Login | Register For Free | Help
Search for: (Advanced)

Mailing List Archive: Wikipedia: Foundation

Ethics project on Wikiversity

 

 

Wikipedia foundation RSS feed   Index | Next | Previous | View Threaded


brian.mcneil at wikinewsie

Jul 13, 2008, 2:52 AM

Post #1 of 15 (734 views)
Permalink
Ethics project on Wikiversity

User Moulton has started a Wikiversity project on ethical management of
Wikipedia.



http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Ethical_Management_of_the_English_Language_Wi
kipedia



With some of the initial discussion on the talk page suggesting things like
editors taking tests, ArbCom being replaced with paid professionals, I have
some concern that those involved with this are "forum shopping" for a place
where they can influence the running of Wikipedia.



This came to my attention when - as an apparent afterthought - Wikinews was
included in this. I have asked for that to be changed and that those
involved restrict themselves to projects they are familiar with.



I believe this should be given input from a wider community of editors,
hence raising it here.





Brian McNeil

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


oldakquill at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 4:58 AM

Post #2 of 15 (713 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

2008/7/13 Brian McNeil <brian.mcneil[at]wikinewsie.org>:
> User Moulton has started a Wikiversity project on ethical management of
> Wikipedia.
>
>
>
> http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Ethical_Management_of_the_English_Language_Wi
> kipedia
>
>
>
> With some of the initial discussion on the talk page suggesting things like
> editors taking tests, ArbCom being replaced with paid professionals, I have
> some concern that those involved with this are "forum shopping" for a place
> where they can influence the running of Wikipedia.
>
>
>
> This came to my attention when - as an apparent afterthought - Wikinews was
> included in this. I have asked for that to be changed and that those
> involved restrict themselves to projects they are familiar with.
>
>
>
> I believe this should be given input from a wider community of editors,
> hence raising it here.

Wikiversity is not the place to try to change or influence another
Wikimedia project. From what you describe, the Wikiversity project
seems to be opposed to some of the basic premises of Wikipedia.
Perhaps Wikiversity is being used because these ideas wouldn't gain
any currency on Wikipedia or Meta Wikimedia?

--
Oldak Quill (oldakquill[at]gmail.com)

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


majorly.wiki at googlemail

Jul 13, 2008, 5:04 AM

Post #3 of 15 (711 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

2008/7/13 Oldak Quill <oldakquill[at]gmail.com>:

> Perhaps Wikiversity is being used because these ideas wouldn't gain
> any currency on Wikipedia or Meta Wikimedia?
>

WAS and Moulton appear to be skipping from project to project to do this.
First English Wikipedia, then Meta-Wiki. Now Wikiversity.

--
Al Tally
(User:Majorly)
_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


moreschiwikiman at hotmail

Jul 13, 2008, 6:16 AM

Post #4 of 15 (712 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

> Wikiversity is not the place to try to change or influence another
> Wikimedia project. From what you describe, the Wikiversity project
> seems to be opposed to some of the basic premises of Wikipedia.
> Perhaps Wikiversity is being used because these ideas wouldn't gain
> any currency on Wikipedia or Meta Wikimedia?

Um, duh. Most of the editors participating are banned on en.

That said, if they come up with some good ideas, I will be delighted. Particularly relating to BLPs, where I feel we have completely lost sight of the principles of guilt and desert. At the moment on en you can be the biggest spamming dick ever, and no one can say anything bad about you even at AfD. Which is annoying.

Also, guys, can you apply your brains to our dispute resolution system? It works fine when both participants are honest and reasonably competent: it works awfully when one is trolling and gaming the system. We also have no good way to decide definitively "This is mainstream academic consensus: apply WP:FRINGE and other policies in the light of this".

Fix all that, and I'll be happy. I might even participate.

Best,

CM

_________________________________________________________________
The John Lewis Clearance - save up to 50% with FREE delivery
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/101719806/direct/01/
_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


wknight8111 at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 7:03 AM

Post #5 of 15 (705 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 7:58 AM, Oldak Quill <oldakquill[at]gmail.com> wrote:
> Wikiversity is not the place to try to change or influence another
> Wikimedia project. From what you describe, the Wikiversity project
> seems to be opposed to some of the basic premises of Wikipedia.
> Perhaps Wikiversity is being used because these ideas wouldn't gain
> any currency on Wikipedia or Meta Wikimedia?

