FAQ

From Commontary

This is the most common question we get about Commontary. People are rightly concerned that because it's open-source (ie, anyone can contribute content), that therefore weird, cultish, dangerous nutjobs can and will sabotage the site.

In response to this valid concern, we like to quote Stephen Colbert: "Wikis don't work in theory--only in practice."

Or to put it another way, why, after 2.9 million entries in English alone, has Wikipedia not been taken over by the hackers and the hacks?

How do they police the site so that 99% of randomly inserted profanity is cleaned up within 24 hours, usually instantly?

Yes, we know all the info there isn’t reliable. Realistically, we know the same will likely be true for Commontary. But when was the last time you cracked Encylopedia Brittannica? Is there a better starting point for learning about any given subject on the planet?

Commontary won’t get taken over by the hackers and the hacks because open-source communities self-edit. They police themselves. People who are invested in the material want it to be truthful and good.

When the Commontary community reaches critical mass, the community will quickly and regularly clean up wacko theology. Anyone who contributes content can click a little box that says "Watch this page" and receives an email every time it's modified. That's how people stay on top of changes. If enough people monitor the site, eventually it becomes a disincentive for vandalizers to do their thing.

We do have a login, and will ban any troublesome users.

The best way to answer this question if for YOU to join Commontary today, and become one of the many people contributing, editing, and monitoring the site!