Wikis+vs.+Forums

Many people seek help for various tasks by going online. That's where the most information is, so that is where they go. With so many different sources of information out there these days, what is reliable? Particularly, what is more reliable, a wiki or a forum/message board?

According to Wikipedia, a [|Wiki] is a [|website] that allows the creation and editing of any number of [|interlinked] [|web pages] via a [|web browser] using a simplified [|markup language] or a [|WYSIWYG] text editor. [|[1]] [|[2]] [|[3]] Wikis are typically powered by [|wiki software] and are often [|used collaboratively] by multiple users, meaning anyone can edit or change any of the content. Examples include community websites, corporate [|intranets], [|knowledge management] systems, and note services. The software can also be used for personal [|notetaking].

Wikipedia defines an **Internet forum**, or **message board**, as an [|online] discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. [|[1]] They differ from [|chat rooms] in that messages are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes visible. Messages can only be edited by the author.

So when searching for help, your options are this: You can go to a wiki, where the instructions for what you are looking for can be [|updated by anyone in the community who chooses to], or you can go to a forum, [|where you ask a question and get many different answers from different people]. The wiki will aggregate all of the information for you, while you will have to scroll through every response on the message board to read all of the information.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_forum http://wikidways.blogspot.com