Hi Anders, Your perspective is very different from mine or from any I've heard, and I'd like to understand it better:
On Sat, Jan 9, 2016 at 3:12 AM, Anders Wennersten <[email protected]> wrote: > I also think it would be good to remember that WMF transformation from > the "Superprotect disaster" I do not see the transition you suggest. As I understand it, we are still very much in the "Superprotect disaster" era -- one which began under the same Executive Director we have today and, I believe, four of the present Trustees. None has publicly acknowledged the existence of the letter signed by 1,000 people,[1] nor addressed the (IMO more important) second of the letter's two requests. These sentiments reflect the more-or-less-unanimous (depending how you interpret the comments) perspectives of those responding to an informal poll I requested,[2] which was presented in a November 2015 op-ed I published in the English Wikipedia Signpost.[3] Since the poll is informal, it is in no way "closed" -- if you have a different perspective, Anders (or for any who agree, for that matter), I would appreciate any additions to that page. to a very much appreciated 2015 Community Wishlist Survey. I am aware of the existence of the Community Wishlist Survey, and I appreciate that it reflects a desire to move forward, which is a good thing; but I would stop well short of "very much appreciated," for two reasons: (a) In the absence of a clear assertion from the WMF about the role of local projects (along the lines of what was requested in the letter), I am personally reluctant to engage in WMF-directed engagement processes (on the principle "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.") I prefer to put my time into efforts where I have confidence that I will have appropriate influence. (b) The name "Community Wishlist Survey" continues a misguided notion that has been prevalent at WMF for many years: Namely, that "the community" is a constituency among others, which should be appeased. My experience of people in "the community" is utterly different: many volunteers are just as concerned about the future of Wikipedia, and issues like demographic biases, the needs of readers, etc. as WMF personnel. These things are in fact what *drive* us to volunteer to begin with. But according to the artificial distinction of "community" as a stakeholder group distinct from "reader" that is prevalent at the WMF, it is a truism that "community interests" are something other from "reader interests." That truism is in fact false. I would rather see a "Wishlist Survey" (another name for which could be "Open Strategic Planning Process"), than a *community-specific* wishlist survey. But this year, unlike the five year plan created in 2010, we have no such thing. To go from an "inside-out" to an "outside-in" model in deciding what > functionality to develop is a revolution. The trend in recent years, in my view, has been in the opposite direction. > And even if we as users all applaud this change, we should also respect it > can be felt tough to adjust to if you are "inside" > It is my view that many who are "inside" -- staff at the WMF -- have been pushing hard to have the kind of "revolution" you seem to think has already happened. Given the number of staff who have lost their jobs, I believe they are doing so at their own peril, which makes that work all the more admirable. I wish I could name names here, as there has been excellent work done within the walls of WMF by a large number of people; but I expect that in the present environment, they would prefer *not* to be named and acknowledged. > I give Lila 100% credit for this change and thank the Board for supporting > this change (and also to have recruited Lila with this as main purpose) > I would have to give this final point a big "citation needed" tag. -Pete [[User:Peteforsyth]] > [1] > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Letter_to_Wikimedia_Foundation:_Superprotect_and_Media_Viewer > [2] > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Letter_to_Wikimedia_Foundation:_Superprotect_and_Media_Viewer#November_2015_poll:_Has_the_letter_achieved_its_goal.3F > [3] > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2015-11-11/Op-ed > _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe>
