..and I dream of repetitive metrics that can be compared year to year

On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 5:02 PM, Fæ <fae...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Ethically, I would rather defer a proposal, such as one for Wiki Loves
> Pride or a more general diversity event, until the restriction is lifted.
>
> There is too much pointless political flim flam already in our Wikimedia
> community without masking events as GenderGap for the sake of faking
> metrics.
>
> Fae
> On 3 Jan 2015 15:50, "Jane Darnell" <jane...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > ..and I am hoping to see lots of "gendergap paint"
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 4:42 PM, Lodewijk <lodew...@effeietsanders.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I hoped that after the discussions on the wiki loves monuments mailing
> > > list, someone of the grant team would have proactively informed the
> wider
> > > community in an earlier stage. I hope that the fact they did not do
> this,
> > > means they are reconsidering the way this campaign is shaped.
> > >
> > > As indicated before, this 'shutdown' (or focus) of Individual
> Engagement
> > > Grants as well as Project and Event Grants was confirmed
> > > <
> > >
> >
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikilovesmonuments/2014-December/007600.html
> > > >by
> > > Alex Wang. She referred in that email to this onwiki description
> > > <
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:IdeaLab/Inspire_Grants_%E2%80%93_Gender_gap_campaign
> > > >.
> > > I should also emphasize that Alex indicated that they don't expect this
> > to
> > > impact WLM-related grants (because they expect teams to request funding
> > > much
> > > later in the process
> > > <
> > >
> >
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikilovesmonuments/2014-December/007603.html
> > > >
> > > - not before june/july, an assumption I disagree with), and she also
> > > suggested the closing was not as hard as it sounds, as she's willing to
> > > discuss problems (she emphasized this in her email).
> > >
> > > I don't want to reiterate all discussions about whether gendergap is
> the
> > > problem or a symptom (we have many gaps in our community, of which the
> > > gender gap is the most visible and easiest to measure), but I do feel
> > > uncomfortable with this campaign. I have asked around a bit in the past
> > > week and only received negative feedback on the campaign - with people
> > > confirming my fear that this will likely undermine the community
> support
> > > (or at least support by the 'organizing community') for
> gendergap-related
> > > projects in general - be it out of frustration, compensation or
> > jealousy. I
> > > called it a 'negative campaign' in my emails because the focus is not
> > about
> > > actively boosting one type of requests (which is the claim), but rather
> > > about making it harder to do something unrelated to it in the hope that
> > > people instead will choose for the easy way, and organize a gendergap
> > > related event.
> > >
> > > What I also fear, is that people will just give their request a tiny
> bit
> > of
> > > 'gendergap'-paint, make up some way how they help reduce it (which is
> > > basically true for almost any outreach event aiming at a group with
> less
> > > than 90% men - i.e. almost any group aside from Wikipedia or catholic
> > > priests). I'm confident that most of our outreach projects, including
> > Wiki
> > > Loves Monuments, could claim to reach relatively more women than the
> > editor
> > > population contains. But I am very unhappy if we start distributing
> > grants
> > > on such shaky grounds - those projects often are much stronger in
> general
> > > editor retention, which happens to be relatively more women. The focus
> of
> > > the projects would be unnaturally shifted in the grant request compared
> > to
> > > the actual activities.
> > >
> > > Again, I hope that the decision makers involved here will reconsider
> the
> > > way this has been shaped, and frame it more in a positive way, focusing
> > on
> > > supporting efforts in a thematic direction, rather than discouraging
> > other
> > > thematic directions. And as I have said elsewhere: I would be similarly
> > > against this, with any other theme - I wouldn't be able to stand the
> idea
> > > to focus entirely on photo-events only for three months...
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Lodewijk
> > >
> > > On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 3:59 PM, Jens Best <jens.b...@wikimedia.de>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > I think some clarification is needed by people who are in charge for
> > the
> > > > grantmaking process. There is a difference between "shutting down the
> > > > grantmaking process (PEG) and (IEG) for three full months" and
> adding a
> > > > voluntary gendergap "theme" to a project to get better funding
> chances.
> > > >
> > > > So I really would like to see some clarifications about these leaked
> > > plans
> > > > before having a propably heated debate about it.
> > > >
> > > > Needless to say that adding ideologically driven must-haves to a
> > general
> > > > grantmaking process which only purpose is to serve the voluntary work
> > on
> > > a
> > > > supposed-to-be-free encyclopedia would leave a disturbing impression
> on
> > > > many people.
> > > >
> > > > best regards
> > > >
> > > > Jens Best
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 2015-01-03 15:46 GMT+01:00 Romaine Wiki <romaine.w...@gmail.com>:
> > > >
> > > > > There are multiple ways in how to define the Gendergap, in this
> case
> > it
> > > > is
> > > > > about female participation.
> > > > >
> > > > > I do think it is a problem that the number of female participants
> is
> > > > > dramatically lower than those of male contributors, but still this
> > does
> > > > not
> > > > > give any good reason to exclude good projects who are not
> particular
> > > > aiming
> > > > > for female contributors.
