[Foundation-l] Dispute resolution mailing list

[Cary Bass]

Cary Bass
Volunteer Coordinator
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Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
Phone: 415.839.6885 x 601
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E-Mail: cary at wikimedia.org 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: foundation-l-bounces at lists.wikimedia.org 
> [mailto:foundation-l-bounces at lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf 
> Of stevertigo
> Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 11:13 AM
> To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List
> Subject: [Foundation-l] Dispute resolution mailing list
> 
> I started a thread on Wikien-l last month suggesting we start a
> dispute resolution mailing list:
> http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2009-June/101428.html
> 
> Responses were largely positive, and what little criticism the idea
> got (much of it from Thomas Dalton) was fairly easy to deal with.
> I filed bug report requesting the list's creation on June 27, which
> was assigned to C.Bass
> https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=19414 . I also emailed
> C.Bass directly.
> 
> I'm curious as to the status of this. Its been a month. I've gotten no
> response from C.Bass, and the bug report has been thus far untouched
> or ignored. I realize of course that people are very very busy, and
> that private emails, bug reports, and wikien-l discussions are not the
> appropriate avenues for discussing a new open email list. That's why
> I'm mentioning it here.
> 
> -Steven
> 

Mailing lists don't get opened by mailing list discussions, and the "largely
positive" responses you received were neither numerous nor meritorious of
creating yet another list whose function has been duplicated in other
locations. 

I could determine neither consensus based on your email nor a pressing need
for this list.  I also emailed the English functionaries-l list to see if
someone would provide corroboration that the project merited such an email
list.  The only responses I have received were private ones suggesting it
would result in another layer of bureaucracy, and nobody on list.  

I have rather left the bugzilla open to determine whether or not it would
find additional support from any location.  Since that point, you have not
gained any additional support.  If I see nothing more than this by July 27,
I will close the bug as WONTDO for the very reasons I've outlined on this
email.

The appropriate thing for you to have done is to put a note on the bugzilla
or advertised it on the wiki and asked people to make comments on the bug
before you sent an email such as this to foundation-l.  Since you did not,
you've certainly placed me in a defensive position; and having to explain to
you why your rather request has a lower priority than other things. 

C.Bass