https://wiki.soylentnews.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Threering 2026-05-16T22:04:22Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.41.4 https://wiki.soylentnews.org/index.php?title=FAQ&diff=3814 2014-02-10T03:26:57Z

<p>Threering: Changed &quot;forums.AltSlashdot.org&quot; to &quot;forums.SoylentNews.org&quot;. Fixed a couple of spelling mistakes.</p> <hr /> <div>=Frequently Asked Questions=<br /> <br /> ===What is this site about===<br /> <br /> This is a news site alternative to Slashdot. It runs an interface much like Slashdot ''used'' to be<br /> - better articles, less decoration and less &quot;in your face&quot; functionality.<br /> <br /> ===Who owns this site===<br /> <br /> The site is owned and run by John Barrabas John (at) AltSlashdot (dot) org.<br /> <br /> This may change in a month or so when we choose a business model.<br /> <br /> ===What if Dice decides to revert to Classic Slashdot?===<br /> <br /> The general feeling is that the quality of articles on Slashdot has<br /> become poor. We think we can do a better job, so the project will continue regardless of what<br /> Dice does with Slashdot.<br /> <br /> ===How can I volunteer?===<br /> <br /> Volunteering is done via the group forums: you join a group to contribute via a forum.<br /> <br /> * Register a user at forums.soylentnews.org<br /> * Go to your user panel (UL corner of page) and then &quot;Groups&quot; tab<br /> * Add yourself to interesting groups<br /> <br /> <br /> For almost all facets of the site, contributions are made by community consent: If you can convince the community in your forum group, we'll do it. You don't need permission of the owner.<br /> <br /> The owner controls certain narrow aspects of the site such as domain registration, money, <br /> legal, and such. This may change when we choose a business model.<br /> <br /> ===Will the code be released open source?===<br /> <br /> Yes.<br /> <br /> ===Will the database be released open source?===<br /> <br /> Yes, providing there are no legal issues or other &quot;gotchas&quot;.<br /> <br /> On the subject of making things open source, someone suggested that the database be <br /> separated via API from the presentation. People could then write other interfaces and presentation methods that show the data in various ways. It would also allow program access <br /> to the data for things such as searching and other uses.<br /> <br /> I think this is an excellent idea. Barring any insurmountable issues, I'll try to make<br /> that happen during the rewrite.<br /> <br /> ===Will you be taking articles/content from Slashdot?===<br /> <br /> No.<br /> <br /> I don't consider it fair. Slashdot put a lot of effort into building their brand and<br /> community. If we are to succeed, we need to do it on our own merits.<br /> <br /> I'm deciding this as benevolent dictator. Regardless of community sentiment, we won't be<br /> poaching from Slashdot.<br /> <br /> ===Doesn't AltSlashdot infringe on Slashdot's trademark?===<br /> <br /> Opinion on this is mixed, but it doesn't matter.<br /> <br /> We will be choosing a new name by community consensus ''real soon'' after the initial rollout,<br /> probably in the first week.<br /> <br /> ===I've got this great idea for a new name===<br /> ===I own the domain for a new name - want it?===<br /> <br /> The general feeling is that names with &quot;slash&quot;, &quot;dot&quot;, or otherwise based on a pun of Slashdot<br /> would present similar problems.<br /> <br /> We need a name which is completely lateral, something that's ours and ours alone.<br /> <br /> We will be choosing a new name by community consensus ''real soon'' after the initial rollout,<br /> probably in the first week.<br /> <br /> (And some of the suggestions were brilliant. I'm particularly fond of &quot;NewSlash&quot;. Sadly, we can<br /> use none of them.)</div>

Threering