Ray Saintonge a écrit:
V. Ivanov wrote:
2005/5/28, Timwi timwi@gmx.net:
Maybe we should make this concept better known globally. Maybe we should organise a list of Wikipedians who are prepared to give money to poor people in return for an article in a language that has an inactive Wikipedia. The Wikipedians would be able to specify any conditions,
Say, offer a preferable topic or even a certain article (or article
set).
I would be wary of any scheme to pay people for articles. We have prided ourselves on an all volunteer production in all languages.
The one thing that is not mentioned in the discussion is who would fund this proposal. Is there a rich Ossetian benefactor willing to pay for this idea? There are many other languages that could benefit from this approach, but it should not be the responsibility of the general community to pay for such things in other languages either.
Hi Ec
This is not a proposal, it already exist. It is currently funded by individuals, who may or may not be contributors. I just do not know.
We do not have to say anything about this, it exists, it is independant and anyone should be free to find a way to help promote one language. I think the best *we* can do as *editors*, is to help them in their organisation, and also help them transform these teachers in more permanent editors in the long term (feeling proud of a good article featured on home page is one of these ways... there are others...). Typical limitation could be "we offer you money for a good article, but for no more than xx articles".
But you raise an important issue, which is whether *we* as an *organisation* should financially help similar ideas (ie, paying editors). Of course, this requires specific requirements (such as control, validation of final quality, starting language with few editors expected, local organisers etc...), but on the concept, should we or should we not ?
You are perfectly allright : till now, editors have always been volunteers. Which could be the consequences that start paying some, even if it is on a small and little know language ?
As a reminder, only 3 people have till now financially directly making benefits. Larry initially, now Brion and Chad Perrin. Another person should soon be welcome as well to help with the paperwork. The three last people concerned, paid by or soon to be paid by the Foundation, have received the approval from Jimbo, Angela and myself... and that the three are americans exclusively. Other benefits made in terms of "personal income" were non direct (such as development contracts with other organisations).
Given that the goal of the Foundation is "to encouraging the growth, development and distribution of free, multilingual content, and to providing the full content of these wiki-based projects to the public free of charge", I would say that supporting such projects (ie, paying editors in certain specific conditions) is within our area of action. What I do not know is whether it would be acceptable to do it with donation money, or if grants should be seek (sought ?) to support such an involvement. I would really welcome opinions on this. In the past year, I have seen little criticizing (as opposed to supporting) comments related to the way the Foundation money should be spent, but for comments saying (a year ago) that developers should get paid in priorities before Angie and my costs be reimbursed, or comments saying (early 2005) that with all the money we got, the website should be more accessible.
So, I am not sure whether it would be globally acceptable, borderline but acceptable, or frankly unacceptable to the editors or not.
Perhaps a beginning of an answer would be that current developers do not seem overall to be mad with the idea of Chad and Brion be paid, while they are not. It may be because they consider Brion has been working a lot for the project and deserve to be partially paid by the Foundation, it may be because they consider that Chad work is required and can not be done any more by Jimbo. In short, it is acceptable because one is known and loved, and acceptable because the other is seen as doing a mandatory job. I am not sure, not being in the developer team. I suppose participation to such project will be possibly acceptable to editors if they can see where the benefits stands. Just thoughts. Waiting for all of yours.
Ant