Wikia - creating communities

Founder interview

By Swannie (full credits), 31 July 2007

Swannie interviews WhiteBoy, a founder of Wookieepedia.

Swannie: Why did you decide to start Wookieepedia?

WhiteBoy: Well you can see the whole story at http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wookieepedia, but basically it boils down to Wikipedia was not willing to have all the detail that we wanted to have. We wanted to have more complete articles, and they wanted only the major characters. We wanted articles on minor characters, too.

Swannie: Did you and Riffsyphon1024 both create it? Or, who was the main founder?

WhiteBoy: We were discussing the issue together on Wikipedia. I decided to take action to see what could be done, initially, through Wikipedia. They came back with the suggestion of starting a wiki with Wikia (then WikiCities). Once that was all established, I told Riff what was going on and he came right over and we started working on it together. He had much more involvement in the Star Wars communities and started putting the word out. So if it hadn't been for his putting the word out there, it wouldn't have worked.

Swannie: What do you enjoy about being a founder?

WhiteBoy: Mostly just seeing how much it has grown, and how much people enjoy contributing. It brings quite a sense of accomplishment, even though it has been built by the users of Wookieepedia. ...not me.

Swannie: Has being a founder "changed you" and your perspective on things at all?

WhiteBoy: It's pretty humbling honestly. I ‘’used’’ to be just about the biggest Star Wars fan I knew. But meeting new people and see how much more they know about the Star Wars universe is quite impressive. Most of my efforts lately are spent more on the policy side of things, and trying to help make decisions in the Wookieepedia community.

Swannie: How many days per week do you contribute to Wookieepedia? (approximately)

WhiteBoy: Actually that last line probably fits as more of an answer to this question. I "check in" pretty much every day. My actual contributions have decreased because of changes in my life. Most of my efforts lately are spent more on the policy side of things, and trying to help make decisions in the Wookieepedia community.

Swannie: When did you join the Wikia community?

WhiteBoy: Back before it was Wikia! I started Wookieepedia on March 4, 2005.

Swannie: Who is your favorite Star Wars character?

WhiteBoy: I'm going to have to go with Obi-Wan Kenobi. No matter what, he seems to be the shining light. He pretty much always does what's right, even when it's difficult.

Swannie: What is your favorite part of contributing?

WhiteBoy: My favorited contributions are articles about the real people. It feels like a tribute to the artists/actors/whomever who have helped make Star Wars what it is.

Swannie: Does your username have anything to do with Star Wars?

WhiteBoy: No. It's a long-time online handle that I have used for many years.

Swannie: Do you have other favorite wikis? Have you founded any others?

WhiteBoy: I use the World of Warcraft wiki all the time and contribute to it when I can. I haven't founded any other public wikis, but have used the Wikimedia software for some private wikis at work and others.

Swannie: Is there anything else you would like to add for the interview?

WhiteBoy: Lemme just say that I've been very grateful for Wikia's support. They have hosted us for free from day one, and have supported us for anything that we want or need. They've been great! They have told me "it's your wiki" and they stand by that.

On behalf of The Daily Edit, I would like to thank WhiteBoy for the opportunity to interview. Thank you! ~Swannie

---

Swannie interviews Riffsyphon1024, the other founder of Wookieepedia.

Swannie: Why did you decide to start Wookieepedia?

Riffsyphon1024: I felt that Star Wars was a large enough subject to create a separate wiki on, considering other wikis such as Memory Alpha were already in existance. Wikipedia had a plethora of information on Star Wars but many items were forced into lists, such as the list of planets, the list of minor characters, and list of starships. Not being a fan of this squeezing effect, I stated my intent on the Star Wars talk page and eventually enough support was there. Around the same time, an user decided to get the smaller articles deleted, forcing Chad and I to make the decision final. In addition, I was also an avid user of Bob Vitas's Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia which inspired me to create an area to break the SW universe down and piece it back together but in a friendly wiki format. Wiki software on Wikia has far exceeded my original expectations for it.

Swannie: What do you like about being partners with WhiteBoy?