> > > > >
> > > > > WMF wants to solve the Gendergap by excluding good other projects.
> > That
> > > > is
> > > > > a very bad situation.
> > > > >
> > > > > Trying to solve the Gendergap by enlarging the Community Gap.
> > > > >
> > > > > Bad idea.
> > > > >
> > > > > Romaine
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > 2015-01-03 15:33 GMT+01:00 Jane Darnell <jane...@gmail.com>:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Nope. Gendergap is about the gap in female participation, not in
> > > > > > female-related topics. The Dutch Wikipedia has a severe gap with
> > only
> > > > 6%
> > > > > > female participation. I would say this is a pretty urgent problem
> > for
> > > > the
> > > > > > Dutch and Flemish community, so I was very glad to see this as a
> > main
> > > > > theme
> > > > > > for the coming three months.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 3:17 PM, Romaine Wiki <
> > romaine.w...@gmail.com
> > > >
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hello Jane,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Sorry, but I think you miss the problem here.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > As I said before, I am fine with more projects that improve the
> > > > > coverage
> > > > > > of
> > > > > > > so-called female topics, but not if this is damaging the
> projects
> > > > which
> > > > > > do
> > > > > > > not aim for such.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I hope this campaign in this form is cancelled and witdrawn and
> > > that
> > > > > > never
> > > > > > > ever such situation appears again. This way of working is
> > damaging
> > > > the
> > > > > > > trust in WMF, discouraging many volunteers, worsening projects,
> > > etc.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Having a Gendergap campaign in this form is NOT in line with
> the
> > > > vision
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > Wikimedia movement has.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > The current campaign is scheduled to be one of hopefully
> many,
> > > > > targeted
> > > > > > > at the community in order to generate themed proposals.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If it was really targeted at the Wikimedia community, it would
> > not
> > > > have
> > > > > > > excluded other projects.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I propose everyone to refuse to take part in this as this is a
> > move
> > > > in
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > wrong direction.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > And how WLM to attract more female particpation? By having a
> > > special
> > > > > > > category for pink buildings.
> > > > > > > Under this condition, a question as such can't be taken
> > seriously.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Romaine
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > 2015-01-03 14:58 GMT+01:00 Jane Darnell <jane...@gmail.com>:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > As a member of the IEG committee I am happy to say that there
> > is
> > > no
> > > > > > need
> > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > panic. WLM is highly successful project and no one is talking
> > > about
> > > > > > > > shutting it down, or any other project for that matter. The
> > > current
> > > > > > > > campaign is scheduled to be one of hopefully many, targeted
> at
> > > the
> > > > > > > > community in order to generate themed proposals. The current
> > > growth
> > > > > of
> > > > > > > > highly diverse and inspirational proposals takes increasingly
> > > more
> > > > > > energy
> > > > > > > > to manage, judge, and maintain. By introducing a three-month
> > long
> > > > > > theme,
> > > > > > > it
> > > > > > > > is hoped that the following will occur:
> > > > > > > > 1) Grant committee members in their voluntary role as
> proposal
> > > > > > reviewers
> > > > > > > > and community sponsors will experience less burn-out in
> > managing
> > > > > > > proposals
> > > > > > > > as their will be more cross pollination per cohort of
> proposers
> > > and
> > > > > > their
> > > > > > > > proposals.
> > > > > > > > 2) A targeted campaign to attract proposals will enable
> easier
> > > > > > > translation
> > > > > > > > across projects if the target audience can be identified in
> > > advance
> > > > > > > > 3) A targeted campaign will attract more volunteer committee
> > > > members
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > > manage proposals, hopefully attracting local experts in
> various
> > > > > > Wikimedia
> > > > > > > > projects.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > The Gendergap will be the first theme. I think it's a great
> > idea!
> > > > How
> > > > > > can
> > > > > > > > WLM attract more female participation? Any ideas?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 11:26 AM, Romaine Wiki <
> > > > > romaine.w...@gmail.com>
> > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Hi all,
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Some disturbing news entered my mailbox the past days. The
> > > grant
> > > > > > making
> > > > > > > > > team is going to shut down the grantmaking process for
> > Project
> > > > and
> > > > > > > Event
> > > > > > > > > Grants (PEG) and Individual Engagement Grants (IEG) for
> three
> > > > full
> > > > > > > > months!
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > They have decided that they want to focus only on a
> specific
> > > > > > strategic
> > > > > > > > > priority: the gender gap, and that all other good projects
> > are
> > > > > > refused
> > > > > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > 3 months (February-April).
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Having more attention to a strategic priority is fine to
> me.
> > > > Having
> > > > > > > more
> > > > > > > > > attention to the problem of the gender gap, sounds good to
> me
> > > as
> > > > > > such,
> > > > > > > we
> > > > > > > > > can use much more projects and content in those areas. But
> > that
> > > > > does
> > > > > > > not
> > > > > > > > > mean that many many volunteers who are organizing other
> > > projects
> > > > > > should
> > > > > > > > > become the victim of other projects.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > This is a negative signal to all those volunteers who are
> > > > currently
> > > > > > > > working
> > > > > > > > > on project plans to be submitted in February, March and
> > April.
