[Foundation-l] What are the assets of the Foundation, anyway?

[Kelly Martin]

On 4/19/07, Erik Moeller <erik at wikimedia.org> wrote:
> My comment was not intended to be uncivil, and I regret it if it came
> across that way. Beyond her earlier comments to the Chair of the Board
> ("you're on crack", "are you daft?"), Kelly Martin has a well
> documented history of aggressive and abusive conduct throughout
> Wikimedia projects; in fact, she has openly stated that she considers
> "intimidating posturing ... and a willingness to act 'on the edge'"
> acceptable "management styles". [1] I do not; I consider them a
> rationalization of a deeply troubling emotional outlook.
>
> Nevertheless, I have respect for Kelly and other people like her; she
> clearly has tremendous talent and passion for our ends, if not our
> means. I have also come to view her as the textbook example of the
> "useful aggressor", one of the most problematic social types one can
> encounter in any community. The useful aggressor, by virtue of being
> useful, has friends and allies, but their interactions with others are
> often highly toxic; their views are colored by their fear and their
> misanthropy. It is not easy or even desirable to remove them, but it
> is essential to limit their social influence, to question their
> deepest convictions, and to draw the line when they violate community
> norms.
>
> Florence, myself and other members of this weird and wonderful
> community are certainly not infallible standard-bearers of peace and
> love. But one quality I strive for, and one I think any leader should
> have beyond worrying about imaginary lawsuits, is reflection: the
> ability to honestly assess one's own behavior and actions, and to
> improve upon it, instead of merely rationalizing it as a "management
> style." I'll let you be the judge whether you find this quality in the
> present Board members.
>
> [1] http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Kelly_Martin&diff=407834&oldid=407610
>
> --
> Peace & Love,
> Erik

Still haven't learned a damn thing, have you, Erik?

Kelly