koyaanisqatsi@nupedia.com wrote:
and third that profanity and confrontationalism usually don't do much to advance discussion, but do wonders in stopping it cold (which might or might not be DW's intention);
Probably not DW's intention. It seems like DW just got a little excited there. His intentions and concerns seemed valid, although I have no opinion on the particular issue in question.
and finally, that I would really like to start meeting some of the people I "talk" with on wikipedia, because I'm sure we're all a lot nicer than we occasionally seem, and I don't mind going out for a beer.
See, now here's an idea we can likely all support, without voting or consensus-finding or anything else.
I am fond of the idea of an annual or semi-annual conference, held at different places around the world (for convenience for different people) to promote wikipedia _community_.
Because I really think it's pretty hard to see someone as a jerk while drinking beer with them. Well, *a* beer, anyway. I suppose after 10 beers, wiki-based animosities might break out again. I wouldn't want to read the headline "Internet Encyclopedist Brawl Injures 6"
How about:
Summer/Fall, 2003, East coast of US Winter/Spring, 2004, West coast of US (Vegas, baby!) Summer/Fall, 2004, Europe Winter/Spring, 2004, Asia/Australia
Or something like that.
--Jimbo