Wikiconference DC 2015: Another Safe and Friendly Space

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 3:24 am

Wikiconference DC 2015: Another Safe and Friendly Space

Yep, it's that time of the year again: time for another junket for the hardworking peeps in San Francisco...

Submissions for workshops, panels, tutorials, and presentations are now underway, through Aug. 31, 2015.

http://wikiconferenceusa.org/wiki/2015/Submissions

I have it on excellent authority that conference organizers are a "really good group of people." link

Indeed, one organizer promises they are shooting to produce an "amazing experience and of course, one that will
be friendly and safe for participants." link

Thank god they are finally putting their foot down on unfriendly, unsafe Conclaves of the Sanctified. Now I can sleep at night...

RfB

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 4:27 am

Organizing Team

Organizing Team
WikiConference USA 2015 • Washington, D.C.

This conference is a joint production of Wikimedia DC and the Wiki Education Foundation, with assistance from Wikimedians from throughout the country!

Conference Chair: James Hare
Program Chair: Kirill Lokshin
Scholarship Committee: Jason Moore, Rosie Stephenson-Goodknight
Program Committee: Rachel Farrand, Dorothy Howard, Oliver Keyes, Richard Knipel, Ann Matsuuchi, Kunal Mehta, Sarah Stierch, Emily Temple-Wood

♪One of these things is not like the others!♫

*Emphasis mine

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:37 am

Triptych · Unread post by **Triptych** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 3:21 pm

How are the disguises coming for the WO intelligence-gathering team? Those new mini-drones?

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:38 pm

Triptych wrote: How are the disguises coming for the WO intelligence-gathering team? Those new mini-drones?

We don't infiltrate. We just show up and buy beers.

Ihatemyusername · Unread post by **Ihatemyusername** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:31 pm

So the issue here is that they said the conference would be "friendly and safe" and some gendergap mailing-list folk said the people who run it are nice?

Am I missing something here?

Triptych · Unread post by **Triptych** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:55 pm

Ihatemyusername wrote:So the issue here is that they said the conference would be "friendly and safe" and some gendergap mailing-list folk said the people who run it are nice?

Am I missing something here?

Ironic commentary because a similar conference banned a WO co-founder, also scheduled to present, on last-minute unexplained grounds last year.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:47 am

Triptych wrote:
Ihatemyusername wrote:So the issue here is that they said the conference would be "friendly and safe" and some gendergap mailing-list folk said the people who run it are nice?

Am I missing something here?
Ironic commentary because a similar conference banned a WO co-founder, also scheduled to present, on last-minute unexplained grounds last year.

Well, at least this year, James Hare (or someone hacking his e-mail account) sent the Wikipediocracy co-founder a "pre-preemptory" event ban. That is, before I even signed up, or even before I knew that a Wikiconference would be held in Washington DC this year, he thought it best to let me know that I'm not allowed to attend any Wikimedia DC event or meeting, ever.

I let him know that I doubt that an e-mail has legal standing, especially when no rationale or charges have been specified. For all I know, it was a rogue action by a power-mad non-profit executive, frustrated that he's never held a "real job" since college.

Other important work that he's been involved in lately:

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:15 am

thekohser wrote:
Triptych wrote:
Ihatemyusername wrote:So the issue here is that they said the conference would be "friendly and safe" and some gendergap mailing-list folk said the people who run it are nice?

Am I missing something here?
Ironic commentary because a similar conference banned a WO co-founder, also scheduled to present, on last-minute unexplained grounds last year.
Well, at least this year, James Hare (or someone hacking his e-mail account) sent the Wikipediocracy co-founder a "pre-preemptory" event ban. That is, before I even signed up, or even before I knew that a Wikiconference would be held in Washington DC this year, he thought it best to let me know that I'm not allowed to attend any Wikimedia DC event or meeting, ever.

I let him know that I doubt that an e-mail has legal standing, especially when no rationale or charges have been specified. For all I know, it was a rogue action by a power-mad non-profit executive, frustrated that he's never held a "real job" since college.

