--- Brianna Laugher brianna.laugher@gmail.com wrote:
I don't know if I have the concept of a wikicouncil right either, but I imagine it as a good thing to get more project editors interested in (or at least aware of) "meta issues", foundation issues. Then what do they do after they are interested? The answer to that currently is "..."
You seem to imply that interest in meta issues should be followed by actual volunteer participation outside the wikis. For me I always thought the old answer to 'then what becomes of meta-interested editors?' has been that they became better managers of their local wiki. Full understanding of the "meta view" of free content helps editors write better copyright policy than if they were less informed. The same is true of any "meta issue". Being aware of the methods and goings on of other wikis helps editors make better decisions and brings in new ideas about managing their own communities. If more of the involved discussion of "meta issues" continues to be moved to private lists and communication becomes more of after-the-fact announcements, the deeper understanding on these issues will more removed from the regular editors. That understanding and the respect that follows for what happens at the meta level will removed from the regular editors. This is what I am seeing. A year ago we likely talked about the problem of meta-awareness and getting information to the editors who don't speak English. I remember a topic about how bring people into the discussions of meta-issues who may not speak English or be have the inclination to track down what list exist and where they are. Today being interested and speaking English isn't enough to secure input into such discussions.
In another thread, Mike Goodwin said WMF can't be a club anymore and the concerned feelings come from those who miss the club. I find this completely off-base. WMF is *becoming* a club now. In the past it was more like a trading center. One of those old towns on a busy cross-roads where every day was market day. People came from all-over and shared ideas, stories, and opinions. And we celebrated the diversity of the wikis and the different methods taken towards a common goal. Only recently has a club membership been required. I am not interested in joining a club. I want en.WS to be great. In the very begining, I joined this list in order to have a heads-up and maybe some input on issues that would affect the success of en.WS. Announcements about the decisions made by members of the WMF club are fine. Receiving the WMF club talking points on issues the affect en.WS is fine. But please don't pretend it will help make en.WS, or any wiki, great.
Someone who posts too much suggested the example of ru.WB may not be representative. While it is extreme one as far as actions taken, please give me the benefit of my long experience here and assume I would not pick an anomaly as an example of the underlying feelings. Seriously the relationship between the foundation and the wikis is largely untested. If push ever comes to shove, I imagine it will more often be technical limitations rather than any real feeling of a relationship or shared goals with WMF that will prevent forks.
Birgitte SB
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