[WikiEN-l] What's going on? - Inquiry 2

[Florence Devouard]

WikipediaEditor Durin wrote:
> The overarching problem here is that Wikipedia is collapsing. This list
> is just a symptom of that.
> * The Foundation has become ineffective and no longer cares about
>    its mission and goals. There's a number of symptoms resulting from
>    this state. One such symptom is the abysmal state of fundraising.
>    In hard numbers, the fundraising is better. In terms of per-capita
>    analysis, absolutely terrible. In short, the importance, scale and
>    complexity of Wikipedia has dramatically increased while fund
>    raising has only slightly increased. It's not keeping up, and the
>    more that it can't keep up the worse the problems will become.

By the way... on the very topic of fundraising, would you care reading 
that post from Sabine, and reflecting on the fact YOU are complaining in 
length about the complete and utter inability of the Foundation to 
handle fundraising, and the fact people organizing fundraising on behalf 
of the Foundation are faced with an abysmal lack of responsiveness from 
the community members ?

I think we are all in the same pool, working toward the same goal, 
dedicated to the same values. Some of us are editors and try to do the 
best as editors. Some are rather helping on the software side and trying 
to develop the most useful tools, some are helping with the fundraising 
and trying to raise as much money as possible, without upsetting the 
community, some are working on the legal side, trying to make as much as 
possible sure that we avoid lawsuits or come out of them with the best 
possible outcome, some are working on making sure the accounts are 
audited, some are working to hunt the copyright violators, some are 
lobbying government to get the most favorable laws... in short, there 
are many of us, and we all try to make the best in an area we have 
chosen. When you see an area in trouble, yes you may speak about it, but 
the best you can do is
1) help if you can or
2) try to find other who can help if you can not
3) avoid discouraging those who are working in this area

Your email above achieve none of these three goals.

So my suggestion for you, so that you feel good at the end of this day, 
is to go read Sabine blog. Read all the things she is currently working 
on. Consider if you can help. If you can not, if you know someone who 
can help. Or at least, give an advice to her, gives a feedback, a warm 
word of support, a little wikilove. The more support she has, the more 
wonderfull our next fundraiser will be

Ant