[Foundation-l] Transparency

[Birgitte SB]

There is an interesting flavor to some recent posts
that I think derserves to be highlighted.  Some
comments from other threads below:

---
On Jan 9, 2008 5:52 AM, Gregory Maxwell <gmaxwell at
gmail.com> wrote:

In addition to being financially supported by the
public, Wikimedia is
able to exist only through the generous contribution
of time by tens
of thousands of people all over the world.

So, yes, communication is expensive but you are the
glass maker
complaining about the cost of sand.  It's a cost of
doing business.
---
On Jan 9, 2008 12:57 AM, Erik Moeller <erik at
wikimedia.org> wrote:


I'm in favor of first promoting transparency through
promoting more
actual volunteer participation, and secondly, through
more systematic
& regular reporting. 
---
Ramir (from ru.WB) writes:

This is comical. An appointed representative (i. e.
you) of a
corporation (i. e. Wikimedia) is tactlessly suggesting
that I (a
long-proven, devoted Wiki-education enthusiast with no
interest for or
against the corporation) am biased. A mongrel mob of
clueless,
faceless, foreign-speaking door-to-door salesmen have
knocked on
Russian Wikibooks' door and, without ceremony, are
accusing the
housekeeper of being "biased" against their T-shirt
manufacturing
company. Just you all get out of here, pests. Go do
some wiki work:
moving and deleting, putting templates, voting ¯ you
are much better
at that than at marketing or any other form of
socially constructive
work.
---

I want to highlight this:

Greg is telling "foundation" people that they need to
be transparent with "wiki" people no matter how
expensive because "wiki" is the means of the
"foundation".  Erik replies that his first method of
promoting transparency to these people is to promote
more of them to volunteer in these issues rather than
just comment. Meanwhile, in the ru.WB thread,  a
"wiki" person explains why he finds "foundation"
people to be pesky salesman that would do better to
spend their time on wiki work.

I respect the work done for the foundation and I know
the volunteer work done for the foundation is
invaluable.  However this is not the only "actual
volunteer participation" going on in Wikimedia.  I do
not want to see votes for hiring an accountant.  Ever.
 But the ongoing lack of transparency from the
foundation is causing a fracture between people who
are in the loop and people who are working the wikis. 
We need to all be on the same team, if you will excuse
my American sports metaphor :)  Not disrespecting each
others work as unimportant or undeserving.

I am much less plugged in than Greg.  I can't see
*exactly* what his concerns are, but I feel the
deterioration in communication.  And I am concerned as
well.


Birgitte SB


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