Hi everyone,
Discord is the current number one of collaborative messaging platforms and many Wookieepedians, me included, have already adopted Discord. The creation of a Wookieepedia Discord server has been discussed before, in February 2018, and many were opposed at that time, me included. However, two years have elapsed and Discord's rise has continued while IRC's decline only seems to be accelerating. Thus, I believe it is time for a renewed discussion.
The biggest selling point of this proposal is the fact that a bot can relay messages between IRC and Discord, allowing both platforms to co-exist and supplement each other.
A Wookieepedia Discord server is by Wookieepedians for Wookieepedians. It is not meant to become a generic Star Wars discussion platform. This is not a push for more social media.
Contents
Comparison[]
Pros[]
- Userbase: Discord has around 250 million monthly users (May 2019), compared to IRC, with the top 10 networks combining for a total of around 200,000 concurrent online users.
- freenode, the IRC network that Wookieepedia uses, has around 90,000 users online at any given moment.
- Accessibility: I wouldn't call IRC hard to use, but there is definitely more of a learning curve compared to Discord. Also, Discord has an official desktop and mobile client.
- Server structure: Discord's server structure allows us a very flexible setup where access and permissions can be assigned based on roles.
- This is to some extent doable on IRC, but there are no "channel groups" among other things on IRC.
- IRC relay: A bot will be used to relay messages between IRC and Discord, thus allowing users to participate from whichever implementation they desire.
Cons[]
- Proprietary software: This is, for an idealist, the biggest con of Discord. IRC and its implementations are completely open source software.
- Accessing Discord requires the creation of an account with Discord Inc., an American company, and the usage of Discord's closed-source clients. Freenode, on the other hand, is an implementation of the IRC protocol and can be accessed with any IRC client.
- Mofferences are worth considering. It can be argued that it is unethical to require Wookieepedians to utilize closed-source applications to participate in community discussions.
- Userbase: The lack of a learning curve and widespread usage will inevitably lead to more users, and thus more noobs.
- This is why I suggesting limiting most channels to verified Wookieepedians.
- Nuku-Nuku: Our beloved IRC bot, Nuku-Nuku, only exists on IRC.
Considerations[]
- Mofferences: It is unethical to require Wookieepedians to use closed-source software to participate in community discussions.
- The decline of IRC: Adopting Discord would most likely lead to an even faster decline of IRC.
Possible server structure[]
- Wookieepedia (channel group)
- #info: read-only channel that will contain sort of a welcome message for new users (think of it as a /topic, except for an entire server)
- #social: the lobby for newcomers. Users would be restricted to this channel until they're verified as being Wookieepedians. Relayed to IRC #wookieepedia-social.
- #wookieepedia: the main channel of the server. Open to all verified Wookieepedians. Relayed to IRC #wookieepedia.
- Star Wars (channel group)
- #canon: channel for discussing the Canon continuity.
- #legends: channel for discussing the Legends continuity.
- #spoilers: channel for discussing content with spoilers. Relayed to IRC #wookieepedia-spoilers.
- Administration (channel group)
- #admin-help: can be used to ask help from administrators.
- #administrators: private channel for administrators
So what now?[]
The first stage is testing how this would work in practice. Therefore, the server will be very limited access for the first weeks until we have everything figured out: only users with 100+ edits will be granted access. You can check your own editcount by going to Special:Editcount. When you join the server, you will not be able to read or post to any channels before you are granted the "Wookieepedian" role by an administrator.
We will evaluate the result in a few weeks' time and proceed to a CT. After this, the access requirements will (probably) be relaxed.
I want access[]
Click here to join, then post your Discord username below.
Post your Discord username in the format username#1234
here, followed by your signature. An administrator will then grant you access at their earliest convenience.
