Michael Snow wrote:
I would still
suggest that consensus is a goal worth striving for in the foundation
itself. Dictation certainly helps to get things started sometimes. But
because of the way humans are, I doubt any dictator can succeed here
unless the dictation is ultimately accepted by a consensus. So I
appreciate your efforts to take other opinions into account and provide
mechanisms for a consensus to develop.
Yes, I absolutely agree with all of that.
I do agree with Uli that ideally someday "no
single person with
superpowers is needed". Unless perhaps you plan to live forever.
That's right. Over a period of time, I expect the Wikimedia
Foundation to be a large and famous organization similar to the
National Geographic Society, the Red Cross, or the Salvation Army,
with a wide variety of interests, a large number of employees, an even
larger number of volunteers, etc.
And the transition from where we are today to that point in the future
is going to take many years, and I want to take steps now to ensure
that the growth is well-managed and respectful of our ideals.
--Jimbo