[Foundation-l] Criticism of employees (was VPAT)

[whothis]

On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 10:44 PM, FT2 <ft2.wiki at gmail.com> wrote:

> Not quite so.  I've just been working at the "community department" and
> indeed, it does include quite a large proportion from the community.  When
> I
> was there, Steve Walling was around, two people from Russian community were
> working in the community department for a week, Seddon from enwiki and
> Wikimedia UK was visiting in a few days.  Alison dropped by to that
> department as did a couple of others. There were others but I didn't get
> all
> the names. For the most part, they were trying to do the most with their
> time so lists took a back seat.
>

I think you missed my point, I meant people employed at the "community
department", I only went by the staff page. From the 9 people currently
listed in that department, there are apparently only 2 people from the
community in the community department. Some of the titles, I admit seem
rather vague and not necessarily related to anything with the community at
all.  The two people from the community, Steven Walling being one of them
has already mentioned on another thread that his position is temporary and
ends in a few months. As for Philippe Beaudette, the only thing I know about
him is that he enacted the OTRS identification policy while leaving for
vacation, and apparently no one else from the "community department" knew
anything about it except him.

I never referred to the visitors, who I believe have been visiting prior to
the formation of the "community department".


> Most people here - whether foundation staff, community, or other list
> members - have a real life to get on with as well. When it gets busy,
> routine mailing list chatter is not a priority; doing the job is. The
> office
> staff work heavily, I didn't see people there with time to kick around on a
> list like this except at the cost of ignoring other priorities.
>

Well, it's feedback related to their work. Sometimes its a direct reaction
to what they are doing, I would argue that this list should be a priority in
that regard.


>
> One suggestion I made was that, since communication between office and
> community is so critical, it might be worth the foundation employing one
> person at the office purely for community/office liaison (via this list, on
> Meta, etc). In other words their role is to be at the office and responsive
> to the community on lists and wikis, ensure community questions and
> concerns
> are addressed or not lost, where other staff may not be able to do so as
> fully as some would wish. It'd cost, but it may well be worth it.
> Worthwhile? Or wasteful?
>

The foundation needs to do a lot of things, to start with some clarification
about the supposed departments and titles. It all seems rather vague from
the staff page. I have already stated that there is a huge communication gap
between the community and the foundation, this list merely seems to be
employed for announcements by staff members. But again, I doubt anyone cares
for my opinion since this is troll-l.

>
>
> FT2
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 4:29 PM, whothis <whothith at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Tell them to go ahead, this list has already been referred to troll-l and
> a
> > dozen excuses have been offered why the staff ignores it for the most
> part
> > after someone dared to question one of the beloved fellow. The volume of
> > the
> > criticism is only going to get louder if the staff continues to ignore
> the
> > concerns, I'd like to believe that there is a pattern there. You can't
> > drown
> > out your criticism by ignoring a mailing list. I think it's a central
> > problem with the foundation, it seems to be heading in the opposite
> > direction than how they perceive it themselves. I think it only proves
> the
> > concerns that have been raised before, the foundation might just stop
> > communicating altogether and use this list for announcements, whether
> > anyone
> > likes them or not.
> >
> > (snip)
> >
> > On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Jon Davis <wiki at konsoletek.com> wrote:
> > > (Snip)
> >
>
>
> > Then who do you expect to follow and reply on the list, if not that
> staff.
> >  You know, the people being paid to run the projects, the majority of
> > discussions are related to their work and operations. If they don't want
> to
> > spend their paid time on doing something so unproductive as answering the
> > community's concern then who should. Oh...you meant it's for all us
> > non-employees, who have jobs and responsibilities outside of Wikipedia,
> > only
> > we are expected to read the list...silly me. I think I understand why
> it's
> > seen as wasteful. It's for all the volunteers who give their time reading
> > and thinking about Wikimedia related activities, we can't expect the paid
> > employees to do the same.......or care. I think that's what it comes
> down,
> > people complaining on this list care for the most part, and the staff
> might
> > not, as much. it's just a job to them like any other, or that's what your
> > justification led me to believe.
> >
> > Just a thought here, but maybe the "Community Department," should
> actually
> > include some people from the community. I know it might be against
> > some super-secret policy of avoiding community members but at least the
> > "Community Department" could try including someone from the community.
> >
> >
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Elizabeth

-- 
Sorry my karma ran over your dogma.