Technical Support and Feedback - Wiki posts in threads

The top forums on the Internet seem to have wiki post options. This enables threads like hotel master threads to have summary information that everyone can edit so you don't have to read through dozens of pages.

I'm sure this doesn't require an example, but here's what inspired this post: today I wanted to post a document containing Starpoint Instant Award options for a specific SPG property. All I can do is post it, and if someone could use that info, it will eventually be buried on page 14 or something. If there was a Wiki post, I could post it there and folks could be able to read that with other essential info easily.

Was this ever considered? I was about to make the same suggestion.

Sometimes when a thread gets 50 pages long, it a wiki post in the thread would be very useful. It gives readers a quick summary and stops people from repeating the same questions.

There is FT wiki (http://flyerguide.com/wiki/).

That's not what we're talking about. This has nothing to do with a Wiki website like that.

A Wiki post is usually the second post in a thread and anyone can edit it. It's a Wiki for the thread only.

Here's an example. The 2nd post of this thread is a Wiki post. In this case, people are using it keep track of rebate forms for some offer. Usually it's used to keep track of the most pertinent info on the thread. It keeps people from asking the same questions over and over:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=11248&t=987539

I can think of several cases where a Wiki thread would help. For example, there were very long threads on the NW MilesToGo promo and the Delta 25-Partner promo.

That's not what we're talking about. This has nothing to do with a Wiki website like that.

A Wiki post is usually the second post in a thread and anyone can edit it. It's a Wiki for the thread only.

I know exactly what you are talking about.

I visit SD and FW. Those two sites have the built-in wiki post system. Just visit the two sites and click on any thread. You should be able to see how wiki posts work. The wiki-enabled threads actually make updated info more accessible and updating more efficient. Posters can get a good collaborative summary from the 2nd post in a thread. Every active participant can edit/correct the info in the wiki post. The job of summarizing falls on every participants in say threads and wiki posts are built over the course of time.

Take the Presidential Coins thread in MilesBuzz! for example. If we have a wiki post, folks can learn which coin is out of stock (or available) again; how the carriers have been making delivery..etc, just by browsing the wiki post. If there's anything inaccurate info, I am sure FTers will jump in and fix the wrong in the wiki posts.

Granted not every FT threads need an embedded wiki post. The feature will only get "activated" when a wiki post is created. I don't know much about the software engineering and how different is the wiki post system from our current vBulletin. But I do think this will be an excellent add-on improvement.

I actually would like to know from the admin if the wiki post system is part of the software upgrade in the future. Can you guys comment on this suggestion? Will IB consider this wiki post feature?

I actually would like to know from the admin if the wiki post system is part of the software upgrade in the future. Can you guys comment on this suggestion? Will IB consider this wiki post feature?

Ditto. Please? :)

We have noticed how other forums are using this feature as well, and we like what we've seen. At this point, we're researching available options to see how well/poorly we might be able to integrate this into FT. The wiki post functionality isn't part of the vBulletin core system, so requires the install of a plug-in. Not a deal breaker, but due dillegence is required.

We have noticed how other forums are using this feature as well, and we like what we've seen. At this point, we're researching available options to see how well/poorly we might be able to integrate this into FT.
Thanks for the update. ^

I don't visit too many online fora myself but as far as the wiki post system goes, I do like what I see in FW and SD. Please do keep us posted about the research and possible timetable to add this plug-in.

I am sure with a wiki post feature on FT, FTers can be on top of things at all times. It will definitely save some (lazy) FTers' time to browse a long thread before finding answers to their already-asked-by-others questions. :p

The wiki post functionality isn't part of the vBulletin core system, so requires the install of a plug-in. Not a deal breaker, but due dillegence is required.

I am not sure if a plug-in means the tech group will write a new piece of software to add on to FT or there's some readily-made plug-in for this wiki post feature. I would like to mention something from my personal experience though.

I recently had a thread in another forum with wiki post feature. Not to go into too much details, it was about a shopping experience and corp/store policy. Some posters confirmed the same experiences while some didn't have the same problems. In the meantime, everybody stayed matter-of-fact posting. Except for one poster.

After reading it, this poster decided to create a wiki post to ridicule my thread. This person made up a whole bunch of fake policies in the wiki post. I don't want to get into a personal "war" with this person so I reported it to the forum mod. The mod reviewed the case and decided to not only delete the wiki post but also remove the wiki capacity in my thread.

I don't know too much about the technical stuff behind it. However, if FT tech dept needs to write a program to allow wiki post on FT, HOM may want to take the following under consideration:

1. allow mods to remove the ill-spirited wiki post, if necessary (such as in my example).

2. reserve the "power" for the mod to "deactivate" wiki capacity in any given thread. Just like what happened to me in the other forum.

