SamIzdat
SamIzdat is a Russian expression derived from сам (self) and издат (publishes). Samizdatyeli are self publishers. DIY publishing has been known in the west by a number of monickers, including micropress, alternative media, 'zines and the like. The present author likes calling it SamIzdat because its Soviet roots conjure up thoughts of explicit defiance of authority, and expresses her pet bias that business domination of the means of communication creates as much need as does political repression for an "end run" around the system.
Many of us had high hopes for SamIzdat during the Internet's age of innocence. Usenet had developed into a subculture that frowned on both censorship and spam. But we all know the First Principle of ConsumerEducation...If it seems to good to be true...
The present author currently views the emerging subcultures of wiki with some heartfelt optimism. May it live long and prosper.