Evolution operates economically. When the same outcome can be achieved with less effort, less energy, and in less time, the likelihood of survival increases. Similarly, entropy (as we discussed in our third post) constantly pushes systems toward decay, requiring energy to counteract this natural tendency. Memory follows the same principle—it’s hard to remember everything vividly, and over time, ideas and facts tend to fade.

Double standards

We want everything, and we want it now. Yet, when someone else wants what we have, we’re reluctant to share.
We crave community and social connection, but we often resent other people—and for many, socialism remains a taboo.
We demand jobs, but protest when “outsiders” take them. And when offered the same jobs, we dismiss them as beneath us.
We want to be remembered, not for starting revolutions, but for creating memes while scrolling on the toilet.

And since there will always be others to do what’s needed, we’ll happily take credit for their labor.

We know poets deserve invitations to festivals (and we’re here to support you with that!), but who does the work to make these events happen?

This post, like much of what we’ll do, is dedicated to the people who make things possible:

• Those who work hard.
• Those who don’t seek the spotlight but give their all so others can shine

Once upon a time…

Do you know the internet?
The very medium that allows us to connect with you today was born free. Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, its first site, server, and browser, because everyone needed it. He made it free because everyone deserved it.

But what did the owners of social media turn it into? This is why Berners-Lee also founded the Decentralized Information Group at MIT: to preserve the internet as a free and accessible space.

These are historical facts—verified and preserved thanks to those who witnessed and recorded them.

Four years after the WWW came to life, Ward Cunningham created what he called “the simplest online database,” where everyone could contribute to shared knowledge. He called it Wiki (“quick” in Hawaiian).

Wiki- is more than -pedia

Wikipedia is the most-known wiki, but it’s far from being the only one. The Wikimedia Foundation manages over 15 massive wikis, covering topics from news to books to places (yes, even free travel guides!). Beyond Wikimedia, countless “private” wikis help people master video games or delve into fictional universes like Klingon culture.

So why not create a dedicated knowledge repository for poetry?

At SLAM IN, we’re introducing a Wiki Section, where every creator-member can contribute by creating or editing pages, enriching shared knowledge with their unique testimony. Poetry is vast and complex, and defining it fully on a wiki page will be a challenge. But attempting this is a critical first step: a small step for one person, but a giant leap for the community.

Our own wiki, with black jack and…

Double standards may be inevitable, but in this case, it’s about respect and freedom. While Wikipedia aims to compile all human knowledge, the Wikimedia Foundation also supports the MediaWiki software—offered for free—so anyone can host their own archive.

We’re using MediaWiki to create a space for:

• University theses on poetry and slam poetry.
• Historical records of collectives, events, and performances.
• PDFs, images, and discussions about the best ways to pass on knowledge to future generations.

Our goal is to build the ultimate cultural resource: the definitive go-to hub for everything related to poetry, poetry slams, the history of the craft, and its communities worldwide.

We know the workload will be monumental. Managing it responsibly and ensuring fairness, inclusivity, and quality is vital. We rely on you—our community—to help us maintain these standards and make this project a success.

If you’re interested in contributing to this or any other SLAM IN feature, reach out through the comments or email us directly.

The phrase “History is written by the victors” has a long, long history, but the wiki philosophy challenges that idea. Together, we can honor this spirit by writing history ourselves—documenting the events and milestones we experience, always with a fair and welcoming attitude.

Published: Gen 15 – 2025