3. I don't know if there are that many evil-spirited FTers on board, but we might consider the option to block a say FTer from posting in wiki. Sort of like mask OMNI from folks who can't behave themselves ;).

Wiki post is publicly accessible and editable to all registered users. It could be a backdoor heaven for spammers as well. The reason why I didn't just edit and remove the fake material from the wiki post in my example is because anybody can edit a wiki post in any given thread. That same person could have posted the same BS things in my thread after I edited it out. There's no point to engage in such a childish back-and-forth wiki editing. In case we do have certain FTers who can't behave themselves in certain threads, it may be a good idea to simply take the wiki posting privilege away from them. I don't know if that can be a thread-specific blocking or only systemwide.

I am speaking from a user's point of view. I'll leave all the technical potentials to you experts. :)

I think the "evil wiki poster" case is pretty rare. I've never seen one myself.

I think the "evil wiki poster" case is pretty rare. I've never seen one myself.
I didn't even know they existed until it happened to me less than 3 weeks ago. ;)

+1 I was just coming here to make the same suggestion.

This would be IDEAL for those long threads where there are dozens of pages of posts. All of the most essential information can be kept up to date in the wiki post, with links to the relevant posts within the thread.

It would also make it easier for collaboration on the many threads where a single person (the original poster) keeps the first post updated.

Definitely a worthwhile plug-in to consider!

+1 I was just coming here to make the same suggestion.
Thank you for reviving this thread. :)

It seems IB is not done with data recovery on FT (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/technical-issues/950476-edited-thread-displayed-old-version.html#post11693698) yet. Since April 28th, 2009, the phantom post/page index problem has returned to the thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/762562-taiwan-will-touch-your-heart-virtual-tour.html) I mentioned in this post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/11566901-post106.html). I've PMed the tech team but I don't think they have developed a solution yet. :(

It seems to me there're reoccurring and new problems with data servers & tech glitches on FT. I hope IB can hurry up and finish rebuilding the data corruption from April. I can't wait to see this wonderful but long-overdue suggestion be implemented on FT!

I can't wait to see this wonderful but long-overdue suggestion be implemented on FT!

Me too! Best of luck to the coders...

I, too, have wanted the wikipost feature on FT for a LONG time (ever since I started visiting FatWallet -- that's been a few years now). ;)

I, too, have wanted the wikipost feature on FT for a LONG time (ever since I started visiting FatWallet -- that's been a few years now). ;)

+ 1

I manage a few thread posts (cruise meet ups, hotel deal codes, various CommBuzz) because it drives me batty! to have to sift backward, then forward to find info or to find who is going to be where when.

I find the wikipost on fatwallet very helpful and would love it if FT implemented this feature (not holding my breath considering how long this thread has been around).

I too would vote strongly in favor of a WikiPost Feature for Flyertalk!

It would save all of us time 2-fold, first in providing an accurate resource for pertinent information & key details for a thread;

& second also in saving "us" time from answering/correcting fellow Flyertalkers when they ("we") post incorrect info &/or ask the same exact questions over & over again within the same thread...

The Sooner FlyerTalk can do this the more valuable of a resource FT will be for all of us!

I guess IB is more interested in making $$ from skimlinks on FT than implementing this much more useful feature. There's no update about wiki post implementation since Jan this year, which must be a low priority job in IB's book. However, skimlinks are up and bringing in $$$ already. :rolleyes:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/technical-issues/998250-skimlinks.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/only-randy-petersen/1000264-link-redirection.html

wikiposts in FlyerTalk threads would be a gosend in my opinion, a great way to also overcome the problems of search and threads that become outdated over time.

:D


Seriously though: perhaps we should put this thread in our signatures and ask the FT citizens to join the cause?

Here's an idea: perhaps posts could have a button to have it be recommended for the thread's wiki. I do not have a site example for such a system, but I do believe this forum would benefit greatly from thread wiki's (like FatWallet.com has) and perhaps this is an easier way to do that? The recommendation could be sent to the OP or the Mods or...?

Search becomes less useful the greater the size of the dataset and FT has one heck of a data set of postings!

I'd like to see this feature rolled out for a trial.

Seriously though: perhaps we should put this thread in our signatures and ask the FT citizens to join the cause?

Here's an idea: perhaps posts could have a button to have it be recommended for the thread's wiki...?

This (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/newsstand/1104870-ran-decisions-v-internet-brands.html) may well explain why our innovative ideas/suggestions/improvement were/are falling on (IB's) deaf ears.

count me among those who feel strongly that a wiki feature in each thread is a LONG OVERDUE feature on flyertalk.com. It is very disappointing to see that this was brought up well over a year ago and very little feedback has been provided from the site administrators on the 'progress' of the idea.

