--- Jimmy Wales jwales@bomis.com wrote:

(I confess: I don't understand what should go to wikien-l and what should go to wikipedia-l.)

Well, that's simple. Do you think wasps only enter the main window leading to the english wikipedia, or do you think the wasp may also enter that small remote window on - say - the french wikipedia ?

Answer : monday evening, I painfully climbed the ladder to close the window for the night, for a wasp has entered through the window. 10 mn ago, I closed it again, and will favor keeping it close now. Youssefsan suggested we also close the curtains and not advertise the french wiki location for the wasps not to come in big numbers.

If the wasp can enter only the main window in the home, you post to the english list. If it appears the wasp can enter through any open window, you post to the main list...

ya ?

I'll take time to come back on the answers/comments provided a couple of days ago this we...

But we must not kill the wasp

When a wasp is in the house, most people try to shoo it out a window with a newspaper. They open a window wide, and then take a newspaper or magazine and launch repeated attacks on the wasp to try to convince it to fly out the window. This is a frustrating and usually impossible procedure. It is contrary to the nature of the wasp. It's exhausting and usually ends in the death of the wasp. I would imagine that some people get stung in the process.

Buckminster Fuller found a better way, a way that works with virtual certainty, with comparatively little effort. Here's what to do: close the curtains and/or shades and/or blinds on all the windows except the open window. Turn off the light in the room. Make the room as dark as possible, except for the window where you wish the wasp to go. The wasp will fly out quickly and voluntarily.

There are lessons to be learned here. In the design of proper traffic systems, it's important to not fight against human nature. Rather than expecting and hoping people to behave properly at huge intersections, it's safer to build overpasses and ramps.

In dealing with problem members, we should ask ourselves: are we shooing a wasp? Is there a better way?

--Jimbo

p.s. Through a quick web search, I have been unable to confirm that this actually should be attributed to Buckminster Fuller. But that's how I heard it.

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