On Tue, Jun 23, 2020 at 4:10 PM Joseph Reagle <joseph.2011(a)reagle.org>
wrote:
I'm largely uninformed, but I liked the idea of replacing Wikimedia with
Wikipedia. That said, I see there's been some process concerns and this has
been a heck of a year, so I don't think there's a need to rush? Then again,
does delay bring anything other than not making the change?
The survey is only open for two weeks, which doesn't seem like a lot of
time to gather views from all of our communities. The board has issued a
statement, <
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2020-June/095051.html>gt;,
which says: "The timeline can still change if the Board decides it."
However, it gives no indication that the survey will be extended, so I
would recommend that people fill it out now.
In practice a delay might simply stop the rename entirely; the prospect, or
result, of elections might change the board's appetite for this. But I
think delay also offers benefits for those in favor of rebranding--it would
give the board and the rebranding team a chance to fully make the case for
change and bring people on board, and allow time for cool-headed
discussion. When options are just thrown at us and we are left to organize
our own straw polls on the matter, it's not surprising that there would be
overwhelming opposition. If you want to collect honey, throwing a rock at
the hive is usually a bad idea.
I don't think our current branding (for lack of a better term) is ideal,
and, like Joseph, I think reorienting around Wikipedia could actually be a
good move, even once we account for all the risks. But there's no chance
of any consensus for change emerging as long as there's an imminent threat
and everybody is in battle mode.
Benjamin