Other important work that he's been involved in lately:

Now come on, it was a corgi.

Triptych · Unread post by **Triptych** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 9:05 am

thekohser wrote: Well, at least this year, James Hare (or someone hacking his e-mail account) sent the Wikipediocracy co-founder a "pre-preemptory" event ban. That is, before I even signed up, or even before I knew that a Wikiconference would be held in Washington DC this year, he thought it best to let me know that I'm not allowed to attend any Wikimedia DC event or meeting, ever.

I let him know that I doubt that an e-mail has legal standing, especially when no rationale or charges have been specified. For all I know, it was a rogue action by a power-mad non-profit executive, frustrated that he's never held a "real job" since college.

At least a formalized ban sent by certified post (or courier?) coukd be framed and hung on your wall, he's pretty inconsiderate, heh heh!

eagle · Unread post by **eagle** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 9:12 am

A major difference between WikiConference USA 2015 and WikiConference USA 2014 is that the 2015 version is co-sponsored by the Wikimedia DC and the Wiki Education Foundation.link http://wikiconferenceusa.org/wiki/2015/Organizing_Team[/link] In contrast, WikiConference USA 2014 was co-sponsored by the DC and NYC chapters.

The venue and key financial sponsor for the 2014 conference was the New York Law School, which had a paid editing COI. The 2015 conference venue is the National Archives, which gets around any COI problems by virtue of being declared a GLAM. The New York Law School is answerable through its President to its Board of Trustees and an accreditation committee of the American Bar Association, while the Archives is answerable through the Archivist of the United States (T-H-L) to the Congress and the General Accounting Office. The views of the current Archivist David Ferriero have been summarized on-wiki: link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fer ... _Wikipedia[/link] Mr. Ferriero is a rather sophisticated and savvy librarian with a distinguished career in academia and the New York Public Library.

As was the case with the 2014 conference, the 2015 conference is open to the public. link http://wikiconferenceusa.org/wiki/2015/ ... nce_USA.3F[/link]

The Wiki Education Foundation link https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Ed ... Foundation[/link] is independent of the WMF, run by a 12-person board one of which is appointed by the WMF.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:26 pm

eagle wrote:The Wiki Education Foundation link https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Ed ... Foundation[/link] is independent of the WMF, run by a 12-person board one of which is appointed by the WMF.

Don't forget that Wiki Education Foundation asked for a $1.39 million handout from the Stanton Foundation, which we know and love for its support of paid editing of Wikipedia.

Sparky · Unread post by **Sparky** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:41 am

eagle wrote:... the Archives is answerable through the Archivist of the United States (T-H-L) to the Congress and the General Accounting Office. The views of the current Archivist David Ferriero have been summarized on-wiki: link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fer ... _Wikipedia[/link] Mr. Ferriero is a rather sophisticated and savvy librarian with a distinguished career in academia and the New York Public Library.

I wonder if our library specialist, @SafeLibraries, has an opinion on this library professional.

Cla68 · Unread post by **Cla68** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:02 am

It's possible I might be in the DC area at that time, but I'm not sure if I want to go. We'll see.

Alison · Unread post by **Alison** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 7:08 am

Wiki Conferences: you just never know who might show up.

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 7:39 am

The full name of course is WikiConference USA 2015.

What's to stop me from gathering support from Wikipedians and beginning to organize WikiConference USA 2016 in San Diego? I have contacts with librarians, and San Diego needs to get on the map for Wikipedia events.

eagle · Unread post by **eagle** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:10 am

Zoloft wrote:What's to stop me from gathering support from Wikipedians and beginning to organize WikiConference USA 2016 in San Diego? I have contacts with librarians, and San Diego needs to get on the map for Wikipedia events.

