Wil: nothing anyone is saying here is aimed at discrediting you, you've
just jumped in to a field of landmines without a map, and we'd rather not
have you blow your legs off. I'll have a private email incoming to you as
fast as I can type it but given that the deputy director of the WMF and
several respected Wikimedians have said things may be better if you back
off a bit, it would probably good to extend us the trust necessary to give
you a map of the field of landmines you've jumped in to.
---
Kevin Gorman
On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 4:06 PM, Wil Sinclair <wllm(a)wllm.com> wrote:
I didn't really mention anything specifically,
except a leader who
could "change the concerning aspects of the WP community." It has been
WMF's stated goal to change things like the participation of women on
WP for years. I suppose it would be most accurate to say that I meant
the things that the WMF has been very publicly trying to change about
the community and WP for years now. I believe these goals are shared
by Lila, but we haven't really discussed them.
You know, that's strange. Everything you guys are adding to this
thread could be used to discredit me in the eyes of various parts of
the community. I really hope that isn't the case, but it wouldn't
change my behavior if it were. I encourage everyone to read these
threads and make up their minds for themselves. Keep in mind that some
of the characterizations of what people have said haven't been
substantiated yet. Maybe some more evidence will come to light on this
thread.
Thanks.
,Wil
On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 3:44 PM, Jasper Deng <jasper(a)jasperswebsite.com>
wrote:
I mean, you referred to Lila as a potential
source of change in the
community's problems in your email right before mine on this thread. If
you
meant the community of the wikis, I'm just
saying that it wouldn't really
be kosher according to our current practices.
On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 3:42 PM, Wil Sinclair <wllm(a)wllm.com> wrote:
Yes, we did talk on IRC. But what are you
referring to? I wasn't
referring to you anywhere. I don't even remember talking about WMF's
role in the community. I guess if you have a log of that part of the
conversation, you should post it now. I may have a log in my own
client, if you don't mind my posting it.
I think it's becoming abundantly clear why I think it's best if I
don't interact with WMF employees in private.
,Wil
On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 3:31 PM, Jasper Deng <jasper(a)jasperswebsite.com
> wrote:
> > Wil, we talked about this on IRC, so I won't repeat what I said. But
> what I
> > did *not* say is that the foundation tends to let the community do
what
> it
> > wants, and it would be against that long-standing tradition for staff
to
> > try to force a change in the community.
> >
> > On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 3:18 PM, Wil Sinclair <wllm(a)wllm.com> wrote:
> >
> >> First off, I said that about Greg, and I firmly believe it. He's
> >> uncovered many controversies at Wikipedia. In fact, his article was
> >> the first to be critical of Lila's appointment, and- save the rather
> >> petty comment about airline fees at the end- was pretty on-point.
That
> >> doesn't mean that I agree with
everything Greg says, just that I
> >> personally am glad someone is saying it. He added *Wil Sinclair*,
> >> Partner of Lila Tretikov (Wikimedia Foundation executive director);
> >> I'd prefer he just leave it at "Wil Sinclair," but it's
really his
> >> call on what he puts on his own site.
> >>
> >> Now, I don't know what Lila thinks of this- and I don't want to
know-
> >> but I would really like to understand if there is a chance for any
> >> leader to change the concerning aspects of the WP community at this
> >> point. I know that if there is, it's likely to be a very strong,
> >> charismatic leader like Lila. But if there isn't, then so be it and
> >> it's better to know now. And I'm pretty sure that if the community
> >> here wants positive change, it has to be ready to talk about the hard
> >> problems- no matter who brings them up. Whatever happens, Lila is
> >> going to land on her feet; no one need worry about her. But, again,
> >> that's all just my opinion.
