Yesterday when I was working on my wikitravel page for the Mohawk Trail, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that "my talk" had a red circle blinking next to it. I wasn't quite sure what it was, and flashing red when you're editing never really makes you feel to good, so i decided to check it out. When I clicked on it I found this message:
"Hey Jon, Welcome to Wikitravel.
To help get you started contributing, we've created a tips for new contributors page, full of helpful links about policies and guidelines and style, as well as some important information on copyleft and basic stuff like how to edit a page. If you need help, check out Wikitravel:Help, or post a message in the travellers' pub.
I really like the itinerary you have been working on, and I hope you keep filling it out! I noticed, though, that much of the content comes from what appears pretty clearly to be your blog [1]. Just so there is no confusion over authorship, you may want to make a note of this at Talk:The Mohawk Trail. Keep up the good work! --Peter Talk 16:50, 9 March 2010"
When I read this, it kind of gave me a little bit of a feeling of an accomplishment. I stated working on the page only as a project for class, but knowing that people are actually looking at what I am posting and that it's live on the web, it really gave me some encouragement to keep working on this page even after the project. Having someone just drop me a message simply to recognize me work, compliment it, and offer me some suggestions is really, to me, what made this project worth while. And I think that was the whole point of this project. To throw us into and let us experiences something exactly like that...an information ecology you may say lol
Drafting for Wikkitravel
- {{itinerary}}
- '''The Mohawk Trail''' began as a Native American migratory game path. Today it is officially known as '''Massachusetts Route 2''', and it extends from [[Boston, Massachusetts]] to [[Buffalo, New York]].
- ==Understand==
- Like many roads in [[New England]], the trail got its start as a migratory game path originating somewhere west of the Taconic Mountains (in what's now [[New York]] state) and meandered eastward through what would eventually become [[Massachusetts]]. Native Americans, primarily the Mohawks in the west and the Pocumtucks in the [[Connecticut River Valley]] to the east, used the trail in their migrations and had long-established treaties regarding hunting and fishing rights along its length. Unfortunately, the arrival of the white man stirred trouble. Sensing that political unrest between the tribes would further their own ends, the English, located in Pocumtuck territory, and the Dutch, who were making inroads into Mohawk lands in the lower [[Hudson River Valley]], began to manipulate one tribe against the other. Eventually a full-scale war broke out, with the Mohawks ultimately gaining the upper hand. Since no one ever names anything after the losers, the path eventually became known as the ''' "Mohawk Trail." '''
- With the end of the Indian Wars and the American Revolution, the old trail was gradually rerouted and widened to accommodate wagon traffic between the city of [[Boston]] and the interior towns, particularly [[North Adams]].
- By the early part of the 20th century people began to appreciate just how beautiful the region encompassing the trail was, so in October of 1914 the [[Massachusetts]] State Legislature declared the '''Mohawk Trail''' a scenic tourist route.
- ==Prepare==
- The '''Mohawk Trail''' has become a popular motorcycle trail. If you are planning on taking a motorcycle, remember to bring a helmet because there is a helmet law in various states.
- ==Get in==
- The modern '''Mohawk Trail, officially [[Massachusetts]] Route 2, runs from [[Boston, Massachusetts]], to [[Buffalo, New York]], which makes it easily accessible from almost any direction.
- If you're coming from the Greater [[New York City]]/[[New Jersey]] or [[Pennsylvania]] area, pick up 684 North and follow it until you hit the Route 22 intersection. Take a right on Haviland Hollow Road to Route 37 in the town of [[New Fairfield, Connecticut]], and from there take Route 39 North. Follow 39 to 55 East and about 2 miles later you'll pick up Route 7 North.Over the line in [[Great Barrington, Massachusetts]], Route 7 turns into Main Street, U.S.A. Farther up the road you'll come to the town of Adams, Massachusetts. When you do, start looking for the signs to Mount Greylock. The turnoff at Rockwell Road comes up quickly, but if you miss it you can turn around in the tourist information parking lot. Coming down Greylock you'll follow the Notch road to Route 2.