It is very disappointing to see that this was brought up well over a year ago and very little feedback has been provided from the site administrators on the 'progress' of the idea.
"More than a year" is an underestimate.

It's been 2 years and 4 full months since this thread started. At this point, I am not sure if this feature will ever become a reality on FT. :(

I would love a wiki. especially when threads get extremely long and relativly simple questions have been answered many times over.

this would be awesome

or making a wiki that is printable. we could than send that to the airline to have them include it in their T&C to clarify what they neglected to state (this would obviously be for threads about promotions)

i personally cant stand wikipedia. im a forum-only person.

i personally cant stand wikipedia. im a forum-only person.

Wiki posts are not exactly wikipedia - they are usually a post just after the OP post which members can edit which often summarizes the best content of the thread for a quick read, for the benefit of the community. A decent example is the second post HERE (http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/890849/). Hope that clarifies a bit.

just like wikipedia... where people can screw it up, then you have to spend time fixing it. and if its subtle, people may be getting the wrong information until fixed. etc.

edit - although, if this wikipost is always a "2nd" post after the stickied post(s) that does kind of become an "optional" thing for wiki people to use and cynics like me can ignore at first sign of trouble. clearly im not talking about it being done automatically in every thread. that would be...

as you can see im a cynic. :D

personally, i think forums avoid anything negative, because its posts (and poster/postcount/etc), there is discussion, and moderators are posters who can see post [edit] histories and IP addresses.

edit - although, if this wikipost is always a "2nd" post after the stickied post(s) that does kind of become an "optional" thing for wiki people to use and cynics like me can ignore at first sign of trouble. clearly im not talking about it being done automatically in every thread.

That might be a good compromise :)

+1

I love the Wiki option on boards and would like to see it on FT.

+1 This would a huge improvement!

There is FT wiki (http://flyerguide.com/wiki/).

It's become a major spam fest, although real information is thin of the ground. The official pages are not updated much.

They don't link to the recent changes page, but if you check it (don't post the link here), you'll see loads of spam pages. Why the spammers bother, I don't know, since Mediawiki uses nofollow. But even the main page has a slew of spam links at the bottom.

Too bad, as I'd love to use the wiki for posts.

+1 for wiki post. It could probably cut some of the deal threads posts by at least 50%

Any updates or plans for adding wiki/summary post to each thread?
Sorry to bring up an old thread but I really wish to this feature on FT.
TIA

Any updates or plans for adding wiki/summary post to each thread?
Sorry to bring up an old thread but I really wish to this feature on FT.
TIA

Wikiposts are active in a few forums now (AS, AA, BA, and possibly a couple of others) as part of a test, although they are currently only editable by moderators and ambassadors. I would expect it to get rolled out to a wider section of FlyerTalk and more users soon, although I don't know what "soon" is.

Any updates or plans for adding wiki/summary post to each thread?
Sorry to bring up an old thread but I really wish to this feature on FT.
TIA

You probably aren't aware of this TalkBoard Topics thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-topics/1311675-discussion-re-resolution-asking-internet-brands-implement-wiki-posts-flyertalk.html) from last year:

We have two forums where wiki capability has been enacted: AA and AS. It was turned on Friday afternoon. See an example here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/1401070-trying-avoid-hurricane-sandy-related-issues-consolidated.html

While testing is in beta phase, only moderators are able to create the wikis.


An announcement at The Gate (http://www.flyertalk.com/the-gate/blog/12059-wikiposts-currently-being-tested-on-flyertalk-%E2%80%94-and-your-assistance-is-requested.html) was mentioned in that thread as well.

I don't know there are test fora other than AA and AS though. IB really doesn't do such a good job making this beta feature known neither does they keep the general membership informed about the progress.

Besides AS, AA & BA, LH M&M has it activated but not yet used, and ANA got a pilot where an unmoderated forum has the wiki post feature activated for the ambassador. An example:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/all-nippon-airways-mileage-club/1428215-787-cancellations-delays-changes-due-787-grounding-master-thread.html

We have now enabled the ability for all FTers who have been registered for 90 days and have posted 90 times to create and add to wiki posts. Please help us make information easier to find by contributing in this way.

Carol
Community Director

Here's a shoutout to alex_b whom I think might be the first member at large to create a wiki.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1316366-rules-open-jaw-stopover-award-flights-consolidated.html

Thank you!

Here's a shoutout to alex_b whom I think might be the first member at large to create a wiki.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1316366-rules-open-jaw-stopover-award-flights-consolidated.html

Thank you!

Milestone!

We have now enabled the ability for all FTers who have been registered for 90 days and have posted 90 times to create and add to wiki posts. Please help us make information easier to find by contributing in this way.
^

Finally, the wait is over!

Hope to see more collaborative love among us FTers in the form of wikiposts!