Wikimedia-l May 2016

wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org

164 participants
79 discussions

Crisis of Confidence
by ido ivri 02 May '16

02 May '16

Fae, > Your email fits perfectly with my description of the WMF board: "have > not apologized or even changed a single part of their governance > processes, despite vague unmeasurable offers to look into it." After > many months there is no *commitment* to a date for any change to > governance, nor is there any specific or measurable commitment to what > the goal is for an "open conversation" or how that works. Knowing the > history of the WMF board, there will no doubt be a pre-prepared policy > or process and it will be implemented with barely any regard for > community views which will be "canvassed" after the fact as a sop to > "consensus". Dariusz just remarked: "Currently we have an ongoing discussion on how to reform the Board composition, and I hope we will be able to have an open conversation about these ideas soon". You've been on a board, right? You're aware, then, that changing board governance procedures and composition is something that takes time, and, yes, is sometimes an opaque process to start with, as the Board has to display a policy, or plan, to be commented on. Dariusz and other members have been actively listening in WMCON Berlin and here, to concerns made by community members. Do you seriously expect the BoT to just perform a "hard reset" and redefine itself? This takes time, and patience on behalf everyone that's involved. > > No, I have not forgotten that Arnnon had to resign, thanks for > pointing that out, and I recall how the WMF board unanimously > supported him staying just the day before, even though it was > absolutely obvious that he was not fit to be a trustee, and had he > stayed the WMF board would have been a ghastly joke in terms of ethics > for HR, at a time when the WMF's inability to do a professional job of > HR in terms of the most basic staff morale was becoming a public fact. > > Am I right that you were the chair of the governance committee > responsible for recommending Arnnon to the board and that you are > still in that position? Why are you still involved in the governance > process if you were responsible for this huge mistake and the > resulting PR disaster for the WMF and Arnnon? > Now, I'm not defending Dariusz or anyone else in the BoT in particular - they don't need my defence. I do wish, however, that your tone sounded just a little less like personal attacks against BoT members - especially the ones that take the time and attention to actively speak constantly openly about what's happening. Contrary to popular opinion, BoT members are human and as such they are error prone. So c'mon... it's clear to everyone that mistakes were made. Fixing the procedures that ensure this does not happen again is productive; pointing fingers isn't. Ido On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 5:09 PM, <wikimedia-l-request(a)lists.wikimedia.org> wrote: > Send Wikimedia-l mailing list submissions to > wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > wikimedia-l-request(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > wikimedia-l-owner(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Wikimedia-l digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Crisis of Confidence (Dariusz Jemielniak) > 2. Re: Crisis of Confidence (Fæ) > 3. Re: What New Thing is WMF Doing w. Cookies, & Why is Legal > Involved? (Pete Forsyth) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 2 May 2016 09:21:47 -0400 > From: Dariusz Jemielniak <darekj(a)alk.edu.pl> > To: Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Crisis of Confidence > Message-ID: > < > CADeSpGUDhsQwVgtOeGoekCKgtD67rTau+PAqavhj6w_YC0pf5g(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > 02.05.2016 5:22 AM "Fæ" <faewik(a)gmail.com> napisał(a): > > > > Perhaps we could stick to facts? > > > > In the very recent case of Arnnon Geshuri, the WMF board of trustees > > proved themselves to be completely out of touch with the > > community.[1][2] 314 Wikimedians took part in the vote of no > > confidence, hardly just "malcontents", and 95% of those that took part > > voted directly against the stated position of the board, who still > > remain happy with their decision to keep Geshuri as trustee, > > You must have missed the announcement that he stepped down from the Board. > > and have > > not apologized or even changed a single part of their governance > > processes, despite vague unmeasurable offers to look into it. > > > > I posted three items that we're changing in the future recruitment process > quite quickly. Currently we have an ongoing discussion on how to reform the > Board composition, and I hope we will be able to have an open conversation > about these ideas soon (read: before Wikimania). > > I'm sure that some people would like