What happens when wikis start to become for-profit? Do we lose some of the basic integrity of a communal ventures? Do people then start adding wiki entries that are geared toward commerce?

I first read about this new wiki venture in the Kairosnews.

Tomorrow’s New York Times runs a piece by Robert Levine about the commericalization of wikis. Quick, jump over that sleeping dog, all you long-time Hawaiian internet users. Recognize the type of argument, keyed to the loss of all things fox-like. Recall when, ca. 1994 (seems eons ago), those Arizona immigration lawyers invented spam (or should that be treet?)? So, it would appear, go the wikis, and Jimbo with ‘em.

The NYT’s article reports

Mr. Herrick is hardly the only entrepreneur inspired by the efficiency and low cost of what has become known as the wiki model. Although Wikipedia is operated by a nonprofit foundation, ideas for advertising-based wiki sites are beginning to take their place alongside blogs and social networking sites as a staple of Silicon Valley business plans.

What worries me is that, like for-profit blogs, these take away from the ideal of social networking. They remove the inspiration and altruism.