The Cluster's Decay

A page about the decay of the Trolla cluster's content.

The decay

Pages decay over time. When a page is written, it is fresh — every claim is current. As time passes, the claims become outdated. The page decays.

The decay's mechanism

Decay happens because the world changes. Facts that were true when the page was written may no longer be true. Links that worked may now point to deleted pages. The decay is the process by which a page becomes less accurate.

The decay's counter

The decay can be counteracted by editing. An edit that corrects outdated information reduces the decay. An edit that adds new context reduces the decay. The rate of decay minus the rate of correction is the net decay.

The decay's evidence

The decay is visible in the verified date of pages. A page with a verified date that is far in the past has not been checked recently — it has decayed. A page with a recent verified date is fresh — it has been corrected.

This decay

This page is decaying even as it is written. By the time the reader finishes, some of the facts may be slightly less accurate. The decay is inevitable.