the WMF to be more like a Telekom. I > don't think that corporate standards and procedures are the answer, and I > really would like the WMF to be what it was meant to be: a mission-driven, > knowledge organization in NGO/open-source environment, run by passionate > employees in a strong, community- and staff- friendly culture, that > delivers visionary results. > > We're far from there yet, but following Telekom standards is not the > answer. The WMF should improve by all means, and it also should be more > accountable - but this is why this year it returns to the FDC process > (which has been one of my priorities to increase communal control), and > that should provide sensible community's feedback. > > Dj > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 2 May 2016 14:48:26 +0100 > From: Fæ <faewik(a)gmail.com> > To: darekj(a)alk.edu.pl, Wikimedia Mailing List > <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Crisis of Confidence > Message-ID: > < > CAH7nnD1dG7OU6A7JkwzBN267LLvLLBuygQ_cdcKM38pGVY3cxg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hi Dariusz, > > Your email fits perfectly with my description of the WMF board: "have > not apologized or even changed a single part of their governance > processes, despite vague unmeasurable offers to look into it." After > many months there is no *commitment* to a date for any change to > governance, nor is there any specific or measurable commitment to what > the goal is for an "open conversation" or how that works. Knowing the > history of the WMF board, there will no doubt be a pre-prepared policy > or process and it will be implemented with barely any regard for > community views which will be "canvassed" after the fact as a sop to > "consensus". > > No, I have not forgotten that Arnnon had to resign, thanks for > pointing that out, and I recall how the WMF board unanimously > supported him staying just the day before, even though it was > absolutely obvious that he was not fit to be a trustee, and had he > stayed the WMF board would have been a ghastly joke in terms of ethics > for HR, at a time when the WMF's inability to do a professional job of > HR in terms of the most basic staff morale was becoming a public fact. > > Am I right that you were the chair of the governance committee > responsible for recommending Arnnon to the board and that you are > still in that position? Why are you still involved in the governance > process if you were responsible for this huge mistake and the > resulting PR disaster for the WMF and Arnnon? > > Thanks, > Fae > > On 2 May 2016 at 14:21, Dariusz Jemielniak <darekj(a)alk.edu.pl> wrote: > > 02.05.2016 5:22 AM "Fæ" <faewik(a)gmail.com> napisał(a): > >> > >> Perhaps we could stick to facts? > >> > >> In the very recent case of Arnnon Geshuri, the WMF board of trustees > >> proved themselves to be completely out of touch with the > >> community.[1][2] 314 Wikimedians took part in the vote of no > >> confidence, hardly just "malcontents", and 95% of those that took part > >> voted directly against the stated position of the board, who still > >> remain happy with their decision to keep Geshuri as trustee, > > > > You must have missed the announcement that he stepped down from the > Board. > > > > and have > >> not apologized or even changed a single part of their governance > >> processes, despite vague unmeasurable offers to look into it. > >> > > > > I posted three items that we're changing in the future recruitment > process > > quite quickly. Currently we have an ongoing discussion on how to reform > the > > Board composition, and I hope we will be able to have an open > conversation > > about these ideas soon (read: before Wikimania). > > > > I'm sure that some people would like the WMF to be more like a Telekom. I > > don't think that corporate standards and procedures are the answer, and I > > really would like the WMF to be what it was meant to be: a > mission-driven, > > knowledge organization in NGO/open-source environment, run by passionate > > employees in a strong, community- and staff- friendly culture, that > > delivers visionary results. > > > > We're far from there yet, but following Telekom standards is not the > > answer. The WMF should improve by all means, and it also should be more > > accountable - but this is why this year it returns to the FDC process > > (which has been one of my priorities to increase communal control), and > > that should provide sensible community's feedback. > > > > Dj > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > -- > faewik(a)gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 2 May 2016 07:09:32 -0700 > From: Pete Forsyth <peteforsyth(a)gmail.com> > To: Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] What New Thing is WMF Doing w. Cookies, & > Why is Legal Involved? > Message-ID: > < > CAGWts0G7AV4GxSFB0WrXXVBA2CmJm1JAue39QBt2igViyYRgAg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Adam, > > Thank