[Foundation-l] Wikimania and the Muhammad pix

[Dan Rosenthal]

You're right. It should not matter where we come from, what religion  
we are, or our sexual orientation. But it does. Ignoring that does  
nothing, and mistaking concern for nation-bashing is troubling.

As for staying factual, this entire discussion has been remarkably  
factual, complete with citations and links provided. But making  
efforts not to offend other wikipedians? I fail to see how historical,  
factual events should offend other Wikipedians.

I'll drop the issue on one final note: There's a significant  
difference between being edgy and being reckless. There's a  
significant difference between assuming a margin of risk that  
naturally exists, and refusing to confront concerns. There's a  
significant difference between "shit happens"  and failure to plan.


-Dan


On Feb 23, 2008, at 4:59 PM, Florence Devouard wrote:

> Okay.
>
> I think that Egypt bashing has been going on for a sufficient time  
> now,
> and I would like to strongly suggest to give it a break NOW.
>
> I feel deep embarassment for all of our Egyptians wikipedians.
>
> I also feel offended for comments such as "Egypt shares very little of
> the same values than we do". There is no such thing as an opposition
> between WE and Egypt. Wikipedia is not organized along national
> governmental lines. We are organized by linguistic lines, and all of  
> our
> participants share a common vision of "access to knowledge for all",
> common values of freedom, transparency, collaboration, neutrality,
> openness. That is what matters.
> It should not matter what the political advocacy of our governments  
> are.
> It should not matter where we come from. It should not matter  
> whether we
> are gays, or muslims, or newyorkers.
>
> If you really want to go on discussing such matters, please make the
> efforts to stay factual, and mostly, *practical*, and to make any
> efforts to avoid offending other wikipedians.
>
>
>
> Second point. Dan, the Foundation will host Wikimania in Egypt next
> summer. Period. Please stop pushing the idea that we could cancel,
> delay, move somewhere else. We will not.
> Yes, there may be some risks, just as there are risks in every place  
> we
> could have gone to. There are also fabulous opportunities, which will
> greatly outweight the risks.
>
> Let's face it. We are in a risky business. We are pushing the edges of
> collaboration. We are currently breaking the business models of famous
> and rich private companies. We are sometimes hosting diffaming  
> comments
> on world top leaders. We are provoking establishment. We are fighting
> huge lobbies. We are attracting weirdoes, losers, and various
> cyberstalkers. We are confronting censorship. We might even be victims
> of a fatwa in the future. There are risks in what we are doing, but we
> stay here because we think it is important and worth taking the risks.
>
> If you are afraid, just do not act. If you fear terrorism in Egypt,  
> just
> do not come. We'll meet in other places, at other times. There is
> nothing wrong in being afraid, but respect the fact others may have
> other fears and other priorities than you. There will be other
> wikimanias as well. There is a long future in front of you.
>
>
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