PovPattern

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People in online communities do not always agree, even if the goal is DocumentMode and consensus. There are many ways to handle different worldviews. It is useful to have a clear view of that and put it into the community MissionStatement. Otherwise additional conflicts are hard to avoid.

PATTERN FORM (WikiPatternLanguage)

Pattern Name: PovPattern
Context: people in wiki communities having different worldviews collaborate to create common wiki content
Problem: contributors want to put their "point of view" in proper perspective, which may create conflicts (heated discussions, ForestFire, EditWar)
Solution: depending on the community topic and the target group select a proper PovPattern as a framework for conflict resolution. So users know whether they have to accept given views, or work towards a consensus or e. g. towards side-by-side presentations of differing views. So at least the structure of the result is clear. There is some safety users can rely on.
Examples: GPOV (given point of view, e. g. expected in religious communities), FPOV (factual point of view, e. g. TolkienWiki), NPOV (NeutralPointOfView, e. g. WikiPedia), CPOV (consensual point of view, e. g. WardsWiki), MPOV (multiple point of view, e. g. MeatballWiki), APOV (any point of view, e. g. anarchical and pure brainstorming systems)
Notes: A community may use different POV-pattern in different areas. E. g. the community may be MPOV with respect to its topic but GPOV with respect to its constitutional settings. -- Don't be quick to select MPOV as the superior (democratic) PovPattern. There are always views that you won't be able to accept, MPOV is not APOV. MPOV usually doesn't make life easier, but it allows to make communities more open (society-like). -- Note that there is no personal right to have a view accepted as permanent content by an arbitrary online community.
See also: ForestFire, EditWar, AgreeToDisagree, NeutralPointOfView, MultiplePointOfView, GivenPointOfView?, FactualPointOfView?, ConsensualPointOfView?, FairProcess

END OF PATTERN FORM

CategoryWikiPatternLanguage

PovPattern

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