Are you proposing a single wiki node for all OT discussions?

Well kinda. But without ever having used a PM wiki and so without any understanding of their implementation, and hence, their limitations.

My thoughts were of something along the lines of the Front Page. Ie.

• Only root topics shown on the initial page.

  Actually, just root topic titles would impose least strain.

• Topics shown in reverse chronological order.

  Ie. Newest first.

• Only a set number of topics listed. With a more... link to see any others that still persist.

  Or better (if it's not too hard), only the last 3 days or 2 or just 24 hours.

• Once a topic fails to receive any further responses, after an initial, minimal period (say 7? days, it simply evaporates.

• An enforced limit on a) the lifetime of a topic; b) the size of each individual topic.

  These set at (say) 30 days and 64k, just to prevent things from running away and taking on a life of their own.

That's about as far as my thought processes went. A single node that provides access to recent activity without imposing high load. Each topic and responses a single, unstructured lump of text editable by any monk. (Or maybe any monk above some preset level of participation?)

Essentially, a CB-like place without the 255-char post limit and no 'constant polling by every user'; and a somewhat extended visibility time. No long term persistance. No searchability. No XP. No consideration. No janitoring. No RSS or XML or Printable views.

How about if we could make scratchpad-like wikis, or rather, wiki-like scratchpads: owned by a specific user ...

I don't think that would serve the purpose.

The great thing about PM relative to blogs, is that each individual monk only need come to one place, rather than trawling a bunch of places that may or may not have something new, that may or may not be of interest.

The reasons for wanting to move OT out of the general discussion places are:

1. Short lived discussions about (say) radiation or the name of some German government organisation add nothing to the long term Perl knowledge base, so there is no reason for them to persist here. And long term impact of the DB is minimised.
2. Only those monks who wish to participate in OT discussions need ever look into the section place reserved for it.

   Even slightly off-topic discourse is enough to upset some monks; never mind extended discussion.

3. Having a single place where those monks comfortable with taking part in OT discourse.

   That way, the widest possible audience is canvased, commensurate with their wish to take part, without extraordinary effort of trawling dozens of places.

4. Removal of the OT section from the XP system ensures that we don't get extended discussions on the merits of Adidas over Nike trainers for the sole purpose of boosting a monks standing.