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The seven sins of online collaboration
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Disorder
Along online discussion amounts to an enormous list of undifferentiatedtext. There are no dividers or subheadings, no logical progression ofarguments or groupings of opinion and no distinction between unique,intelligent insights and throwaway expressions of approval andopposition.
Clutter
Online discussions are clutteredwith extraneous information. There are posts which are just "me too"expressions of agreement, posts which make the same point as a previouspost but from a slightly different angle, posts based entirely onmisunderstandings and posts rewording previous posts in an attempt torectify misunderstandings. It all adds up to make the enormous list ofundifferentiated text even more enormous.
Repetitiveness
Becausehardly anyone can be bothered to read through an enormous list ofundifferentiated text before adding their own post, newcomers to adiscussion frequently make points that have already been made and failto build on what has already been said. Even the original postersstruggle to retain an understanding ofthe entire convoluted discussion. Once thediscussion is over, it disappears and is forgotten about, leading toendlessly repeating cycles as the discussion resurfaces amongst peoplewho fail to build on previous discussions.
Inconsistency
Onlinecollaboration tools typically feature three distinct collaborationformats: wikis, forums and comments, stitched together as one tool.Sometimes blogs and social bookmarks are also thrown into the mix. Eachof these formats operates by its own distinct set of rules and slappingthem in one tool together leads to a confusing mess.
Chaotic notifications
Thisinconsistency also makes it difficult to keep track of replies and tomonitor all relevant new content. Notification systems are alsohampered by showing either too little – requiring users to manuallycheck for replies and updates – or too much – overwhelming users bytelling them about every tiny edit and update.
Aimlessness
Discussions– all discussions, not just online ones – tend to meander off-topic andlose focus; and when particularly complex issues are discussed, thereis frequently a failure to separate distinct arguments and assumptions,leading to confused thinking.
Incivility
How manypeople have been put off online discussions because of the sniping,personal attacks and general needless rudeness that is all too commonon public forums? The anonymity of the Web creates incredible openessbut it also licenses incredibly bad behaviour.
The seven virtues of Yoomoot
Along online discussion amounts to an enormous list of undifferentiatedtext. There are no dividers or subheadings, no logical progression ofarguments or groupings of opinion and no distinction between unique,intelligent insights and throwaway expressions of approval andopposition.
Clutter
Online discussions are clutteredwith extraneous information. There are posts which are just "me too"expressions of agreement, posts which make the same point as a previouspost but from a slightly different angle, posts based entirely onmisunderstandings and posts rewording previous posts in an attempt torectify misunderstandings. It all adds up to make the enormous list ofundifferentiated text even more enormous.
Repetitiveness
Becausehardly anyone can be bothered to read through an enormous list ofundifferentiated text before adding their own post, newcomers to adiscussion frequently make points that have already been made and failto build on what has already been said. Even the original postersstruggle to retain an understanding ofthe entire convoluted discussion. Once thediscussion is over, it disappears and is forgotten about, leading toendlessly repeating cycles as the discussion resurfaces amongst peoplewho fail to build on previous discussions.
Inconsistency
Onlinecollaboration tools typically feature three distinct collaborationformats: wikis, forums and comments, stitched together as one tool.Sometimes blogs and social bookmarks are also thrown into the mix. Eachof these formats operates by its own distinct set of rules and slappingthem in one tool together leads to a confusing mess.
Chaotic notifications
Thisinconsistency also makes it difficult to keep track of replies and tomonitor all relevant new content. Notification systems are alsohampered by showing either too little – requiring users to manuallycheck for replies and updates – or too much – overwhelming users bytelling them about every tiny edit and update.
Aimlessness
Discussions– all discussions, not just online ones – tend to meander off-topic andlose focus; and when particularly complex issues are discussed, thereis frequently a failure to separate distinct arguments and assumptions,leading to confused thinking.
Incivility
How manypeople have been put off online discussions because of the sniping,personal attacks and general needless rudeness that is all too commonon public forums? The anonymity of the Web creates incredible openessbut it also licenses incredibly bad behaviour.
The seven virtues of Yoomoot