- ==Go/Walk/Drive/...==
- ==Stay safe==
- ==Get out==
- {{outline}}
Wikkitravel Manual of Style: 3 Helpful Tips
1. One very helpful resource from the Manual of Style is the "where you can stick it" section. I think that this is a helpful resource because it gives you an alphabetical list of different kinds of information that people may have, and it explains what section of a page or article that it belongs in. I can see that sometimes it may be difficult to figure out exactly where to put a particular piece of information that you want to add, and if you were to look at this section, than you can find it, and add it. For example, if I wanted to add a new dance club that opened in Providence to the its city page, I might think to put it in the "do" section, but if I were to look at the "where to stick it section," I can scroll down to "d", find "dance club," and it tells me where I should add it: "dance club - the Drink section of the City page."
2. Another helpful tip comes from the "article templates" page under "How to use templates." This section explains that there are two ways that you can use templates:
3.Another useful tip is to make sure that all "Section headers" are identical to the ones in the "article templates." For example: don't use Restaurants use Eat, and don't use Introduction but Understand. Again, this helps to keep all pages the same, and it gives the site a uniformed look. It is also helpful to make Wikkitravel unique.
Although the Manual of Style tells you how to do things and why they should be done a certain way, they also make it a point to say that if you make a mistake or are unsure, just "plunge forward" and add the information and somebody else will come along and edit it to make sure that it fits with the style rules of Wikkitravel.
2. Another helpful tip comes from the "article templates" page under "How to use templates." This section explains that there are two ways that you can use templates:
- You can use them to create a new article, by simply finding the Wikki markup for the type of article you wish to create, copying and pasting the markup, and then just adding your information appropriately. But if you do this, the page explains that it is important to remove italicized text (the instructions) because this makes it easier for other people to edit the article.
- You can use them to edit existing articles by referring to the appropriate template of the article that you wish to add to, and you can see how things are preferred to be organized.
3.Another useful tip is to make sure that all "Section headers" are identical to the ones in the "article templates." For example: don't use Restaurants use Eat, and don't use Introduction but Understand. Again, this helps to keep all pages the same, and it gives the site a uniformed look. It is also helpful to make Wikkitravel unique.
Although the Manual of Style tells you how to do things and why they should be done a certain way, they also make it a point to say that if you make a mistake or are unsure, just "plunge forward" and add the information and somebody else will come along and edit it to make sure that it fits with the style rules of Wikkitravel.
Possibilities for Wikkitravel
1. My first preference would be to add a page for the Mohawk Trail. There are a few different articles that briefly mention the Mohawk Trail as a travel route only, but that is not what I would like to explore and write about. I want to add a page about what the Mohawk Trail truly is: the best motorcycle ride in the northeast. I will write about the best parts to travel, the different states it runs through, the highlights of the run, places you can stop, and things you can see while your on it. I think the best way for me to go about this would be to add a new Itinerary to North America, because the only one that exists as of now is the Alaska Highway.
2. My second preference would be to add to the already existing page for Cranston, RI. There are a few basic things about Cranston, but some of the better parts of the city are missing. As a local to the city and growing up around it, I think I can add some important details and fun things to do within the city. I would like to add to the "see" and "eat" sections, and I would also like to update the "buy" and "do" sections because they are a little outdated.
3. My third preference would be to add an itinerary for the Kancamagus Highway. There are brief mentionings, again, only as a route to get somewhere, but I think it deserves to have it's own itinerary because there are a lot of things to see, stop in, stay, and do.
2. My second preference would be to add to the already existing page for Cranston, RI. There are a few basic things about Cranston, but some of the better parts of the city are missing. As a local to the city and growing up around it, I think I can add some important details and fun things to do within the city. I would like to add to the "see" and "eat" sections, and I would also like to update the "buy" and "do" sections because they are a little outdated.
3. My third preference would be to add an itinerary for the Kancamagus Highway. There are brief mentionings, again, only as a route to get somewhere, but I think it deserves to have it's own itinerary because there are a lot of things to see, stop in, stay, and do.
