Title: A Call To Arms
History will record that the first stage in the growth of Citizendium (commonly called "The Forum Phase") was critical in supplying input that underpinned all the policies that made CZ great. Now comes the next stage (commonly called the "Modelling Phase").

As of yesterday, a small number of us started setting stuff up, reviewing applications, etc.  So what to do in the meantime? Well, we know that we know what quality is when we see it, don't we? I mean, we could all just set to and write great copy when the Wiki goes live, and it would all look the same and apply the same general standards, wouldn't it?


Well, just to be on the safe side, Larry and I are asking everyone to work in <http://www.textop.org/wiki/index.php?title=Proposed_Articles_for_Citizendium_Pilot_Project>http://www.textop.org/wiki/index.php?title=Proposed_Articles_for_Citizendium_Pilot_Project

Not quite the opening of the floodgates for those of you who are champing at the bit to start writing for real, but a critical moment for all of us to start mapping out the new ground rules for format and quality.

But!

We need to do this by actually writing copy. It is never the same to talk about this in the abstract. Writing content focuses the mind. So can I invite people to pick a topic that could be a featured article in your discipline. Find others to help or work on it yourself, then put it up on the Wiki for us all to look at and comment on.

But why write content?

Because one of the defining issues we need to get clear in our minds is the real level of writing. Exactly who are we writing for and how accessible must the language be? It is all very well for us to sit around and speculate on whether a university student in one country is the same as an intelligent lay person in another. It is only by each specialist giving indicative examples of the different levels that we can all make an informed choice.

And?
None of this work will be lost. Anything and everything that we write matches the standards can easily be transferred to the wiki when it's up and running.
Finally

Asking you all to work in Textop assumes most of you will be accepted as authors in the long term. Those of you who have found your way to this forum and on to the mailing list are likely to be the most qualified to work when the project goes live. This is the chance for all of you to demonstrate your bona fides, and your commitment to the fundamental principles of the project. This is your chance to begin forging writing relationships with those who share your interests and expertise so that, when the project doors do open, we can all run through together with confidence.

So let's get to it!


David with Larry cheerleading alongside him.

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