Wiki Patterns
grow your wiki
EditBully
What is it?
A bully is the opposite of a champion, and goes too far in pushing people to use the wiki. A good champion knows how to lead people in adopting the wiki, while a bully might get upset at someone for emailing rather than using the wiki.
How do I notice it?
If someone reacts really strongly when you use email or another communication method other than the wiki, you might have a bully on your hands. Also, a bully may overemphasize the wiki in group meetings, and chastise people for not using it.
How do I fix it?
Talk to the bully and help them to understand the fine line between being enthusiastic and bullying people. Some people don't realize they're bullying, and just need guidance on community etiquette.
Related Patterns
- Champion - A champion knows just how much to push the wiki, when to give people time to adjust, and how to gently advance its use without going too far.
- All wiki all the time - a bully might push people too hard to use the wiki for absolutely everything without giving them time to naturally get used to it and shift their habits.
Further Reading
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Adoption Patterns
Adoption Anti-Patterns
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The guidance above will help make it obvious to a observer or to bullied people that there is a bully. Perhaps a more important section might be:
How to recognize if you are a bully:
This seems to relate only to a wiki used, for example, in a work setting. I think this article needs to be broadened to reflect bullies in non work wikis too.
Thanks for this article. I just realized I'm in danger of becoming a bully. It's hard when you're putting in a lot of effort, but others don't seem to "get it" yet. I agree with James that a "How to recognize if you are a bully" section would be good.
but at least one should bear in mind that as a wiki champion, we are working with others, the keypoint of success of a wiki in teams, is to maxmize the buy-in from your team members! without this, even you build a perfect running wiki system, you still wont success! so,,, there are much more work to do, than just telling people how to use it... however, this is why it is fun to me
I'm in the process of building a wiki, under the monies from a Federal grant, to connect substance abuse treatment providers in our state. Bullying is a good caution, particularly b/c this state-sanctioned initiative is hoping to increase provider activity...which is "highly encouraged" by our management team. The other frustrating thing is making the wiki uber-user friendly...it's easier to "encourage" when userability is high.
Not a most comortable wiki. I can't find all topics here