GreatChallengesToWikis are things that influence the path a wiki takes in the WikiLifeCycle, either causing a divergent path to be taken or advancing/reversing progress through various stages.

Though I haven't been there at the very beginning of WardsWiki, I've been a Wikizen for quite a while now and it's been interesting to see the trials that WardsWiki has faced. I was going to call this TheGreatTrialsOfTheWiki but I'm not in a story-telling mood right now...

Content problems:

• OverwhelmingTopic
• ThreadMess
• WikiChaosAndOrder
• TopicCompetition
• SeparationOfPositions. After a SeedPosting, the community begins with a collaborative BarnRaising spirit, where most text is anonymous. Slowly the discussions become ThreadMode, with more and more signed contributions. Eventually, everything written is ThreadMess. The community devolves to an all-consuming ForestFire. The community splits; some may StartAgain.
• ExcessBaggage

Community problems

• WikiMindWipe
• WikiEmigration
• PeopleWithTooMuchTime
• OnePersonAgainstTheMountain
• TargetReached / PurposelessWiki
• NoRespectForHistory
• CrossingTheTippingPoint
• Trolling (WhatIsaTroll)

Leadership problems

• AbsentLeader
• GodKing
• ReveredLeader

Technical problems

• WikiSpam
• InformationOverload
• HumaneInterface (e.g. WysiwygWiki)
• SlashdotEffect (see SlashDotted for ZwikiClone's story)

Possibles

• Wiki:PleasePleaseDontCategorizeEveryPageOnWiki (not the same as OnePersonAgainstTheMountain)
• Grendel and other monsters ... see:
  • Wiki:DeclineOfCivility, aka PeopleWithTooMuchTime
  • GodfreyVsDemonInternet
• Wiki:OpenDirFaq and other mass immigrations/swarms of locusts [dead link. Please explain or delete]
• WikiForDebate
• WikiMarkupStandard
• Add stuff here

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