OpenThesaurus ist eine interaktive Website zur Pflege eines deutschsprachigen Synonymwörterbuchs. Man kann damit Wörter mit gleicher oder ähnlicher Bedeutung nachschlagen. Zum Beispiel liefert die Suche nach falsch unter anderem inkorrekt, unrichtig, verkehrt als Synonyme. Jeder kann bei OpenThesaurus mitmachen und Fehler korrigieren oder neue Synonyme einfügen. Die Suchfunktion zeigt alle Bedeutungen, in denen ein Wort vorkommt (z.B. roh -> roh, ungekocht und einen anderen Eintrag für roh, rau, grob, unsanft). Bei den einzelnen Bedeutungen lassen sich dann unpassende Wörter löschen und neue hinzufügen. Findet die Suche keine Treffer, wird ein Link angeboten, mit dem man das Wort zum Thesaurus hinzufügen kann.
Write or Die is a web application that encourages writing by punishing the tendency to avoid writing. Start typing in the box. As long as you keep typing, you're fine, but once you stop typing, you have a grace period of a certain number of seconds and then there are consequences.
Many people find themselves unable to write consistently. I believe that this is because their reason to write is intangible. For instance, I want to write and finish a book because I want to be published and make a living as a writer. That goal is a long way away so I often find it difficult to sit down to the task of writing.
Conversely, I'm in a creative writing class for which I manage to consistently write and finish projects (albeit at the last minute). I therefore draw the conclusion:
A tangible consequence is more effective than an intangible reward.
If I don't write stories for class, I will receive scorn from my teacher and a bad grade in the class. If I don't write my own stories I am only disappointing myself. I experience perpetual disappointment in myself so I'm kindof used to it. Add to that the fact that I simply have neither the self-discipline to write consistently on my own nor the capacity for self-deception that would enable me to create artificial deadlines. That is how Write or Die was born.
The idea is to instill in the would-be writer with a fear of not writing. We do this by employing principles taught in Introduction to Psychology. Anyone remember Operant Conditioning and Negative Reinforcement?