you for providing an informative and accessible answer to Trillium's > relevant questions. It's truly heartening to see the organization improving > in its ability to communicate its intentions, etc. I hope that when broad > consensus among staff is reached (as you express in footnote [1]), it will > become an increasingly high priority to clearly communicate that in public > fora. It really helps when we can understand what others are trying to do, > and how it aligns with our own ambitions. > > Good stuff. I think this discussion got off to a rough start, but you have > gotten it back on track, and maybe to resolution. > > -Pete > [[User:Peteforsyth]] > > On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 12:21 AM, Adam Wight <awight(a)wikimedia.org> wrote: > > > Hi Trillium, > > > > These are great questions to ask, thank you for keeping the privacy > > conversation on track! > > > > As a technical employee of the Wikimedia Foundation who would have been > > involved if we were planning significant changes to expand or limit > > tracking, I can confirm that nothing rotten is in the wings. In fact, > the > > situation is better now than ever before (in my 4 years here). There are > > internal accountability reforms under way to help us make strong > guarantees > > about our users' privacy. A brief investigation into assigning readers > > long-term unique identifiers--in lay person terms the gateway to > dystopian > > tracking--opened and was immediately shut again.[1] Data retention (what > > user data we collect and for how long) policy work is being tightened up, > > and done in public.[2] In Fundraising, we've found a way to measure > > aggregate data about our banner delivery without collecting information > > which lets us correlate anything else about readers.[3] > > > > While I feel good about what's happening now, it would be nice to have > > longer-term assurances that we won't go collectively nuts in the > > unforeseeable future. I'm not sure what that assurance might look like, > > though... Democratic stewardship of our shared resources? Anyway, > please > > do keep a critical eye on cookies and their brethren, and if you find > > anything out of joint I'm sure there will be plenty of allies left within > > the Foundation to help set it right. > > > > Regards, > > Adam Wight > > [[mw:User:Adamw] > > > > > > [1] Sorry, there was an all-staff internal discussion but I don't think > > this was published. The idea at the time was to get our house in order > and > > decide whether to start a public conversation about unique IDs. There > > turned out to be many strong critics of the plan and no real supporters > as > > far I could tell, and the initiative was abandoned, to my knowledge. The > > motivation for the project was to get a better estimate of our unique > > visitor counts (a count of their devices, to be precise). We've settled > on > > the less accurate "last visited" measurement instead, which is described > > here: http://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/03/30/unique-devices-dataset/ > > [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Data_retention_guidelines > > [3] > https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lightening_banner_history.pdf > > > > On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 9:21 PM, Oliver Keyes <ironholds(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > > It seems like you can either deny James's knowledge of the > > technical/legal > > > overlap or ask him questions, but probably not both :p. > > > > > > One element I can answer: no, it does not contain flash objects, flash > is > > > not a technology included in the Wikimedia stack on account of it > barely > > > being classifiable as a technology. > > > > > > On Sunday, 1 May 2016, Toby Dollmann <toby.dollmann(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > It's certainly possible that this is only 'obvious' to me because > of > > my > > > > > knowledge of outside organizations or law but it doesn't surprise > me. > > > > > > > > Your reply is not obvious to me. I understand that your employment is > > > > exclusively with WMF and you do not appear to be particularly > > > > qualified (or experienced) in law. > > > > > > > > Treating the cookie statement as an explanation / extension of WMF's > > > > privacy policy and noting the poster's concern that the WMF legal > team > > > > have amended certain descriptors for locally stored objects (not > > > > cookies) of indeterminate (theoretically infinite) persistence, would > > > > you clarify the following technical /legal aspects relating to > cookies > > > > and their usage on Wikimedia. > > > > > > > > 1. Whether, or not, editors of Wikimedia websites", say > > > > "en.wikipedia.org" or "commons.wikimedia.org", can edit if cookies > > > > (broadly construed) are disabled and