Zoloft is too idealistic. It takes money to put on a conference, particularly if you want to offer "travel scholarships." The WMF is probably the only entity willing to fund a WikiConference USA 2016. So, the prerequisite for hosting such a gala is having enough clout with the WMF to get them to fund you. There is a open WMF process for groups to bid to host the Wikimania conference and a formal site selection committee. Since there have been only two WikiConference USA (2014 and 2015) the host selection process has not really matured into a transparent and fair competition. So, although there is a prejudice against the United States hosting Wikimania too frequently, San Diego would stand a better chance having a Wikimania proposal considered on its merits than a WikiConference USA proposal.

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:36 am

eagle wrote:
Zoloft wrote:What's to stop me from gathering support from Wikipedians and beginning to organize WikiConference USA 2016 in San Diego? I have contacts with librarians, and San Diego needs to get on the map for Wikipedia events.
Zoloft is too idealistic. It takes money to put on a conference, particularly if you want to offer "travel scholarships." The WMF is probably the only entity willing to fund a WikiConference USA 2016. So, the prerequisite for hosting such a gala is having enough clout with the WMF to get them to fund you. There is a open WMF process for groups to bid to host the Wikimania conference and a formal site selection committee. Since there have been only two WikiConference USA (2014 and 2015) the host selection process has not really matured into a transparent and fair competition. So, although there is a prejudice against the United States hosting Wikimania too frequently, San Diego would stand a better chance having a Wikimania proposal considered on its merits than a WikiConference USA proposal.

It might be more fun just to have a WPO conference open to all Wikipedia members in good standing.
You know, to show them how it's done.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:29 am

Zoloft wrote:It might be more fun just to have a WPO conference open to all Wikipedia members in good standing.
You know, to show them how it's done.

So, you'd ban me from that one, too?

Poetlister · Unread post by **Poetlister** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:38 am

thekohser wrote:
Zoloft wrote:It might be more fun just to have a WPO conference open to all Wikipedia members in good standing.
You know, to show them how it's done.
So, you'd ban me from that one, too?

We couldn't have that. Everyone would want to hear your talk on the importance of the correct use of apostrophes.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 12:59 pm

What about my visual demonstration of office equipment?

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 11:25 pm

See, what the previous conference organizers have shown is that they can define who is 'safe' and who is 'not safe' just by using the magic of rumor.
So can we. Bet our attendees are safer in San Diego than DC.

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 1:33 am

I love the idea of an alternative Wikiconference USA on the West Coast.

Who should we ban?

RfB

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:02 am

Randy from Boise wrote:I love the idea of an alternative Wikiconference USA on the West Coast.

Who should we ban?

RfB

I'm thinking Roger Davies.

Should we make that list even before we tie down a venue, though? The tradition is to wait until the victim has submitted a request for a presenter's slot and bought their ticket.

Poetlister · Unread post by **Poetlister** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 9:20 am

I suggest inviting Jimbo to make a keynote speech and then arranging for nobody but Greg to be in the audience.

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:03 pm

It seems that last year's much mocked "Friendly Space Policy" has been changed to a fairly innocuous "Safe Space Policy" this year.

It remains a preposterously non-inclusive event with irreversible pre-convention banning of what Theodore Roosevelt would have called "Undesirable Citizens."

Safe Space Policy
WikiConference USA 2015 • Washington, D.C.

The organizers of WikiConference USA are dedicated to providing a harassment-free event experience for everyone, regardless of race, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, religion, marital status, or veteran status.

Harassment includes offensive comments related to any protected personal characteristic, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. This applies to everyone, including event staff and sponsors. Our Safe Space Policy can be found on Wikimedia DC's website.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of event staff immediately. Event staff will be happy to help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance.

link http://wikiconferenceusa.org/wiki/2015/ ... ace_Policy[/link]

RfB

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:06 pm

I note that people wearing leggings on their arms are still not a protected class of attendees... Lo, when will their oppression cease?

