[Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Education Newsletter: March 2016

Hello Everyone, We are sending the second quarterly Educational Newsletter. We have many updates in this newsletter from various education programs around the globe. We hope you enjoy the newest issue of the newsletter we are sharing now! On behalf of the Education Newsletter team, Sailesh

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open letter: Issues needing addressing by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 4:45 PM, Pete Forsyth wrote: > We should not use off-list messages to convey thoughts that would be > completely unacceptable if said in public. I don't want to be involved in > stuff like that -- and I'd much rather it didn't happen to begin with. >

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open letter: Issues needing addressing by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees

On Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 7:02 PM, Chris Sherlock wrote: > My only feedback is that information is *really* scattered. I’m finding it > hard to follow what is going on, not that this should be a concern as I’m > not doing the work. It might be nice to have a slightly

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open letter: Issues needing addressing by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees

Hi Pete, if Jimmy Wales' behaviour has degenerated to the level of making personal attacks off-list while posting contradictory soft soap on-list (such as not being against James rerunning, and he did not want to vote James off the board but this was everyone else on the WMF board that forced his

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open letter: Issues needing addressing by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees

The message below went without response on the list, but there was a significant off-list response. Jimmy Wales wrote to James Heilman, and CC'd me. His message professed to praise this one, but missed its main points: * There was no mention of professional mediation or facilitation to work

Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wmfall] Inspire Campaign on content curation & review launches today!

Looking forward to all of the great ideas - thanks for your work on this, Chris, and for kicking off the campaign with a few submission, Aaron. On Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 2:14 PM, Anna Stillwell wrote: > Thank you. Great work. > /a > > On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 3:59 PM,

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Hello, I cannot say much about the specific case, but in general: in small countries it is not unusual that there is only one national encyclopedia, and that it is directly or indirectly published or supported by the government or an institution close to the government. A good example is the

Re: [Wikimedia-l] A quick note about the future

Chris: this is certainly not meant to constitute legal advice and it's getting tangential any way because since we have community 'selections' James can CERTAINLY run since it's a 'selection,' but I ran the statutory language passed a Florida lawyer, alhough one who doesn't practice this sort of

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Discourse installation

Thanks! On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 12:16 PM, Erik Bernhardson < ebernhard...@wikimedia.org> wrote: > This test instance is not yet using OAuth to utilize SUL credentials. > Discourse only supports OAuth2, and MediaWiki only supports OAuth1, so some > engineering time needs to be spent to build a

[Wikimedia-l] Discourse installation

Sorry, I don't know where else to ask - I was thinking of trying out the Discourse installation, and wasn't sure if I should create a new account or if I could just use my SUL credentials? And if the former, wouldn't that later clash when we merge to something like OAuth?

[Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

A number of nominations have now come in for the affiliate-selected board seats.[1] One of the people who have put their names forward to date is Susanna Mkrtchyan of Wikimedia Armenia. In her nomination statement[2] Susanna refers to the 2014 "One Armenian, one Article" Wikipedia campaign. The

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

On 2016-03-02 20:58, Andreas Kolbe wrote: Now, why are we bestowing Wikipedian of the Year honours on government employees of repressive regimes? If we had the US Secretary of Defense writing Wikipedia articles about the US Army, or had employees of the German government running Wikimedia

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Discourse installation

This test instance is not yet using OAuth to utilize SUL credentials. Discourse only supports OAuth2, and MediaWiki only supports OAuth1, so some engineering time needs to be spent to build a bridge between the two. For now, with the test, you will need to create a new account. On Wed, Mar 2,

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

2016-03-03 0:15 GMT+01:00 Andreas Kolbe : > I don't know Susanna, and in fact until yesterday had never heard of her. > She may well be a delightful and charming person with a genuine enthusiasm > for open knowledge. There are after all many encyclopedic topics that have > no

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Cristian, I think that top-level government interference in Wikipedia harms people in the movement and its mission, especially if the government in question has a less than stellar press freedom record. Andreas On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 12:10 AM, Cristian Consonni wrote:

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

I would like to add that I have been following Susanna's work in Armenia since 2011, and have had occasion to evaluate it as a grants officer. During these five years, Susanna has been an exemplary Wikimedian, building community around her, empowering other volunteers to do their best work, and

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

Thank you. I wholeheartedly agree with your point, and hope that we can find the courage to remind each other of this more often. Small, early reminders can go a long way towards avoiding a gradual erosion of boundaries. Gabriel On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 3:59 PM, Denny Vrandecic

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Asaf, I hear you. My apologies to Susanna and the list for anything I have said that cast aspersions on Susanna's character. Nevertheless, I remain concerned. She is part of a state committee under the authority of the Armenian Minister of Education and Science, who along with other senior

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

so much for "Assume good faith" On 3 March 2016 at 08:31, Cristian Consonni wrote: > 2016-03-03 1:20 GMT+01:00 Andreas Kolbe : > > I think that top-level government interference in Wikipedia harms people > in > > the movement and its mission,