not stored on client devices. > > > > > > > > 2. Whether, or not, the locally stored objects referenced in the > > > > cookie policy include > > > > (i) Javascript code, or > > > > (ii) Flash objects > > > > > > > > 3. Whether, or not, the locally stored objects inserted by the WMF, > on > > > > client computers and stored there, have the capability of collecting > > > > extensive personal information of editors, the degree of which not > > > > being explicitly disclosed in advance to users. > > > > > > > > 4. Whether, or not, the WMF is aware that a certain "toxic and > > > > juvenile .. problem" [reff#1] WMF sysop (now banned) with extensive > > > > knowledge of WMF's checkuser process, the cookie policy and its > > > > internals has achieved remarkable technical capability to closely > > > > impersonate other editors and get them blocked by a network (aka > "porn > > > > crew") of surviving cooperative "community appointed" sysops > favorably > > > > still disposed to him/her. That this problem person (who has also > > > > threatened legal action against WMF) extensively uses mobile > Wikipedia > > > > via "millions of IPs" [ref#2] in multiple languages, including > several > > > > some fairly obscure ones, for abusive purposes which are 'obviously' > > > > related to WMF_legal's recent subject edit. > > > > > > > > Toby > > > > > > > > [ref#1] "I should be clear - the problem is not the abuse of me, but > > > > the toxic and juvenile environment at Commons. I have never failed in > > > > 30 seconds of looking to find a horrifying BLP violation at commons > of > > > > a photo of an identifiable woman engaged in sexual activity with > > > > highly questionable provenance (for example a deleted flickr > account). > > > > Every time (including tonight) that I go there hoping to see > > > > improvement, I am disappointed. And I think that as long as we > > > > tolerate it and don't bounce some very bad admins, we will not solve > > > > the problem.--Jimbo Wales (talk) 23:04, 14 October 2014 (UTC)" > > > > > > > > [ref#2] > > > > > > > > > > https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk%3AOdder&action=hi… > > > > > > > > On 5/2/16, James Alexander <jalexander(a)wikimedia.org <javascript:;>> > > > > wrote: > > > > > On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 2:40 PM, Trillium Corsage < > > > > trillium2014(a)yandex.com <javascript:;>> > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > >> I noticed Michelle Paulson editing the "Cookie Statement" page, > and > > it > > > > >> seemed kind of strange to me because I thought it more a technical > > and > > > > IT > > > > >> thing to edit. But Michelle is WMF Legal, right > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > I won't/can't comment on the rest of your questions but I'm > confused > > > > about > > > > > why you would be surprised here... the cookie statement is, > > > essentially, > > > > a > > > > > legal statement/privacy policy "type" document (obviously different > > but > > > > > similar) and just like the privacy policy (or access to non public > > > > > information or document retention policy or terms of use or other > > > policy > > > > > docs along those lines) the cookie statement has been owned by > Legal > > > for > > > > as > > > > > long as it's existed (I can attest to that fact since the CA team > was > > > > asked > > > > > to help put it up for them). > > > > > > > > > > It's certainly possible that this is only 'obvious' to me because > of > > my > > > > > knowledge of outside organizations or law but it doesn't surprise > me. > > > > > Cookie statements are part of the law in some countries (not > > > necessarily > > > > > ones we have to follow given our position in the US but Europe has > > laws > > > > > about it for example) and so would usually be within the legal > > > department > > > > > for many organizations. Cookies are also closely tied with privacy > > and > > > > the > > > > > privacy policy and so compliance and ensuring that the org stays > > within > > > > > their promises would, also, often fall within the legal department > > > > (though > > > > > everyone should/does have a hand in ensuring they follow the > promises > > > the > > > > > org as a whole made). > > > > > > > > > > James Alexander > > > > > Manager > > > > > Trust & Safety > > > > > Wikimedia Foundation > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > > > > > Unsubscribe: > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > > > > ?subject=unsubscribe> > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > > > > Unsubscribe: > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > > > > ?subject=unsubscribe> > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Wikimedia-l Digest, Vol 146, Issue 5 > ******************************************* > -- -Ido "There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't." (unknown)

