Citizendium? I am not even sure how to pronounce it.

What is it?

It's a Wikipedia knockoff from Larry Sanger, who is often credited as being a co-founder of Wikipedia. In Mr. Sanger's world, you'll need to identify yourself if you wish to contribute.

Do we need a new Wikipedia? Will it work?

Here, from the AP story today by Technology Writer Brian Bergstein:

This week, Sanger takes the wraps off a Wikipedia alternative, Citizendium. His goal is to capture Wikipedia's bustle but this time, avoid the vandalism and inconsistency that are its pitfalls.

I don't know if we need another, better online encyclopedia or not. I do know this shines a spotlight on the ultimate question of whether or not all of the Internet all of the time will remain forever an anonymous place. It seems to me it is getting a lot less anonymous fast. Is that a good thing? If there were a way to make it impossible for a person to be anonymous, spam would end. Online stalking would end. Alternatively, a lot of reasonable people with much to say as long as they don't have to identify themselves, would stop talking, listening, watching and learning too.

What do you think?

Meanwhile, in technology I learned a long time ago that pioneers often get shot in the back with arrows. Mr. Sanger has painted a bulls eye on Wikipedia. It isn't impossible he will succeed.

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