[WikiEN-l] A thought on community dynamics

[Marc Riddell]

> On 10/10/07, Marc Riddell <michaeldavid86 at comcast.net> wrote:
>> on 10/9/07 11:49 PM, David Goodman at dgoodmanny at gmail.com wrote:
>> 
>>> Marc, I now ask you whether,m having made what I think to be a correct
>>> diagnosis, you have from your experience any suggestions for
>>> improvement beyond the hope that
>>> 
>>> "If a part of those core values is respect for the individual, then, by
>>> reaching out to those individuals we will be reinforcing both the individual
>>> and those values. These groups are made up of individuals who want to be
>>> seen and dealt with as such; and not as merely one expendable drop in a
>>> massive sea."
>>> 
>>> Not that this is wrong--it is totally right as far as it goes. But how
>>> can we institutionally encourage this?
>>> 
>> David,
>> 
>> In very short: for a start we could begin by greatly improving how we talk
>> to each other.
>> 
>> There are very effective steps, and indeed entire programs, that could be
>> instituted in the Project that would, in time, profoundly improve the very
>> culture of the Project - which is what we are really talking about here.
>> 
>> I have concrete proposals for implementing such programs. BUT, to lay them
>> out here now would be a complete waste of time. BECAUSE, aside from you and
>> a few others, most people on this List appear to believe that the culture of
>> the Project is just fine as it is. To seriously discuss solutions to a
>> problem, there must first be an agreement that such a problem exists.
>> 
>> We keep talking about what Wikipedia is & is not. As we look to the future
>> we should also be asking what else it could be.
>> 
>> Marc
>> 
>>> 
>>> On 10/9/07, K P <kpbotany at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 10/8/07, Marc Riddell <michaeldavid86 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>> What does matter is the individual contributor's ability to interact in a
>>>>> constructive way with another contributor.
>>>> ....
>>>>> 
>>>>> The problems are not with the Community, but with the individual members
>>>>> who
>>>>> make up that community.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Marc Riddell
>>>>> 
>>>> Geeze, Marc, you just won't let go about personal responsibility, will you?
>>>> 
>>>> On the other hand, when I act badly, I usually am the one to blame for
>>>> it.  But it just seems so simple, in a way.
>>>> 
>>>> KP

on 10/10/07 6:38 PM, George Herbert at george.herbert at gmail.com wrote:
> 
> We can always create another mailing list, or a discussion project on
> en.wikipedia or meta somewhere.

I am very open to this, George. In fact, one of my proposals would require
either a separate List or a "sandbox" type of thing in Wikipedia itself
where persons could learn and practice communication skills.
> 
> I agree that there are cultural issues, but my long experience with
> internet culture makes me tend to think that there aren't real
> "solutions" for them per se.

Then let's put our collective creativities together and find some solutions.
It could become just one of Wikipedia's legacies.

> However, I am open to having my mind
> changed on that point.

That is all that I ask.

Marc

>