Anthere wrote:
Carbonite wrote:
I think perhaps we're getting a little melodramatic here. I was under the impression that we're here to write an encyclopedia, not fight oppression. If the former happens to lead to the latter, that's a great bonus. My point was that it's up to the user to protect himself. If a slip of an IP address will likely lead to harsh punishment, the risk of editing is almost certainly too high. I'm NOT saying that we should be careless and expose IP addresses, but to treat this as a matter of life and death is unnecessary rhetoric. Carbonite
When I joined Wikipedia, I had the opportunity to protect myself. I used anonymous proxies. I edited, under these proxies, on certain topics which could lead to me certainly have professional problems. One thing I appreciated is that ips were visible, even for logged in users. So, anytime, I could check which information was registered about me.
When use of anonymous proxies was not possible any more, I stopped putting certain type of information entirely. I regretted that very much, but there was no possibility for myself to protect myself anymore.
I think some of the information I could have put on sites such as wikinews would have been worth. But I do not feel like fighting big firm lobbies.
oh... and read this http://soufron.typhon.net/article.php3?id_article=71
Ant
Oh, thinking about it... I do not have any such fears any more now.
I should be doing my last day at my job tomorrow.
I started this job in august 2000. Joined Wikipedia in february 2002. I have run like crazy between my job, my two kids, my husband and Wikipédia for nearly 4 years. I am quite happy to take a break for the next few months, have real nights of sleep, be on holidays for real, have time to take the time to do nothing... I feel like I have lived 10 years in 4 years.
4 years ago, I was very afraid of having my real name, or any private information known about me. I never connected myself to Wikipedia from my job. I think my husband did not discover about Wikipedia until at least a full year working on it...
It was a huge step to take 18 months ago, to give my real name for the board elections. For the last 18 months, I also feared that my employer would discover about my second life at wikipedia (and understand why I was falling asleep during afternoon meetings). He never did. Several employees did see press stuff, but not my boss. He never saw anything.
This week is a sort of turn in life for me. My firm is bankrupt and likely will be closed by legal judgement on this friday. All the contracts I had ongoing will stop within an hour. And will never be finished by anyone. Then, I should receive a letter firing me at the end of the month. I have not been paid since september anyway.
This is a very strange feeling. This is just why I wanted to share it with you. Most of you do not see what we are doing on the board and what it sometimes imply. Just people far away. Not people you know much about.
So, here I am. I am 37 years old. I am a volunteer just like you. I have two kids. I lost a baby in spring. I will have a fourth kid, hopefully early 2006. I am losing my job this week. And I am glad to be participating to Wikipedia (even if sometimes, it is a burden...). It is a good life overall :-)
eh !