium.org/editortestimonials.html Why ''Citizendium ''editors are involved: some testimonials] (compiled winter 2006-7)
-'''Other essays:'''
-* [http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/sanger07/sanger07_index.html Who Says We Know: On the New Politics of Knowledge] (''Edge.org,'' April 2007)
-* [http://www.citizendium.org/collab_prof.html How to Think about Strong Collaboration among Professionals] (text of keynote at Handelsblatt IT Congress from Jan. 30, 2007)
-* [http://www.citizendium.org/roomforexperts.html Why Make Room for Experts in Web 2.0?]  (text of keynote at SDForum from Oct. 24, 2006)
-* [http://www.citizendium.org/contentbrokers.html The Role of Content Brokers in the Era of Free Content] (articulates one of the Citizendium Foundation's concepts for funding free content)
-''Larry Sanger is the author of the above writings, unless otherwise noted.  Others are welcome to submit essays in a similar vein.''
-{{Organization}}

CZ:About: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:06, 31 October 2023

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