Long detailed and welcome email. Thanks a lot Rexford. On Mar 10, 2014 6:59 AM, "Nkansah Rexford" <[email protected]> wrote:
> *Preamble*: This message applies to all in this mailing list community. > Newbies have joined this mailing since it was started, and I hope to use > this email to discuss about the part the mailing list plays in our day to > day WMGH activities and discussions. > > *History*: One of the executives of this planning wikimedia ghana > requested for the creation of this mailing list. Someone called > TheHelpfulOne who was (and perhaps is still) one of the administrator of > the global mailing lists of Wikimedia created this mailing list. He was an > admin of this list for sometime, but he has left the administratorship of > it for us now. The mailing list are *not a third party application *in > the sense that it is directly by the WMF in > California<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Overview> > . > > *Overview*: A mailing list is like a shared email address: messages sent > to that address are distributed to all members ("subscribers") of the list. > All discussion related to a group or community is put through. Since > everyone who is interested in the community is subscribed on the wire, the > messages get directly in the emails, allowing everyone to participate > anytime anyday without their having to regularly check for feeds or updates > anywhere. It is regarded the easiest and a more efficient way of reaching > community members in a group and inviting participation. And for this the > WMGH team are doing pretty good at that. > > As a quote:<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists#General_information> > >> Almost all mailing lists archive their posts and you can view these >> archives online by clicking the link on the main list information page. For >> most public lists, the posts in the web-based archives are indexed by >> search engines such as Google <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google> - >> to search the archives, you can restrict your search by server name (add >> site:lists.wikimedia.org) or by the directory containing a particular >> list's archive (site:lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/*<list name>*, e.g. >> site:lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/mediawiki-l >> ...<http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Alists.wikimedia.org%2Fpipermail%2Fmediawiki-l+archive+search> >> ) [all lists were moved to a lists.wikimedia.org domain in January 2007; >> however, depending on each search engine, searching the prior domain >> (either "mail.wiki*p*edia.org" or "mail.wiki*m*edia.org") may work >> better] >> >> Some of the mailing lists are occasionally summarized at the List >> Summary Service <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/List_Summary_Service> >> page. >> >> Top posters can be found at Wikimedia Mail Stats: >> index<http://www.infodisiac.com/Wikipedia/ScanMail/> >> > > Though there are other means of communicating to community members such us > in the IRC, or talk pages, the mailing list happens to be the de facto and > quicker way of sharing ideas, discussing about progress of the community, > and even discussing about articles. > > For articles discussions, they are best left on the respective talk pages > of the articles. However, relaying such information to the mailing list > won't be a bad idea to. This is because not everyone checks the Talk Pages > regularly, however, the email inbox is checked several times a day. > > *Frequently Asked Questions:* > *What Can i send to this mailing list?* > Every mailing list has a particular reason for its existence. Know the > purpose and post what's relevant to the group. Posting a Media Wiki server > related issue in the Wikipedia Mailing list is considered a spam to some > extent, because in that community or mailing list, such a message is > unwanted. > > *Can I advertise in the mailing list?* > Never try that! You'll likely be removed from the list as soon as possible > should you post ads. The messages reach emails directly, so ads in > community discussion is hated. > > *No one has responded to my message, why?* > If your message demanded participation but no one has responded, DO NOT > repeatedly post the message or reframe it. At the right time, it will be > responded. If it is not, It might be for reasons like: > > 1. No one has idea about your question or message. > 2. Its not relevant to the community > 3. Your message does not demand participation but its just information > of which the readers are free to apply or decline. > > *Who do messages in the mailing list apply to?* > Any message you send to the mailing list applies to EVERYONE in the list > UNLESS you explicitly specify by NAME or THING that this or that part of > the text or message should apply to him or her or that. Explicit emails are > mostly responded to and gains participation. > > *What can't I do in the mailing list?* > Adhere strictly to the Etiquette > explained<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikiquette>. > Try to keep personal stuffs away from the mailing list. And remember: Treat > others as you would have them treat you--even if they are new. *We were > all new once*. Treat everyone equally. Irrespective of how new or old you > or someone has been in the mailing list, try to ensure equal right and > respect. > > *Can I discuss personal issues in the mailing list?* > No! Please keep them personal by contacting the respective person. > However, if you strongly feel it's of importance to other community > members, you are good to do so, but remember to Adhere strictly to the > Etiquette explained <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikiquette>. > > *Conclusion: *Using other websites to log or store discussions about > activities related to WMGH apart from the Meta, Talk Pages, or Mailing > List, is not wrong and is allowed. However, its important to at least, pass > such information through the mailing list or document on the Meta to ensure > longevity and easy accessibility. In addition, a few Wikimedia Foundation > representatives are also on this mailing list (or wire) listening in and > adding their voices accordingly as and when needed. Holding our discussions > OFF the mailing means these ones must follow us there. The mailing list is > a one stop shop for all conversations and makes the lives of all > subscribers easier by delivering discussions right to their doorsteps > without them having to go the extra mile. > > You are *not* prohibited to use other platforms to discuss or share > information about this community. However, as much as possible, lets all > work towards ensuring what deserves to be in the mailing list are kept > rightly to prevent fragmentation of discussions or record keeping. > > Forgive me if I left a point out. You are free to add up to this thread. > > Rupert, please do you have any to add? > > -- > Rexford <http://google.com/+Nkansahrexford> | Africa > Center<http://africacenter.net>| > WiR <https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedian_in_Residence> | > WikiAfrica <http://wikiafrica.net> | > User:Nkansahrexford<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Nkansahrexford> > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-GH mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-gh > >
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