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 8:11 PM, Yaroslav M. Blanter wrote: > Susanna is (or was) a researcher, and every researcher in Armenia is a > state employee. There are just no non-governmental organizations who employ > researchers. > > I do think there is a problem with a potential

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Andreas, Unless you have specific evidence that Susanna has been specifically involved with anything untoward, you are smearing with guilt by association and creating your own chilling effect, and you would owe Susanna a retraction and apology. Cheers, Craig Franklin On 3 March 2016 at 09:15,

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 4:36 PM, Andreas Kolbe wrote: > Asaf, > > I hear you. My apologies to Susanna and the list for anything I have said > that cast aspersions on Susanna's character. > Thank you. > Nevertheless, I remain concerned. She is part of a state committee under

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Wow, Andreas. That's taking several major leaps of logic. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Any reason why you brought these rather extraordinary assumptions to this mailing list before Susanna had even had a chance to respond to your question at her nomination page? Risker/Anne On 2 March

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Is there any actual connection between Susanna and the high-level government interest or effort around the Armenian Wikipedia? What I'm asking is if there is anything here, other than supposition that because she is Armenian and the Armenian government is interested in Wikipedia that Susanna must

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

Thanks. I also got reminded about that a few times, recently. I would love this to be more reflected upon. On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 3:49 PM, Keegan Peterzell wrote: > There's a quote popularly attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: > > "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

2016-03-03 1:20 GMT+01:00 Andreas Kolbe : > I think that top-level government interference in Wikipedia harms people in > the movement and its mission, especially if the government in question has > a less than stellar press freedom record. Yes, of course, but until you have

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

so now we are judging a candidate because his/her country or government ? Susana and her team are doing really really great job, I wonder how unfair a person could judge a respected wikimedian. Mardetanha On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:59 PM, Ziko van Dijk wrote: > Hello, > >

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

On 2 March 2016 at 19:58, Andreas Kolbe wrote: > Western countries don't really have a tradition of state-published > encyclopedias, Wales is not a western country? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopaedia_of_Wales > If we had the US Secretary of Defense > writing

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 3:35 PM, geni wrote: > On 2 March 2016 at 19:58, Andreas Kolbe wrote: > > Western countries don't really have a tradition of state-published > > encyclopedias, > > Wales is not a western country? > > https://en.wikipedia >

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

I heartily endorse what Asaf has said here, but I'd add one thing: When someone runs for the board, that introduces a standard that goes beyond Assume Good Faith. Ultimately, if appointed, a Trustee will need to disclose any Conflicts of Interest. But those disclosures, as I understand it, are

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Cristian, when I said I heartily endorse what Asaf said, I meant exactly that. I agree with him, and with you, that accusatory email threads without evidence are toxic, and should be avoided. But questions about Conflict of Interest are appropriate. In a Board selection process, we do not merely

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 7:21 PM, Chris Sherlock wrote: > > > I agree with this, though I wonder about what to do when people cause > events that damage the central ideas and tenants of an organization. > > Just a thought. > ​It is not hard to keep discussions

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

> On 3 Mar 2016, at 10:49 AM, Keegan Peterzell wrote: > > There's a quote popularly attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: > > "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds > discuss people."[0] > > Now, I'm not calling any particular people small

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

2016-03-03 2:06 GMT+01:00 Pete Forsyth : > I heartily endorse what Asaf has said here, but I'd add one thing: > > When someone runs for the board, that introduces a standard that goes > beyond Assume Good Faith. Yes, but please also note the difference between "assume good

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open letter: Issues needing addressing by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees

On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 3:50 AM, Philippe Beaudette wrote: > It is deeply unsettling to have my WHAT? I confirmed no such thing, and > your misrepresentations do you no favors. > > One thing I have learned over the last few years is that it is impossible > to have a

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

I agree to do so. I'll help you constructively remind. Thank you. /a On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 6:05 PM, Keegan Peterzell wrote: > On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 7:21 PM, Chris Sherlock > > wrote: > > > > > > > I agree with this, though I wonder about

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 10:01 PM, Pine W wrote: > Hi Keegan, > > I'm fond of the principle of civility. I'm wondering how you suggest that > we balance civility with the need to hold people accountable. For example, > if someone makes a series of highly problematic decisions,

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

> On 3 Mar 2016, at 3:35 PM, Keegan Peterzell wrote: >> >> ​Write words with measured logic and sound emotions. >> >> > ​"Strike that, reverse it." ~ Willy Wonka[0] > > Sound logic and measured emotions. > > 0. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJo2EZW8yU​ Thank

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open letter: Issues needing addressing by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees

Philippe There is no public evidence of your misleading statements re years of careful planning.and execution. What there is public evidence of is that the WMF has systematically evaded its enforcement responsibilities under the Terms of Use. To cite 1 specific instance, Sue Gardner was

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Speaking in general terms, I like the idea of requiring early and public disclosures of conflicts of interests that seem reasonably likely. Also speaking in general terms, I'm aware of a number of Wikimedians in the United States and Canada who are directly employed by government organizations,