RfB

Cla68 · Unread post by **Cla68** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:17 am

I was curious to see after I posted here that I might be attending if I would also be the recipient of an email saying that I was banned, but so far nothing. If I do go, I can't think of a presentation I would like to give, but I could ask to interview one or more of the attending WMF reps on behalf of this forum.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:44 am

Randy from Boise wrote:I note that people wearing leggings on their arms are still not a protected class of attendees... Lo, when will their oppression cease?

RfB

Now, now... be nice.

You know, actually after looking again at that photo, maybe they should forget "Friendly" Spaces and "Safe" Spaces, and think a little more about how to prevent "Empty" Spaces.

Stan Dixon · Unread post by **Stan Dixon** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:46 am

Trivial points: Cyclists sometimes wear leg-warmers. Arm-warmers are also used by cyclists.

eppur si muove · Unread post by **eppur si muove** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:07 pm

Randy from Boise wrote: The organizers of WikiConference USA are dedicated to providing a harassment-free event experience for everyone, regardless of race, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, religion, marital status, or veteran status.

Harassment includes offensive comments related to any protected personal characteristic, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Well this explains why Greg is excluded.

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:28 pm

Does it? Their website describes our site as operating from a "fetid basement", which would seem to be a hurtful slam against my lifestyle. Tell me, has Prioryman received any pre-cognition ban from Wikiconference DC 2015?

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 4:22 pm

It occurs to me that under Safe Space™ rules one attendee could say of another, "You're wrong, you fucking retard!!!" without fear of sanction, but they'd be right out if the same person said, "You're wrong, Mr. Big Nose!!!"

Unless, of course, the second person was indeed mentally handicapped, in which case it would be a severe violation of the lawz. Or, it now occurs to me, if the second person in question actually had a small nose, in which case it would be an ironic insult only tangentially violating the boundaries of Officially Prohibited Discourse.

Of course, schmoozers on the make don't generally use insulting language about other schmoozers on the make, so my example isn't particularly realistic.

RfB

Malleus · Unread post by **Malleus** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:03 pm

At least they've got the gender balance right there though, two women and one man. Even better if they'd managed to get rid of the man I suppose.

Moral Hazard · Unread post by **Moral Hazard** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:53 pm

Malleus wrote:
thekohser wrote:
Randy from Boise wrote:I note that people wearing leggings on their arms are still not a protected class of attendees... Lo, when will their oppression cease?

RfB
Now, now... be nice.

You know, actually after looking again at that photo, maybe they should forget "Friendly" Spaces and "Safe" Spaces, and think a little more about how to prevent "Empty" Spaces.
At least they've got the gender balance right there though, two women and one man. Even better if they'd managed to get rid of the man I suppose.

eagle · Unread post by **eagle** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:26 pm

Randy from Boise wrote:It occurs to me that under Safe Space™ rules one attendee could say of another, "You're wrong, you fucking retard!!!" without fear of sanction, but they'd be right out if the same person said, "You're wrong, Mr. Big Nose!!!"

Unless, of course, the second person was indeed mentally handicapped, in which case it would be a severe violation of the lawz. Or, it now occurs to me, if the second person in question actually had a small nose, in which case it would be an ironic insult only tangentially violating the boundaries of Officially Prohibited Discourse.

Of course, schmoozers on the make don't generally use insulting language about other schmoozers on the make, so my example isn't particularly realistic.

RfB

The key issue is whether the policy governs comments made during the Conference, or whether comments made prior to the conference can be used under the policy to ban folks like Greg from attending the conference. I don't think that the policy was intended to be applied in that manner. But if it was, then the entire Wikimedia DC Board should be banned from the Conference based on remarks that they have made about Mr. Wales, Mr. Kohs and/or other Wikimedia DC Board members.

Poetlister · Unread post by **Poetlister** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:49 pm

Randy from Boise wrote:"You're wrong, you fucking retard!!!"

Isn't that sexual orientation, actively sexual as opposed to celibate? And wouldn't such a person be in a minority?

