As to the "natural monopoly" question, well, there is this resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monopoly
There are some markets where network effects and very high entry costs, such as building infrastructure, make it very difficult for competitors to arise. Regarding Wikipedia, the financial costs may not be prohibitive, but the social capital necessary to create a serious rival may be (just ask Larry Sanger). And the network effect should be fairly plain; Wikipedia is the place to be. (And I do not underestimate Google here.) I do think alternative wiki projects that seek to fill "gaps" created by Wikipedia's choice not to include some types of information stand the best chance of success -- going head-to-head with this entrenched incumbent is foolhardy, unless the Wikipedia community falls apart and the site falls into total disrepair -- even then I think there is so much value here already that it's far more likely Wikipedia would be resuscitated, than any rival wiki encyclopedia taking the lead. On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 7:58 PM, David Gerard <[email protected]> wrote: > On 30 August 2010 00:36, Ray Saintonge <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Mathematics is an a atypical subject area. Even those who are most > > prolific in their output of wrong opinions will admit that they are > > clueless when it comes to mathematics. > > > How's the crank problem in mathematics on WP? > > > - d. > > _______________________________________________ > WikiEN-l mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l > _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
