We should be treating editing wikipedia as one of the most profoundly influential things a person can do in society, because there are pretty good reasons to believe that it is. We should present editathons led by skilled wikipedians as the premier cultural events that they are. We are recruiting the people who will teach those who are not in school, who answer questions and direct those in need of assistance to the best resources. Wikipedia is the most monumental feat of literature that civilization has yet produced. The idea that art or sculpture exhibits should raise more money than training new editors is, frankly, preposterous, and stems from the same fallacies which keep the rest of the developed world from achieving teacher salaries on par with Korea's. I propose that this be measured, because there is reason to believe that transitioning to a half-auction, haff-raffle model could increase public interest for a variety of reasons: acknowledging them as the literary events that they are, the novelty (which may or may not last), the opportunity for anyone to mingle with those who were able to afford tickets if an when such events do become popular, etc. If at some point an auction raises an unexpectedly large amount of money, other cultural institutions might start to take notice, offer to host editathons, or even start their own. "Exclusive" has both positive and negative connotations. Exclusive access to important sources is good for those who have access, but bad for everyone else. The half-raffle aspect keeps everyone involved without precluding the possibility of the events paying for themselves, paying all the bills in advance, and not risking low turnout or exceeding the size of the venue, which very substantially lowers the risk of organizing and hosting them. Presumably that could serve to make them easier and make them more likely to be held. I think software support should be easy, or even administration by email. Any auction bid, even 0, will enter the raffle, and auction bids would be accepted as payment from half of the available seats. When fewer nonzero bids than half the seats are received, then they would all be accepted and the remaining seats would be raffled. Isn't there a way to put the requirement of taking care of those tasks and expenses in the job responsibilities? Aren't there service agencies who do that as a flat fee for the mass commercial market? I wish other countries could say the same. But compare editathons to, for example, poetry slams, or street protests, in any country. Which are more common and which do we need more of? I am asking that someone measure the proposed way which may be able to substantially increase their number. Best regards, James