- ecks#4056 1358 (Talk) 20:12, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Master Fredcerique#7740 Master
Fredcerique 20:26, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- UberSoldat#6255 UberSoldat93
(talk) 20:27, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- NanoLuuke#5993 NanoLuukeCloning facility 20:28, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- 01miki10#9906 01miki10 Open comlink 20:32, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Zed#6251 Zed42 (talk) 20:34, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Octo#6777 Octology (talk) 21:46, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- east#1881 East6 (talk) 21:57, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- givinname#2779 Givinname (talk) 22:04, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- IJosh64#6799IJosh64 (talk) 22:13, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- StarWarsGamer18#5139 StarWarsGamer18 (talk)
- spookywilloww#8360 —spookywillowwtalk 22:39, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- OsoGeorge#9090- ProfessorTofty (talk) 22:43, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- JMAS#3112 - JMAS
Hey, it's me! 22:44, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Onyx#0512 -WardenoftheOrder (talk) 22:49, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Thanus#7803 - DFaceG (talk) 22:50, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Zylum#9186 --Zylum9990 23:41, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Javi#5961--Vitus InfinitusTalk 23:58, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Thales César#2718 --Thales César (discussão) 00:27, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Tyber#5768 --Tyber J. Kenobi's Droid 00:42, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- twinions12#6092 --User:Wok142 12:50, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- elite6247#9254 --Secutor IV (talk) 01:22, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Kurush#4534 --Rakhsh (talk) 01:36, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- CJG#6275 --ChrisGraslie (talk) 01:46, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- harryhenry#6094 --Harryhenry (talk) 01:54, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- orbitball#9621 --Orbitball || talk page :) 02:19, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Mr Star Wars#6188 --Mr Star Wars Amino Republic (talk) 4:14, April 6, 2020
- OOM-224#0628 - - -
OOM 224 ༼༽{talk}༼༽ 05:39, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Rebirther.#8659 --Rebirther || (talk) 12:56, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Moing#7558 --Moingx || (talk) 05:58, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Treejy#2495 -- Treejy (talk) 07:12, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- PlNG#8456 -- --PlNG (talk) 07:22, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- DarthDracarys#2592 — Darth Dracarys (talk) 07:45, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- larsdalen#7978 --Lars Oebeles (talk) 09:01, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- BenSc01t#9723 - Braha'tok enthusiast (talk) 09:02, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Culoph#7977 --Lelal Mekha
(Audience Room) 09:52, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- DPTW#5130, however if I change it in the future, it will be on my userpage Quentum (talk) 10:45, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Mustafar29#4307 ~Mustafar29 (talk) 15:08, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Definitely Not a B2 Battledroid#1715, vadernation123, April 6th 2020
- Brandon Rhea#1689 - Brandon Rhea(talk) 20:28, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- djstatman#6503 IFYLOFD (Talk) 21:17, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- RedHeathen#9559 - Red Heathen (talk) 22:15, April 7, 2020 (UTC)
- You're currently ten edits short of being eligible to join. Ayrehead02 (talk) 22:20, April 7, 2020 (UTC)
- How about now? Red Heathen (talk) 01:54, May 22, 2020 (UTC)
- You now meet the criteria so next time you join I'll give you access. Ayrehead02 (talk) 10:44, May 22, 2020 (UTC)
- How about now? Red Heathen (talk) 01:54, May 22, 2020 (UTC)
- You're currently ten edits short of being eligible to join. Ayrehead02 (talk) 22:20, April 7, 2020 (UTC)
- RattsT#2824 - RattsT (talk) 01:03, April 8, 2020 (UTC)
- Jedi Sarith LeKit#5865 Jedi Sarith LeKit (talk) 05:06, April 8, 2020 (UTC)
- Based_Nero#8997 Lord Dreist (Diskussion) 15:16, April 8, 2020 (UTC)
- Lead Marshal Commander Flanker#5733 [1] i have 100 plus on fanon
