First, I agree that there is a problem with communication.
Ronny Raschkowan wrote:
> Hello!
>
> When i talked yesterday on IRC with another wikipedian, we had both the
> same opinion that there's a problem with the communication, and staying
> up-to-date.
>
> The problem is that people don't know for example, a feature had been
> enabled or similar (high priority?) news concerning Wikimedia. Also,
> most Wikis aren't up to date: They don't know for example, that it is
> also possible to block logged in people using the IP - Ban interface.
> Another problem is, that Wikis also couldn't know where they have to do
> requests like: Request for Permission, for switching the logo path, for
> queries, for updating a LanguageXX.php.
There are two different type of information here :
* new and sudden information (how to get informed)
* basic day to day information (who to contact, or where to go to have
something done)
I think work has definitly to be done on the first (such as warning of a
fundraising event).
Not so much on the second, other than regularly pointing out to a couple
of good starting pages.
When I started reorganising the meta main page, I am quite sure very few
could find what was needed.
I think now, they do much more than before. In spite of numerous new
projects, there are far fewer requests on the mailing lists than before
to ask for a new logo, or sysop status. I believe most people now find
the right pages quite well.
Of course, documentation has to be written.
Possibly they don't know there
> are IRC Channels and Mailing Lists, too. I would purpose two possible
> ways to change that, but feel free to purpose other ways :)
>
> 1) "Reactivating" the Announce-l Mailinglist. As far, as there are a lot
> of changed going on, (creation of language specific wikibooks, quote for
> example), it'd be a good idea to have this ML working, as far as people
> could post the announces there and people interested in the changes
> could suscribe to that list and get informed.
I am really unsure it will be valuable, but am ready for an experiment.
The first announcement list set by Walter did not work, and I think
there are a couple of difficulties to solve, if you want to make it work.
You need the *largest* audience possible, and you need *all* relevant
but *only* relevant information.
1) largest audience : Have everyone REGISTERED to yet another list and
READ the mails
2) largest audience : Have messages TRANSLATED on that mailing list,
BEFORE going on the mailing list
3) Have people THINK of using that list (comment : many still not use
goings-on, but put everything in the huge mess of village-pumps)
4) Have people UNDERSTAND what to post and what not to post (need to
define the goal very well).
Nothing impossible, but... that essentially mean, imho, that such a list
will only will work IF someone is taking the responsibility and
leadership of that solution and really put time in it.
> 2) Creating a new Special page for all wikis (or similar), called
> "Useful_Links" or similar ( I haven't found a good title yet ;) ).
> People could read there where they can found the IRC Chat, where they
> can found specific mailing lists, and where they can post request (for
> permission, logo, query, etc), (Embassies?), etc. As far, people would
> have a good reference page and would fastly find a way where they can
> report a problem to the community, request and communicate within the
> community and with other users.
>
> These are just ideas how to do that. If you have another idea, feel free
> to add it :).
I suppose most of this is more or less on all developped projects, some
in the FAQ, some in other places. A central place is never a bad idea.
I am glad you are interested by all that Fire :-)
I hold on to my proposal to have a technical feature allowing to post a
message from meta, to all (or part of) wikimedia projects.
--------
I think we should put some more work on meta, such as
1) making a multilingual home page
2) translating the english speaking main page in more languages
3) develop a feature to support more easily multilingualism on one wiki
4) improve flow of information for the whole area of
wikimediafoundation. The information on the main page is now outdated.
