If they don't know what they've done wrong, what are they apologising for?
Heed Fabian's words, please, Tom. It would be paradoxical at best to
say "we think mistakes have been made, and we're having an independent
review to look at what went wrong, and _here's_ _specifically_ _what_
_went_ _wrong_."
With a bit of imagination and stretchy analogies, it's possible to put
a negative spin on *any* development, and attribute the worst
intentions to any utterance. (*Cough*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introspection_illusion ).
On 14 October 2012 11:59, Thomas Dalton <thomas.dalton@gmail.com> wrote:
> When I was a child and got in trouble I would go up to my mum and say "I'm
> sooooorrrryy". She would invariably respond "and what are you sorry for?"
>
> If I didn't have a good answer, the apology would have no effect.
>
> I don't think my upbringing was unusual in that respect.
>
> On Oct 14, 2012 9:48 AM, <fabian@unpopular.org.uk> wrote:
>>
>> Tom,
>>
>> Please re-read the statement.
>>
>> The board:
>> a) acknowledges mistakes have been made
>> b) acknowledges that those mistakes have had a damaging impact
>> c) identified a process (the review) which will not only look closely at
>> what went on, but will produce "clear recommendations which will help us
>> follow best practice in every area of governance".
>>
>> I think you bring very important insights which can and should help get
>> WMUK to where it needs to be. However I don't think you help people grasp
>> the importance of what you suggest when you take umbrage where it is not
>> necessary.
>>
>> all the best
>>
>> Fabian
>> (User:Leutha)
>>
>>
>>
>> Tom Dalton wrote:
>> >The board needs to learn how to write a statement that actually says
>> >something...
>> >
>> >Apologising for mistakes is meaningless if you don't acknowledge what
>> >those mistakes are. This statement comes across as defensive and empty
>> >of actual content.
>> >
>> >What have you done wrong? What are you doing about fixing the problems
>> >caused by those mistakes and making sure similar mistakes don't happen
>> >again? That's what people want to know. If you want to wait until the
>> >review is complete before going into details, then say that. Don't
>> .post this kind of meaningless drivel.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org
>> http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
>> WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
>
>
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>
--
Dr Martin L Poulter
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Associate, Wikimedia UK http://uk.wikimedia.org/
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