Or, maybe Wikiversity is being used because this is precisely the type
of community-based research and collaboration work that they
specialize in. Wikiversity isn't censored for the benefit of
Wikipedia, and their users aren't bound by the content or discussion
policies at Wikipedia or Meta. I suggest that people who aren't
familiar with Wikiversity should take this as an opportunity to head
over there and see what that project is all about. Because, until you
understand Wikiversity, you can't possibly understand projects like
this one.

--Andrew Whitworth

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


moreschiwikiman at hotmail

Jul 13, 2008, 7:13 AM

Post #6 of 15 (708 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

Fair point. Until this thread I never grokked wikiversity. I just read the "what we are" page, though, and it looks pretty interesting, actually. And the right place for this ethics project.

CM

Odi profanum vulgus et arceo.

> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:03:01 -0400
> From: wknight8111[at]gmail.com
> To: foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
> Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] Ethics project on Wikiversity
>
> On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 7:58 AM, Oldak Quill <oldakquill[at]gmail.com> wrote:
> > Wikiversity is not the place to try to change or influence another
> > Wikimedia project. From what you describe, the Wikiversity project
> > seems to be opposed to some of the basic premises of Wikipedia.
> > Perhaps Wikiversity is being used because these ideas wouldn't gain
> > any currency on Wikipedia or Meta Wikimedia?
>
> Or, maybe Wikiversity is being used because this is precisely the type
> of community-based research and collaboration work that they
> specialize in. Wikiversity isn't censored for the benefit of
> Wikipedia, and their users aren't bound by the content or discussion
> policies at Wikipedia or Meta. I suggest that people who aren't
> familiar with Wikiversity should take this as an opportunity to head
> over there and see what that project is all about. Because, until you
> understand Wikiversity, you can't possibly understand projects like
> this one.
>
> --Andrew Whitworth
>
> _______________________________________________
> foundation-l mailing list
> foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l

_________________________________________________________________
The John Lewis Clearance - save up to 50% with FREE delivery
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/101719806/direct/01/
_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


geniice at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 7:30 AM

Post #7 of 15 (703 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

2008/7/13 Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111[at]gmail.com>:
> Or, maybe Wikiversity is being used because this is precisely the type
> of community-based research and collaboration work that they
> specialize in.

Oh dear.

>Wikiversity isn't censored for the benefit of
> Wikipedia,

No one suggested it should be.

> and their users aren't bound by the content or discussion
> policies at Wikipedia or Meta.

Again no one suggested that. However it should not allow itself to be
used as an attack vector against wikipedia. Well not unless you would
consider it legit for the English wikipedia to be used as an attack
vector against Wikiversity..

> I suggest that people who aren't
> familiar with Wikiversity should take this as an opportunity to head
> over there and see what that project is all about. Because, until you
> understand Wikiversity, you can't possibly understand projects like
> this one.
>
> --Andrew Whitworth

I understand attempts to cause disruption when I see them. But no
matter. You can't at least complain that you were not warned. As a
project it might well have some value but the people you have involved
and the direction taken so far suggests it won't be.


--
geni

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


moreschiwikiman at hotmail

Jul 13, 2008, 7:32 AM

Post #8 of 15 (705 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:30:31 +0100
> From: geniice[at]gmail.com
> To: foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
> Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] Ethics project on Wikiversity
>
> 2008/7/13 Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111[at]gmail.com>:
> > Or, maybe Wikiversity is being used because this is precisely the type
> > of community-based research and collaboration work that they
> > specialize in.
>
> Oh dear.
>
> >Wikiversity isn't censored for the benefit of
> > Wikipedia,
>
> No one suggested it should be.
>
> > and their users aren't bound by the content or discussion
> > policies at Wikipedia or Meta.
>
> Again no one suggested that. However it should not allow itself to be
> used as an attack vector against wikipedia. Well not unless you would
> consider it legit for the English wikipedia to be used as an attack
> vector against Wikiversity.

Um, sorry. In the material posted so far, where's the attack?