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

Hi Keegan, I'm fond of the principle of civility. I'm wondering how you suggest that we balance civility with the need to hold people accountable. For example, if someone makes a series of highly problematic decisions, or commits a wikifelony in their particular role (for example, blatant misuse

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open letter: Issues needing addressing by the Wikimedia Foundation's Board of Trustees

It is deeply unsettling to have my WHAT? I confirmed no such thing, and your misrepresentations do you no favors. One thing I have learned over the last few years is that it is impossible to have a conversation in a spirit of openness when one party so wildly misrepresents the statements of the

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

On 2 March 2016 at 23:15, Andreas Kolbe wrote: ... > I don't know Susanna, and in fact until yesterday had never heard of her. > She may well be a delightful and charming person with a genuine enthusiasm > for open knowledge. There are after all many encyclopedic topics that

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

+1 On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:11 PM, Anna Stillwell wrote: > I agree to do so. I'll help you constructively remind. > Thank you. > /a > > On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 6:05 PM, Keegan Peterzell > wrote: > > > On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 7:21 PM, Chris

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 10:31 PM, Keegan Peterzell wrote: > > > On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 10:01 PM, Pine W wrote: > >> Hi Keegan, >> >> I'm fond of the principle of civility. I'm wondering how you suggest that >> we balance civility with the need to hold

[Wikimedia-l] Affiliate-selected Board seats-candidates

There are now, five days before deadline, 7 candidates and all new names. Last time two years ago there were only two candidates before the very last days before deadline and both being existing Board members. It is very good to see so many competent candidates and representing a wider set of

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Affiliate-selected Board seats-candidates

Hoi, I so agree. It would be good when the notion of civility that has been championed is taken to Meta as well. Thanks, GerardM On 3 March 2016 at 07:22, Anders Wennersten wrote: > There are now, five days before deadline, 7 candidates and all new names. > Last

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Fae, Thanks. I've also had a conversation off-list about this with another Wikimedian whom I greatly respect, and they have shared similar impressions of Susanna with me. I truly appreciate the input. For the record, I do sincerely regret writing "But she is clearly part of a

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

Andreas, While I understand your interest in asking these questions, I feel that Meta would be the best venue for this discussion, preferably on a page that is designed for Q with the Board candidates. This way, the vast majority of the questions for Board candidates can be located in the same

[Wikimedia-l] Open and recorded WMF Board meetings

Circling back to a subject that I've mentioned before, I favor having meetings of the WMF Board be open and recorded by default, with limited exceptions for discussions of legally privileged information and other subjects for which there is a strong reason that deliberations should remain private.

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open and recorded WMF Board meetings

2016-03-02 23:22 GMT-08:00 Erik Moeller : > Jimmy made a couple of suggestions earlier [1], including to publish > all presentations given to the Board and to have a trusted community > observer. "Nearly all", to paraphrase accurately, and on re-reading the email I'm not sure

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 12:51 AM, Jane Darnell wrote: > I just thought Mr. Kolbe's mother didn't hug him enough as a baby. > > I did not bring this up in response to any one particular person, thread, or individual post. ​The issues are much broader and run far deeper, namely,

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Using this list to tear people down

I just thought Mr. Kolbe's mother didn't hug him enough as a baby. On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 5:33 AM, Sam Klein wrote: > +1 > > On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:11 PM, Anna Stillwell > wrote: > > > I agree to do so. I'll help you constructively remind.

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board

But is it avoidable? Peter -Original Message- From: Wikimedia-l [mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Andreas Kolbe Sent: Thursday, 03 March 2016 2:37 AM To: Wikimedia Mailing List Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Armenia candidate for the board Asaf, I hear

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open and recorded WMF Board meetings

> On 3 Mar 2016, at 5:31 PM, Pine W wrote: > > Circling back to a subject that I've mentioned before, I favor having > meetings of the WMF Board be open and recorded by default, with limited > exceptions for discussions of legally privileged information and other > subjects

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open and recorded WMF Board meetings

Seems a good guide: https://www.governanceinstitute.com.au/media/428696/gov-inst_bestpracticeminutes_2014.pdf R/R ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to:

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open and recorded WMF Board meetings

2016-03-02 22:56 GMT-08:00 Chris Sherlock : > Let’s have the Board meetings be recorded. If they cannot be recorded, > then I’d like the WMF to improve their meeting minutes. Jimmy made a couple of suggestions earlier [1], including to publish all presentations given

[Wikimedia-l] [x-post] Reminder: WMF Language Office Hour today i.e. March 2nd 2016 (Wednesday) at 1400 UTC

[x-posted announcement] Hello, A reminder that the online office hour hosted by the Wikimedia Language team is scheduled for later today at 1400 UTC. You can join the hangout or watch the session from: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cbn4a2gubl4m6au3jv0gllh5t0k Please note, due to the

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Katy Love to direct WMF Resources team

Derek, et al I was not attacking Katy in any way. I have now read Maggie's response (which I thank her for making), and whilst from that response it may appear Katy is the best person for the job, I still question what this "new, open approach" to recruitment at the WMF entails... Internal