Riffsyphon1024: WhiteBoy, or Chad Barbry as is his real name, is a great co-founder in this venture. Where I enjoy adding and categorizing Star Wars continuity and elements of fandom, Chad was instrumental in the actual creation of the wiki, requesting its formation in early March of 2005. He also coined the brilliant name of "Wookieepedia", which was not in use for the first few months of the wiki, then known as "Star Wars Wiki".

Swannie: What do you enjoy about being a founder?

Riffsyphon1024: I feel that as a founder/co-founder I have gained a new level of responsibility. I constantly login and check on it when I'm not providing information or formatting. I voice my opinion in major votes and discussions regarding the wiki and policies. In months and now years past, I have been tediously building up the infrastructure of the wiki, although I can't say that I specialize at it. Categorization has been key in connecting the various weblines of the wiki, with a central category in the center.

Swannie: Has being a founder "changed you" or your perspective on things at all?

Riffsyphon1024: As a co-founder, I try to advertise about Wookieepedia as much as possible, and now after Celebration IV, I have a shirt that I can wear to advertise it. I answer any questions people interested might have for me and encourage them to sign up to the wiki.

Swannie: About how many days per week do you usually contribute to Wookieepedia?

Riffsyphon1024: Depends largely on season. In the summer, usually every day, and during months on campus a little less but I generally check it nightly. During vacations and other major trips, I become unavailable.

Swannie: When did you join Wikia?

Riffsyphon1024: I joined Wikia to sign up to start Wookieepedia on March 10, 2005, 6 days after Chad created the wiki on Wikicities, now Wikia. I was a member of Wikipedia two months before that.

Swannie: Who is your favorite Star Wars character and why?

Riffsyphon1024: This is probably the hardest question of all. Palpatine, because he was a kickass Sith Lord, a mastermind manipulator, and the largest individual article on Wookieepedia. :)

Swannie: What is your favorite part about contributing?

Riffsyphon1024: I enjoy contributing because I learn something new each time from the wiki and from the source. The universe becomes larger and larger with each article and thus more detailed. I tend to crave details. I have several subpages where I explore many different pieces of Star Wars from analyzing elements in canon to placing sectors based on information to mapping out the many users of Wookieepedia (granted that they have given a location). Also just the idea of Wookieepedia in itself is the most fascinating thing.

Swannie: Does your username have anything to do with Star Wars?

Riffsyphon1024: Unfortunately, or fortunately, no. I had this user name on Wikipedia beforehand and was something I made up as a heavy guitar player at the time. Riff is a piece of music. Syphon is a rewritten transliteration of "siphon", meaning to borrow. 1024 was my birthdate, and was added as one of those things to personalize it. I do go by other various SW names around the internet however, such as Darth Dorkus and Darth Realgar.

Swannie: Are there any other wikis that you really enjoy contributing to? Have you founded any others?

Riffsyphon1024: I founded the Back to the Future Wiki which is around 250 articles. Unfortunately there is not much help on it, only a few contributers come every few days or weeks. I would request for it to be added to the Wikia Spotlight, but it lacks the activeness that is needed for even that. Plus alot of the material for that wiki is very minute and specific. Major things were already covered on Wikipedia but there wasn't a place to truly specialize in Back to the Future things seen throughout the trilogy, as well as the animated series (which is just waiting to be explored), plus the novelizations and the short comic series. I hope to add all actors, other merchandise and fandom on there as well.

Swannie: Is there anything else you would like to tell the Wikia community?

Riffsyphon1024: First off, I would like to thank Wikia for donating money to go towards prizes for the Stump the Wookiee competition at Celebration IV. I thank Jimmy Wales, Angela, and all the people at Wikia that made Wookieepedia possible. Free accessible and editable content is a great way for anyone to research anything on the web now and the ability to link between articles and to other wikis presents a far easier alternative to HTML and other codes. Arriving at 50,000 articles is a great accomplishment for everyone on Wookieepedia and Wikia.

On behalf of The Daily Edit, I would like to thank Riffsyphon1024 for the opportunity to interview. Thank you! ~Swannie

Also this week: News and notes - In the news - Features and admins - Technology report - Founder interview - Featured Wikia Design - User on User