CM


_________________________________________________________________
Play and win great prizes with Live Search and Kung Fu Panda
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/101719966/direct/01/
_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


geniice at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 7:40 AM

Post #9 of 15 (705 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

2008/7/13 Christiano Moreschi <moreschiwikiman[at]hotmail.co.uk>:
>
>> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:30:31 +0100
>> From: geniice[at]gmail.com
>> To: foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
>> Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] Ethics project on Wikiversity
>>
>> 2008/7/13 Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111[at]gmail.com>:
>> > Or, maybe Wikiversity is being used because this is precisely the type
>> > of community-based research and collaboration work that they
>> > specialize in.
>>
>> Oh dear.
>>
>> >Wikiversity isn't censored for the benefit of
>> > Wikipedia,
>>
>> No one suggested it should be.
>>
>> > and their users aren't bound by the content or discussion
>> > policies at Wikipedia or Meta.
>>
>> Again no one suggested that. However it should not allow itself to be
>> used as an attack vector against wikipedia. Well not unless you would
>> consider it legit for the English wikipedia to be used as an attack
>> vector against Wikiversity.
>
> Um, sorry. In the material posted so far, where's the attack?
>
> CM

"The way things stand now, on the English Wikipedia, is that more
often than not, "BLP" stands for "Blasphemies of Living People."
—Moulton 10:27, 11 July 2008 (UTC)"

Given the number of minimalist sporting bios seems unlikely.

--
geni

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


wknight8111 at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 7:46 AM

Post #10 of 15 (704 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 10:30 AM, geni <geniice[at]gmail.com> wrote:
>>Wikiversity isn't censored for the benefit of
>> Wikipedia,
>
> No one suggested it should be.
>
>> and their users aren't bound by the content or discussion
>> policies at Wikipedia or Meta.
>
> Again no one suggested that. However it should not allow itself to be
> used as an attack vector against wikipedia.

So, nobody is suggesting that WV be censored for the benefit of WP,
but it should definitely not be allowed to be an attack vector against
it? Isn't that exactly the same thing? You're saying precisely that WV
content should be censored for the benefit of WP!

> Well not unless you would
> consider it legit for the English wikipedia to be used as an attack
> vector against Wikiversity.

Your misconceptions and errors here are numerous:
1) This is not an "attack vector". People are allowed to be critical
and analytic of Wikipedia without being defamed as a mere "attack
vector". The actions and methods of Wikipedia are not unquestionable
gospel truth, and people are allowed to discuss it's flaws openly and
suggest alternatives and improvements. Also, when doing this, they
don't need permission from anybody at WP.
2) It would be severely against the content policies of WP to host
attack content like this. Of course, I don't discount the fact that
lots of things have been included in wikipedia over the years that
aren't strictly allowed under the letter of current content policies.
It is not, however, against policy for people to host this kind of
content on WV.
3) If you can find problems or errors at WV that parallel those at WP,
or compare in magnitude to those at WP, go for it. I submit that there
are no such problems at WV, and in fact WP can learn a lot from that
scrappy little project.

> I understand attempts to cause disruption when I see them.

AND ALL SUCH ATTEMPTS MUST BE SQUASHED! Right?

> You can't at least complain that you were not warned.

And who is doing the warning, and what have I or anybody at
Wikiversity to fear? I'm not even an active member at Wikiversity, and
I don't need to be to know that they are different and separate and
independent from Wikipedia.

> As a
> project it might well have some value but the people you have involved
> and the direction taken so far suggests it won't be.

If there is value in this exercise, the participants at Wikiversity
will make that determination. I'm not sure how familiar you are with
Wikiversity, but your forecast about the value of this project doesn't
seem to be in line with normal Wikiversity attitudes. Maybe, before
throwing around warnings and dire predictions, you could actually go
to Wikiversity and see what the fuss is all about.