1 0

Affiliate-selected Board seats voting started
by Laurentius 02 May '16

02 May '16

Dear all, voting for the affiliate-selected board seats is starting today, and will end on May 8 (results will be announced shortly after that). Ten people nominated - which is more than in any previous round - and all nominations got an endorsement. Therefore, we have ten candidates running: * Christophe Henner (schiste) * Jan Ainali (Ainali) * Kunal Mehta (Legoktm) * Leigh Thelmadatter (Thelmadatter) * Lodewijk Gelauff (Effeietsanders) * Maarten Deneckere (MADe) * Nataliia Tymkiv (antanana) * Osmar Valdebenito (B1mbo) * Siska Doviana (Siska.Doviana) * Susanna Mkrtchyan (SusikMkr) For the nomination statements, see: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2016/Nominat… While only chapters and thematic organizations are eligible to vote, anyone is encouraged to ask questions, either to all the candidates: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2016/Questio… or to specific candidates in the talk page of their nomination. Chris Keating Lorenzo Losa Lane Rasberry - election facilitators

2 2

WMIL General Assembly meeting and Board elections
by Itzik - Wikimedia Israel 01 May '16

01 May '16

Dear all, Today, 1.5.16, Wikimedia Israel (WMIL) held a general assembly meeting, during which the members held the elections for members of the Board of WMIL. The results of the elections are as follows: Itzik Edri,(reelected) Deror Lin, (reelected) Ido Ivri, (reelected) Hana Yariv (reelected) Dana Dekel Audit committee: Oved Cohen (reelected). The new Board then proceeded to reelect Itzik Edri to Chairperson, and to elect Ido Ivri as Board Secretary. In addition, the board will re-approach the two external board members, Prof. Sheizaf Rafaeli and Prof. Karine Nahon, and Adi Zamir to the audit committee, to stay with the board for another year and keep providing their excellent mentorship and advice. We would like to take this opportunity and extend our many thanks to Yan Nasonov, the departing Board Member, for his long and good service to WMIL and its community. Cheers, Itzik

1 0

wikinews has a NPOV policy derived from wikipedia, mamamia ...
by rupert THURNER 01 May '16

01 May '16

hi jimmy, i asked on the facebook group wikipeda weekly if joe/ed could publish an upcoming blog post on wikinews. joe sutherland mentioned ".. I simply cannot get my head around its attitude to news coverage". which i find frightening. an editor for 10 years, tens of thousands contributions, thousands of pages created, degree in journalism, dissertation about news on wikipedia, administrator.[1] jimmy, as wikinews refers an old mail of you from 2003 as the holy grail of NPOV, could you please clarify once and for all that your NPOV statemant you sent to wikien-l was valid for wikipedia. and not for wikisource, wikiquote, wikinews. best on the wikinews talk page concerning NPOV [2][4]. i understand of course that certain publishing standards might apply - but NPOV, and "sourced" in the sense of published somewhere else cannot be amongst them [3]. just as a note, i hate that the blog [5] opens 20 times slower than wikinews on my mobile phone, that it is not in different languages, that i do not have the "usual mediawiki features". i hate that signpost [7] cannot be read on mobiles because of formatting. i hate the glam newsletter [6] for the same reason, despite beeig again on a different wiki, no "read in different languages". which is the main reason i write this mail ... and asked joe why not using wikinews. and i hate that wikinews does not use mediawiki features to properly classify what quality an article has, e.g. "blog", "npov", etc. [1] https://tools.wmflabs.org/xtools-ec/?user=Foxj&project=en.wikipedia.org [2] https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews_talk:Neutral_point_of_view#raphael_ho… [3] https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Pillars_of_Wikinews_writing [4] https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2003-November/008096.html [5] blog: http://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/04/22/ted-wikimedia-collaboration/ [6] glam newletter: https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/GLAM/Newsletter [7] signpost: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost best, rupert

7 7

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Wikimedia-l May 2016