beginning Wikki Travel
I have to say, by browsing those few links and stumbling through different things in Wikitravel, again I learned more than I anticipated. Similiar to my lack of knowledge on blogging before the first project, I have heard of Wikkitravel and similar sites, but I just kind of wrote it off and never really looked into it. Now I actually know a pretty good background on it. I like how the site is described as a community, where everybody has the same rights to post or edit anything...well that is except the administrators. But reading about the administrator and different policy sections also gave me some insight. I liked reading the section on "edit wars," and I always wondered what would happen if people continuously overwrote each other's comments. Now I know that they can put users into a cool down period and protect the page for a period of time so it cannot be edited. I'm also glad that the site clarifies that Wikkitravel is not to be used as a personal journal and I enjoyed reading about the tips for new users about what style exactly is permitted. I found that respect is key, and althought the goal is a professional environment, you are encouraged to write with personality...so long as it's not out right slang, swearing, or sarcasm. Although sarcasm isn't really suggested, I'm glad that the site encourages humor, as long as touchy subjects such as politics, locals, government, etc. are approached with caution. My favorite resource for Wikkitravel by far though has to be the, "no advise from 'Captain Obvious' " page. Sometimes people can get carried away with painstaking detail about every statement, but this page promotes concise, honest, and lively posts. I'm also glad that I read the part about speaking to the reader by using "you" but never to use "I" "we" "our" or "my" because it's a community of people posting, commenting, and editing...not just one individual. That being said, I'm interested in "plunging forward" like the site encourages, but I'm just not too sure exactly what I am going to be writing about. I'm a Rhody. Always been a Rhody. And never really traveled much. I guess I'm going to need to give some serious thought as to what exactly I'm going to provide some input on.
"We All Sweat the Small Stuff:" Why you should follow it!
The goal of "We All Sweat the Small Stuff" is to attract a unique kind of audience. An audience that shares a common passion of ranting and raving about all of the little things in life that simply piss us off. A group of people that are far from politically correct, enjoy crude humor, are commonly referred to as an asshole, couldn't care less what others think about them, and just simply can't believe some of the stupid shit that some people in this world believe, do, and let fall out of their mouths.
So why should you listen to what I have to say?
Well, if your a sensitive person with a warm heart that loves nothing more than helping other people and providing moral support...than stop reading right now, exit from my page, and have fun living in your little fairy tale world.
Still reading? Congratulations!...you're not a little bitch. And you most likely can't stand any of the people that would actually exit this page. You understand that the real world sucks. You know that life's a bitch, we're all stuck being married to her, and we are forced to deal with allllll of the bullshit that she throws our way. Am I right? Am I close? Are you thinking to yourself right now "wow this guy's a real jerk"?
Whether you answered "yes" to those questions, or just read right over them like they didn't exist (which is honestly what I would do because I hate rhetorical questions like that)...regardless, you're still reading.
And THAT is why you should listen to me.
So why should you listen to what I have to say?
Well, if your a sensitive person with a warm heart that loves nothing more than helping other people and providing moral support...than stop reading right now, exit from my page, and have fun living in your little fairy tale world.
Still reading? Congratulations!...you're not a little bitch. And you most likely can't stand any of the people that would actually exit this page. You understand that the real world sucks. You know that life's a bitch, we're all stuck being married to her, and we are forced to deal with allllll of the bullshit that she throws our way. Am I right? Am I close? Are you thinking to yourself right now "wow this guy's a real jerk"?
Whether you answered "yes" to those questions, or just read right over them like they didn't exist (which is honestly what I would do because I hate rhetorical questions like that)...regardless, you're still reading.
And THAT is why you should listen to me.
In Class Enthusiast Blog Brainstorm
Topic: My blog will be about all of the little things during our day that never seize to piss us off. From genuine acts of kindness that come back to bite you in the ass to all of the things that make you ask: What the hell was that person thinking?
Audience: There are always times when you are driving in your car, walking down the street, or overhearing a conversation that leaves you mumbling comments under your breath or thinking something in your head. This blog will provide a place to actually make public what you've been thinking for all those years. I want to attract an audience that isn't afraid to say what's on their mind.
Personality: The style that I'm aiming for in this blog will combine blunt honesty, sarcastic responses, and crude humor. I think this style will work best for the type of audience that this blog is designed to reach. Seeing as this is the style, I need an outspoken sort of design with a vibrant style.
Potential Title: We All Sweat The Small Stuff
Audience: There are always times when you are driving in your car, walking down the street, or overhearing a conversation that leaves you mumbling comments under your breath or thinking something in your head. This blog will provide a place to actually make public what you've been thinking for all those years. I want to attract an audience that isn't afraid to say what's on their mind.
Personality: The style that I'm aiming for in this blog will combine blunt honesty, sarcastic responses, and crude humor. I think this style will work best for the type of audience that this blog is designed to reach. Seeing as this is the style, I need an outspoken sort of design with a vibrant style.
Potential Title: We All Sweat The Small Stuff
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