--Andrew Whitworth

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


geniice at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 8:10 AM

Post #11 of 15 (706 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

2008/7/13 Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111[at]gmail.com>:
> On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 10:30 AM, geni <geniice[at]gmail.com> wrote:
>>>Wikiversity isn't censored for the benefit of
>>> Wikipedia,
>>
>> No one suggested it should be.
>>
>>> and their users aren't bound by the content or discussion
>>> policies at Wikipedia or Meta.
>>
>> Again no one suggested that. However it should not allow itself to be
>> used as an attack vector against wikipedia.
>
> So, nobody is suggesting that WV be censored for the benefit of WP,
> but it should definitely not be allowed to be an attack vector against
> it? Isn't that exactly the same thing? You're saying precisely that WV
> content should be censored for the benefit of WP!

Nope. For the benefit of the foundation maybe. Enlightened self
interest on the part of wikiversity perhaps. En.wikipedia is big
enough and old enough to look after itself.

>> Well not unless you would
>> consider it legit for the English wikipedia to be used as an attack
>> vector against Wikiversity.
>
> Your misconceptions and errors here are numerous:
> 1) This is not an "attack vector". People are allowed to be critical
> and analytic of Wikipedia without being defamed as a mere "attack
> vector". The actions and methods of Wikipedia are not unquestionable
> gospel truth, and people are allowed to discuss it's flaws openly and
> suggest alternatives and improvements. Also, when doing this, they
> don't need permission from anybody at WP.

You appear to be attacking a strawman.

> 2) It would be severely against the content policies of WP to host
> attack content like this. Of course, I don't discount the fact that
> lots of things have been included in wikipedia over the years that
> aren't strictly allowed under the letter of current content policies.
> It is not, however, against policy for people to host this kind of
> content on WV.

So you take the view that the project is attack content?

> 3) If you can find problems or errors at WV that parallel those at WP,
> or compare in magnitude to those at WP, go for it. I submit that there
> are no such problems at WV, and in fact WP can learn a lot from that
> scrappy little project.

No such problems? Are you looking to import them then? Small projects
rarely have the same issues as large projects. What works on small
projects tends not to work on larger projects.


>> I understand attempts to cause disruption when I see them.
>
> AND ALL SUCH ATTEMPTS MUST BE SQUASHED! Right?

Most projects exist with a goal other than disruption and well by
definition disruption will not support that goal.

>> You can't at least complain that you were not warned.
>
> And who is doing the warning, and what have I or anybody at
> Wikiversity to fear? I'm not even an active member at Wikiversity, and
> I don't need to be to know that they are different and separate and
> independent from Wikipedia.

In the short term importing en drama is probably your biggest worry.
Long term it depends what actions the Wikiversity community takes.

>> As a
>> project it might well have some value but the people you have involved
>> and the direction taken so far suggests it won't be.
>
> If there is value in this exercise, the participants at Wikiversity
> will make that determination. I'm not sure how familiar you are with
> Wikiversity, but your forecast about the value of this project doesn't
> seem to be in line with normal Wikiversity attitudes. Maybe, before
> throwing around warnings and dire predictions, you could actually go
> to Wikiversity and see what the fuss is all about.
>
> --Andrew Whitworth

I've gone I've seen. Comparing this to a typical Wikiversity project
isn't a very useful approach since it isn't a typical project.



--
geni

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


shimgray at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 9:00 AM

Post #12 of 15 (703 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

2008/7/13 Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111[at]gmail.com>:

>> Again no one suggested that. However it should not allow itself to be
>> used as an attack vector against wikipedia.
>
> So, nobody is suggesting that WV be censored for the benefit of WP,
> but it should definitely not be allowed to be an attack vector against
> it? Isn't that exactly the same thing? You're saying precisely that WV
> content should be censored for the benefit of WP!

As far as I can tell, no-one intends to say that. What several people
*are* saying, some subtly and some not, is... well, this project is
not likely to go anywhere useful; it appears to be a group of people
disgruntled with one project wandering off to find somewhere they can
write about how disgruntled they are and tell everyone You're Doing It
Wrong.

All in all, that seems a fair thing to warn the WV community about.
Whether they choose to do anything, how they choose to handle these
people, is up to them; but there's absolutely nothing wrong with
someone saying - look out for this, it might be messy.

