[Foundation-l] How bureaucracy works: the example

[Gerard Meijssen]

Hoi,
When you look at developments in the MediaWiki software, you find that
usability is considered to be of prime importance. The software to make it
easy to upload to Commons is in the finishing stages. There is a project
waiting in the wings to make the creation of a user account much simpler.

If anything we are riding out toward the people and attempt to make it a
modern experience. In order to make Wikipedia attractive, we can learn from
our friends at Wikia. For them it makes commercial sense to grow their
traffic. For us it makes ideological sense to grow our traffic. Never mind
the rationale we achieve our goals by bringing information to our public.

The notion that we will be this all encompassing source of encyclopaedic
wisdom is a static goal. Its achievement lies in the future. In the mean
time we should enjoy the journey towards this goal. Circling the wagons is a
defensive action. It is aimed at shooting the "injuns". We are not cowboys,
and if we were, we would be driving the herd to pastures green. The wagons
would be behind the herd, eating dust and doing whatever to make the journey
enjoyable and getting the herd in good health to the other side of the
rainbow.
Thanks,
        GerardM

On 26 September 2010 13:09, Fred Bauder <fredbaud at fairpoint.net> wrote:

> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Gerard Meijssen" <gerard.meijssen at gmail.com>
> > To: <fredbaud at fairpoint.net>; "Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List"
> > <foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2010 10:35 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] How bureaucracy works: the example
> >
> >> [...] Wikipedia is one of the
> >> biggest websites in the world. Obviously that is not how the reality of
> >> our
> >> success is measured.
> >
> > Of course not. The reality of its success would be: being a comprehensive
> > and reliable reference source.  It is not, yet.
> >
> > Peter
>
> When you're a big success it is very hard to continue to take the
> necessary actions to achieve genuine greatness. The usual response to
> suggestions of change is to circle the wagons.
>
> Fred
>
>
>
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