[wp-docs] Ditching the Theme List

[lorelle at cameraontheroad.com]

1. The posting you referred to is from someone I find offensive and 
unhelpful in the forums and I avoid that person as much as possible.  The 
trouble, inaccuracies, and spiteful nature of the posts in general makes my 
blood boil, so I practice extreme patience and avoidance of this person.  I 
would also not pay attention to anything said by this person for those 
reasons.

2.  Volunteers, as you know, are working long hours to make sure that the 
information on the Codex is as accurate as possible.  Since we are all 
volunteers, things might not happen as fast as we'd like, but we are doing 
our best and I think that steps to ensure quality control are high.  And 
again, that person is speaking out of a hole where the sun don't shine as 
far as I'm concerned.

3.  The work of constantly including themes in the Codex is brutal, and I 
have been of the opinion that the thankless job of maintaining these is 
horrific as they continue to expand.  I think that the other sites that have 
cropped up are doing a fine job and the whole game of making the Codex the 
"official holder of the theme list" isn't what the Codex is about, but I'm 
not in charge, just offering an opinion.  The Codex, for me, is about 
documentation and resources and if someone else is having fun and keeping up 
a good list, then let them.  Or create a site dedicated to themes, as many 
have done, and make that one official.

4.  Of all the things WordPress does, theme building is the one area where 
there is no quality control.  While many take steps to ensure that their 
themes validate cross browsers and meet web standards and do only good 
things in them, they are up to the individual user and if WP starts getting 
into the practice of saying "this one is approved" and having it screw up 
later - where's the liability going to rest. These are use at your own risk 
things. I think they are brilliant, but if the Codex is to remain the 
official documentation, that word "official" carries a big stick.  Just 
something to consider.

5. James, and others who have worked hard on maintaining plugins and themes, 
a never ending job, you are appreciated.  Greatly.  I would hate to see your 
labors be stopped because of the careless words of a careless person.  No 
matter how hard your efforts have been, I'm glad you brought this up because 
the Codex shouldn't be all things to all people.  It is documentation, as 
far as I'm concerned, and information people can use, and if such lists are 
better maintained elsewhere with links to them from the Codex, I gots no 
problem with that.  And it isn't personal, it's just a matter of putting 
energies where they are best needed.  No matter what the decision by the 
majority or the powers that be, you and your work are sincerely appreciated. 
We just have to look at the big picture.

6.  There is a lot of stress in the WP inner world right now, some of it 
justified, some of it totally blown out of proportion, and I'm not liking 
the repercussions I see everywhere.  People are taking things personally and 
privately, making snap emotional decisions based upon little or no 
information and a lot of rumor and conjecture.  Calmness, folks.  Remember 
the reason you got involved in the first place and let the dust settled.  Do 
good work, contribute what energies you have and help others to continue on 
with your work - this should be the mission statement of everyone who gets 
involved with volunteer efforts, period.  Do this for the fun and ignore the 
mean-spirited idiots out there that don't understand the joy of 
contribution.

Hang in there, and let's make this a positive discussion because it's 
important to get it right and help everyone understand why.

My 2 cents.
Lorelle