--
- Andrew Gray
andrew.gray[at]dunelm.org.uk

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


sb_johnny at yahoo

Jul 13, 2008, 9:31 AM

Post #13 of 15 (705 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

I think it's really important in this case for folks unfamiliar with Wikiversity to hold their fire a bit: this is not the first time that we've had angry, banned Wikipedians come to the project, and so far our track record of preventing Wikiversity from being used as a platform from which to launch attacks on other foundation projects (or any other thing that might be attacked) is 100%.

These guys just arrived 3 days ago, and we're trying to work with them to concentrate on their stated goals (coming up with ethical guidelines that would improve collaborative content creation on websites such as Wikipedia), rather than what they're being distracted by (they use the language of war to describe their situation).

It would really be of help to us if folks could just sit on their hands a bit and let us (the WV custodians and community) do our jobs. In particular, we're trying to keep the "battles" out of the picture, and help them focus on the hard work of teaching-learning-sharing that we've spent the last 2 years learning how to do ourselves. We might even learn more about the possibilities of "learning the wiki way" through their efforts. BUT: we're never going to find out if we don't give them a chance.

Please just give them a month or so to develop this learning resource without interference. The Wikiversity community is very good at exploring possibilities, if nothing else. We're idealists, but not of the dewy-eyed variety, we have a very high ratio of sysopped users to regular contributors, and we even have our own checkusers in case it really gets ugly. We won't allow any harm to come of this, but our scope and policies are radically different from the other WMF wikis, so we're not going to say "no" to things unless they fall outside that (very broad) scope or violate one of our (few) policies.

I've viewed some of the links they've provided, and as much as I wouldn't want any of them dating my sister (or even my third cousin once removed), I'm completely open to the possibility that I could learn something from them, as long as they're given some space to tell their stories without the distraction of constantly having to defend themselves from what they interpret as "attacks".

I encourage anyone who wants to work on this to visit the en.wv custodians on #wikiversity-en (freenode). We're definitely keeping an eye on things, and we're interested in *everyone's* opinion.

-johnny.




_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


dgerard at gmail

Jul 13, 2008, 12:03 PM

Post #14 of 15 (694 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

2008/7/13 John McC <sb_johnny[at]yahoo.com>:

> These guys just arrived 3 days ago, and we're trying to work with them to concentrate on their stated goals (coming up with ethical guidelines that would improve collaborative content creation on websites such as Wikipedia), rather than what they're being distracted by (they use the language of war to describe their situation).


If they can work it out with joined-up thinking, it might actually be
a net plus to the world rather than a waste of electrons, e.g. suggest
a survey of the operating principles of other large wikis be
completed.


- d.

_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l


sb_johnny at yahoo

Jul 13, 2008, 12:17 PM

Post #15 of 15 (695 views)
Permalink
Re: Ethics project on Wikiversity [In reply to]

Well, right now I think the best approach would be to just let them get it
all "on paper" (so to speak), and once we see what they have, we can help
them decide upon the best course to follow from there. It's going to
involve a lot of time and hard work, and a bit of diligence and gentle
nudging on our part, but I think we'll get there. Worst that can happen is
that that their efforts fail, which would be a bummer, but not a catastrophe.

-johnny.
--- On Sun, 7/13/08, David Gerard <dgerard[at]gmail.com> wrote:

> From: David Gerard <dgerard[at]gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] Ethics project on Wikiversity
> To: sb_johnny[at]yahoo.com, "Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List" <foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org>
> Date: Sunday, July 13, 2008, 3:03 PM
> 2008/7/13 John McC <sb_johnny[at]yahoo.com>:
>
> > These guys just arrived 3 days ago, and we're
> trying to work with them to concentrate on their stated
> goals (coming up with ethical guidelines that would improve
> collaborative content creation on websites such as
> Wikipedia), rather than what they're being distracted
> by (they use the language of war to describe their
> situation).
>
>
> If they can work it out with joined-up thinking, it might
> actually be
> a net plus to the world rather than a waste of electrons,
> e.g. suggest
> a survey of the operating principles of other large wikis
> be
> completed.
>
>
> - d.




_______________________________________________
foundation-l mailing list
foundation-l[at]lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l

Wikipedia foundation RSS feed   Index | Next | Previous | View Threaded
 
 


Interested in having your list archived? Contact lists@gossamer-threads.com
 
  Web Applications & Managed Hosting Powered by Gossamer Threads Inc.