> > > > Good
> > > > > > > > > projects to be ignored, just because the WMF think those
> are
> > > less
> > > > > > > > > important. They say this is a positive campaign, but this
> > > sounds
> > > > > as a
> > > > > > > > > negative campaign to me. This discourages many volunteers
> in
> > > > doing
> > > > > > > > > projects.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > And even worse: this is only to be generally announced 2
> > weeks
> > > > > before
> > > > > > > > that
> > > > > > > > > period of shutting down starts! (this sounds like a joke,
> > sadly
> > > > it
> > > > > > > isn't)
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > To organize a good project volunteers (yes, we are still
> > > unpaid!
> > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > organize these projects in our spare time!) we need the
> time
> > to
> > > > > > > > communicate
> > > > > > > > > well with all our partners and sponsors, and need the time
> to
> > > > come
> > > > > up
> > > > > > > > with
> > > > > > > > > a good project plan with a stable basis. Rushing a project
> in
> > > > just
> > > > > a
> > > > > > > > couple
> > > > > > > > > of weeks time is very unpleasant and does not help in
> > getting a
> > > > > good
> > > > > > > > > quality project. And announcing it two weeks before the
> > period
> > > > > > > indicates
> > > > > > > > > that organizers aren't taken seriously (enough).
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > For example, we are currently planning to organize Wiki
> Loves
> > > > > > Monuments
> > > > > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > 2015 again, the world wide contest to have a better
> > > documentation
> > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > better display of all the cultural monuments worldwide,
> > > > recognised
> > > > > as
> > > > > > > > > largest photo contest in the world by Guinness World
> Records.
> > > We
> > > > > are
> > > > > > > > > currently working on forming a team and want to have a good
> > > > stable
> > > > > > plan
> > > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > be submitted within some weeks, but now we need to rush.
> And
> > > yes
> > > > we
> > > > > > > need
> > > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > start in January/February or it will be too late to
> organize
> > it
> > > > > > > properly.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Also all the national teams of Wiki Loves Monuments, the
> > > > > > international
> > > > > > > > team
> > > > > > > > > recommend all the national teams to start in
> > January/February,
> > > to
> > > > > > have
> > > > > > > a
> > > > > > > > > proper organisation together with various local partners
> and
> > > > > > sponsors,
> > > > > > > > but
> > > > > > > > > now all these teams are delayed for three months.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > And a personal project of mine in Belgium, I am planning to
> > > > > organize
> > > > > > > Wiki
> > > > > > > > > Loves Art in Belgium, together with various partners and
> > > > sponsors.
> > > > > We
> > > > > > > > > intent to start in February, but now have to rush to get
> such
> > > > done.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > By the way: did you know there is a Belgium Gap? Belgian
> > > subjects
> > > > > are
> > > > > > > > > relatively less and worse described on the various
> > Wikipedias.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > This shutting down results in:
> > > > > > > > > * Discouraging many volunteers who are planning to submit
> > good
> > > > > > project
> > > > > > > > > proposals.
> > > > > > > > > * Having volunteers rushed with project plans, which lowers
> > the
> > > > > > quality
> > > > > > > > of
> > > > > > > > > the plans.
> > > > > > > > > * Having volunteers being late and delayed with projects,
> for
> > > no
> > > > > good
> > > > > > > > > reason.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Grantmaking is intented to support the communities, not
> > > > frustrating
> > > > > > > them.
> > > > > > > > > WMF: stop this negative campaign!
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > And for all project teams who want to organize a gender gap
> > > > > project:
> > > > > > > > great
> > > > > > > > > you organize this, it is very very welcome! But I like to
> > make
> > > a
> > > > > > > > > suggestion: submit the proposal on the first day after the
> > > > shutting
> > > > > > > down
> > > > > > > > > period to give a strong signal to WMF that shutting down
> is a
> > > bad
> > > > > > idea.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > It is time for a new strategic priority: closing the
> > Community
> > > > Gap.
> > > > > > > That
> > > > > > > > is
> > > > > > > > > the gap between WMF and the local communities worldwide. It
> > is
> > > > not
> > > > > > new,
> > > > > > > > it
> > > > > > > > > exists for many years already. (It resulted also in the
> drama
> > > of
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > situation around the Mediaviewer in 2014, the drama with
> the
> > > > Visual
> > > > > > > > Editor
> > > > > > > > > in 2013, etc. in what WMF didn't sense well the community.)
> > > > (Maybe
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > gap
> > > > > > > > > is less between WMF and the English speaking part of the
> > world,
> > > > but
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > world is larger. We have many people around the world who
> are
> > > > > speak a
> > > > > > > > > different language. WMF is not sensing the worldwide
> > community
> > > > well
> > > > > > > > > enough.)
> > > > > > > > > Finally we should do more about this Community Gap.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > For those celebrating: I wish you a happy new year with
> great
> > > > > > projects
> > > > > > > > that
> > > > > > > > > make every single human being freely share in the sum of
> all
> > > > human
> > > > > > > > > knowledge!!
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Romaine
> > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________
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