On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 8:52 AM, Ed Summers ehs@pobox.com wrote:
Wikimedia is a nonprofit, but that doesn't mean it can't bring in money based on data collected from its users. I think we all know that this is exactly what it does.
Sorry Ed, I don't think we all know that. In fact, I'm unaware of any way in which Wikimedia makes money based on data collected from its users. To my knowledge, the Foundation is supported almost entirely through private donations[1].
If there's something else you have in mind here, it would be helpful to know what you mean. Otherwise, I think it's quite unhelpful to suggest that the Foundation is somehow making money on the backs of users.
all the best, Aaron
[1] http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/FAQ/en#How_is_the_Wikimedia_Foundation_f...
On Sep 4, 2014, at 11:20 AM, aaron shaw aaronshaw@northwestern.edu wrote:
Sorry Ed, I don't think we all know that. In fact, I'm unaware of any way in which Wikimedia makes money based on data collected from its users. To my knowledge, the Foundation is supported almost entirely through private donations[1].
Ok, try this on for size:
An edit to a Wikipedia article is data collected from its users. WMF receives millions of dollars of donations a year because of this data, and its accessibility.
//Ed
Uhm. If you don't think there's any distinction in nature or terminology between 'The contents of a form field intentionally filled out and submitted by a user' and....every other kind of data, there's a disconnect here somewhere.
On Thursday, 4 September 2014, Ed Summers ehs@pobox.com wrote:
On Sep 4, 2014, at 11:20 AM, aaron shaw <aaronshaw@northwestern.edu javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','aaronshaw@northwestern.edu');> wrote:
Sorry Ed, I don't think we all know that. In fact, I'm unaware of any way in which Wikimedia makes money based on data collected from its users. To my knowledge, the Foundation is supported almost entirely through private donations[1].
Ok, try this on for size:
An edit to a Wikipedia article is data collected from its users. WMF receives millions of dollars of donations a year because of this data, and its accessibility.
//Ed
On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 11:52 AM, Ed Summers ehs@pobox.com wrote:
On Sep 4, 2014, at 11:20 AM, aaron shaw aaronshaw@northwestern.edu wrote:
Sorry Ed, I don't think we all know that. In fact, I'm unaware of any way in which Wikimedia makes money based on data collected from its users. To my knowledge, the Foundation is supported almost entirely through private donations[1].
Ok, try this on for size:
An edit to a Wikipedia article is data collected from its users. WMF receives millions of dollars of donations a year because of this data, and its accessibility.
//Ed
So, the more common descriptor for that is "content generated by users" since "data collected from users" usually refers to data *about the user. *Just one more example of how a non-standard use of language can cause confusion.
On Sep 4, 2014, at 12:54 PM, Nathan nawrich@gmail.com wrote:
e more common descriptor for that is "content generated by users" since "data collected from users" usually refers to data about the user. Just one more example of how a non-standard use of language can cause confusion.
It’s a pretty blurry line that separates the two, since the content we generate is pretty good at describing us. But I see your point that Wikimedia Foundation does not generate revenue from mining its user contributed data and selling it for purposes, other than making the worlds best, free encyclopedia (for which it will happily accept donations).
//Ed
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