- Andykatib#6177 Andykatib 01:18, April 10, 2020 (UTC)
- Tomotron#1297 Tomotron
(Star Forge) 03:14, April 10, 2020 (UTC)
- Omicron#2441 <-Omicron(Leave a message at the BEEP!) 22:12, April 10, 2020 (UTC)
- SenatorConfer#4064 Keeper of the Timeline (talk) 19:02, April 12, 2020 (UTC)
- cyril#0495. MechQueste 13:37, April 13, 2020 (UTC)
- wzup#9849
Winterz (talk) 23:47, April 13, 2020 (UTC)
- lew#5532 --Lewisr (talk) 13:29, April 15, 2020 (UTC)
- Ficboy Ficboy (talk) 25:56, April 15, 2020 (UTC)
- Only users with 100+ edits will be granted access. You're currently at 44 edits--DarthRuiz30 (talk) 03:21, April 16, 2020 (UTC)
- Sapphire#0218 Amesei (talk) 21:02, April 21, 2020 (UTC)
- Boots#7355
Commander Boots 02:05, April 26, 2020 (UTC)
- Mr. French#6969 --MrFrenchYT (talk) 17:21, April 27, 2020 (UTC)
- SpongeGuy#4101 --The Milo Murphy's Law Wiki Guy (talk) 05:23, April 28, 2020 (UTC)
- Only users with 100+ edits will be granted access. You're currently at 4 edits--DarthRuiz30 (talk) 05:55, April 28, 2020 (UTC)
- Rayce#5183 --
Commander Awesome (Talk) 10:15, April 28, 2020 (UTC)
- masonator#6430 User:Masonator6 Masonator 13:59, April 28, 2020 (UTC)
- Valiran9#1182 --Valiran (talk) 21:47, April 30, 2020 (UTC)
- La Blonde Legendaire#6907 BlondeLegendaire (talk) 13:07, May 3, 2020 (UTC)
- Octo#8805 —✍Octology (speaketh) 23:48, May 10, 2020 (UTC)
- tendou#6078 Toqgers (talk) 03:13, May 16, 2020 (UTC)
- cwedin#8395 - Cwedin(talk) 03:42, May 16, 2020 (UTC)
- Bravo1138#3776 Corellian Premier
The Force will be with you always 01:15, May 23, 2020 (UTC)
- AV#7443 - AV-6R7Crew Pit 01:43, May 29, 2020 (UTC)
- Mr.ANewUsername#0781--Editoronthewiki (talk) 00:10, May 30, 2020 (UTC)
- thomasstudios#4994 Reddyredcp (talk) 22:11, June 7, 2020 (UTC)
- Zervonn#8586 --Lord Zervonn TALK 18:48, June 13, 2020 (UTC)
- Plume Tray#0874 Plume Tray (talk) 19:08, June 18, 2020 (UTC)
- Bluerock --Bluerock (talk) 15:21, June 19, 2020 (UTC)
- TK-462#7809 TK-462 (talk) 16:31, June 19, 2020 (UTC)
- Erebus Chronus#4885
19:48, June 19, 2020 (UTC)Erebus Chronus Open frequency
- ottiewottiedoodah#6353 OtterSurf (talk) 13:53, June 25, 2020 (UTC)
Discussion[]
Can I come in and join without revealing (publicly) my account details? If not for the sake of transparency, I will do so. MechQueste 21:40, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- Your Discord username will be visible to everyone in the server when you join. Not sure what you're after. 1358 (Talk) 21:41, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
For me, Wookieepedia is about the wiki editing side and the discussions side. I would also like to begin editing, but I am not sure where or how to begin. Is it possible this server could expand to others who are seeking help? Jade Moonstroller 2:19, April 5, 2020 (UTC)
- In this early phase, we are restricting access to users with 100+ edits. However, one of the main goals with the Discord server is to make it easier for newbies to reach out to more experienced users, so we'll likely readjust the entry requirements at a later time. 1358 (Talk) 15:16, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
Is the 100 edit requirement on the star wars wiki or across any wikis? Justaperson084 (talk) 04:47, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Specifically on Wookieepedia. Master
Fredcerique 04:48, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
Fandom community discord already enlists an automated means of verification, there is a discord field in the wiki profile masthead, and a bot approves when both the discord and the Fandom name matches and warns if it is otherwise or changes. It would be trivial to script to scrape this field. Ask Fandom to share their script or build your own droid. --PlNG (talk) 07:27, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- That's all very well, but it overlooks the fact that we also want 100 edits for people to be able to join. Until someone can write up a specific bot script, manual verification will work best. Tommy
Macaroni 09:04, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
While i just visit the wiki, and nothing else, am i allowed to get in it anyways? --FanOfYoshi (talk) 11:26, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
- Not during the beta test period. When and if we decide to make this a permanent thing, we'll probably revisit the requirement or add a 'non-editor' channel. -- Darth Culator (Talk) 11:49, April 6, 2020 (UTC)
For those who haven't noticed: there is now a Consensus track vote on making the Discord server official. 1358 (Talk) 19:33, June 22, 2020 (UTC)