> >>
> >> I know you didn't ask me for a response, but this mail is all about
me
>>
so I felt justified chiming in. Thanks for (intentionally) taking it
>> to the list this time. :)
>>
>> ,Wil
>>
>> On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 2:57 PM, Pete Forsyth <peteforsyth(a)gmail.com
> >> wrote:
> >> > Dear Lila,
> >> >
> >> > I think many of us are interested in how you will engage with the
> >> Wikimedia
> >> > community, what kind of outcomes you will seek, and what kind of
> tactics
> >> > you will employ in seeking those outcomes.
> >> >
> >> > Can you please clarify whether you believe it is possible for
somebody
> >> with
> >> > a close connection to you to influence public perceptions in
> >> > disproportionate, and significant, ways? If so, do you consider it
a
> >> > legitimate option for you to
(privately) assert your right to
> establish
> >> > yourself in your new position, rather than letting them take the
lead?
> >> >
> >> > I think what has happened in the last few days is extraordinary.
I've
> >> never
> >> > seen anything like it. While I am sure that Wil's intentions are
good,
> >> > frankly, if his desire had been
to sabotage your new job, I can't
> imagine
> >> > what more effective path he could have chosen.
> >> >
> >> > I'm not sure if this link has any meaning to you, as you are still
> >> getting
> >> > to know the various people and dynamics in the community. But I
wonder
> >> what
> >> > others think of it. Does anybody know if the following quote is
> accurate?
> >> > And regardless of whether it's accurate or not -- the events of
the
> last
> >> > week have certainly made it seem plausible, haven't they?
> >> >
> >> > Is this really the best way for the new Executive Director to be
> >> introduced
> >> > to the Wikimedia community and the world?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > - *<Wikipedia> is lucky to have people like Greg [Kohs]; even
if he
> >> > never directly contributes
to WP going forward, we're all well
> aware
> >> that
> >> > he's a very intelligent and eloquent individual with a knack
for
> >> > investigative reporting. He holds WP and the WMF to their word,
> and I
> >> > personally thank him for that.* - *Wil Sinclair*, Partner of
Lila
> >> > Tretikov (Wikimedia
Foundation executive director) - May 22,
2014
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
>
http://mywikibiz.com/index.php?title=Directory%3AGregory_J._Kohs&diff=4…
> >> >
> >> > -Pete
> >> > [[User:Peteforsyth]]
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 12:34 AM, Lila Tretikov <
lila(a)wikimedia.org>
> >> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Hi all,
> >> >>
> >> >> This is a personal note to clarify a some questions that recently
> came
> >> up,
> >> >> specifically in the context of my role as the incoming ED.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> My partner Wil and I are partners in our private lives. We have
> always
> >> both
> >> >> been extremely independent, and we respect that in each other.
That
> >> said we
> >> >> have different roles: I am the Executive Director with
> responsibilities
> >> >> towards the Foundation and the movement, and he is an independent
> >> community
> >> >> member with his own voice.
> >> >>
> >> >> I make my decisions using my own professional judgement in
> conjunction
> >> with
> >> >> input from the community and staff. I don’t consult Wil on these
> >> matters,
> >> >> ask him to do anything on my behalf or monitor his engagements
with
> the
> >> >> community. When I speak here, it is in my capacity as an ED.
> >> >>
> >> >> Wil, on the other hand, has a very strong personal interest in the
> >> >> community and agreat deal of curiosity about how the Wikimedia
> >> >> projectswork. It is very important to him that he remains an
> >> >> independent individual
> >> >> able to speak with his own voice and ask his own questions. He
does
> not
> >> >> take direction from me. He will not work for the WMF or engage
with
> the
> >> WMF
> >> >> employees.
> >> >>
> >> >> I hope this addresses some of the questions and draws distinction
> >> between
> >> >> my role as ED and Wil’s participation as an independent member. If
> you
> >> have
> >> >> any questions for Wil you can reach him directly. If you have any
> >> questions
> >> >> for me or the WMF, you can get a hold of me by email or on my talk
> page.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks,
> >> >>
> >> >> Lila
> >> >> _______________________________________________
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