Unread post by **Zoloft** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:58 pm

Poetlister wrote:
Randy from Boise wrote:"You're wrong, you fucking retard!!!"
Isn't that sexual orientation, actively sexual as opposed to celibate? And wouldn't such a person be in a minority?

eagle · Unread post by **eagle** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:09 am

The Atlantic had an interesting article on the effort of college campuses to create "safe and friendly spaces." http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc ... nd/399356/

The current movement is largely about emotional well-being. More than the last, it presumes an extraordinary fragility of the collegiate psyche, and therefore elevates the goal of protecting students from psychological harm. The ultimate aim, it seems, is to turn campuses into “safe spaces” where young adults are shielded from words and ideas that make some uncomfortable. And more than the last, this movement seeks to punish anyone who interferes with that aim, even accidentally. You might call this impulse vindictive protectiveness.

Unread post by **tarantino** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:34 pm

Our good friend Andreas is currently sitting on the panel for Journalism and the online information community.

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:56 pm

Hot diggity... Got a live feed of proceedings if you want it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj6U22uJzGM

Don't make any faces that might be interpreted as menacing as you watch, that is strictly prohibited by the rulz.

RfB

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:21 pm

Randy from Boise wrote:Hot diggity... Got a live feed of proceedings if you want it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj6U22uJzGM

Don't make any faces that might be interpreted as menacing as you watch, that is strictly prohibited by the rulz.

Dominic could benefit (greatly) from a public-speaking course. For the 2 minutes that I could bear listening to him, his "um-to-word" ratio was approximately 0.4.

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 6:10 am

Andrew Lih was excellent, as always. Adam Hyland (User:Protonk) from the Wiki Education Foundation, who spoke at the end had some thought provoking material.

The latter's argument was as follows: we now know beyond all doubt that WP classroom work and edit-a-thons do not create long-term Very Active Editors, but that's okay — 2500 people roll in every term and each improve an article. That output is the key thing, not the students who make it, who move along with their lives after working on their one WP piece. Next semester there will be 2500 more...

This "student" editorial archetype is not unusual — there are about 30,000 "casual" editors (5+ edits) in any given month and these people edit in much the same way, by picking one piece and futzing around with it and moving on with life.

He also had an updated version of the "Oh Shit slide" that shows the Very Active Editor (100+ edits/mo.) count ticking upwards, which is what I've been observing looking at the official data every month. (I note: Basically WP is in a 5 year plateau in this count, very stable, with years 1, 2, and 5 more or less the same, while years 3 and 4 showed a slight downtick).

RfB

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 2:12 pm

The WikiConUSA live stream for Day 2 seems to be at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkHbg9V5wnI

Friday's 6.5 hours now sits as a YouTube video. I've got the start times for the two best presentations listed as links in the comments section. That link remains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj6U22uJzGM

RfB

P.S. And while I'm at it, here's the Sunday live stream link so I don't have to waste time trying to find it again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS-Y-FuzAH4

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 3:03 pm

Sincerely nice to see them giving a presentation called "Afrocrowd".

Unfortunately, no dissenting voices allowed, so more people of color will be duped by the process.

Randy from Boise · Unread post by **Randy from Boise** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 3:39 pm

thekohser wrote:Sincerely nice to see them giving a presentation called "Afrocrowd".

Unfortunately, no dissenting voices allowed, so more people of color will be duped by the process.

An ironic title for a presentation made to a room full of haoles...

I'll check it out later tonight, the first few minutes bored me.

RfB

thekohser · Unread post by **thekohser** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 4:07 pm

If you want irony, look at the attendance at the main assembly hall presentation about Women and Wikipedia, on the peak day of the conference, at Noon:

Peryglus · Unread post by **Peryglus** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 5:56 pm

I don't understand why all of the audience is doing stuff on their laptops while listening to the speaker and watching their presentation. Seems a foolish (and disrespectful) kind of multitasking.

Jim · Unread post by **Jim** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 5:58 pm

Peryglus wrote:I don't understand why all of the audience is doing stuff on their laptops while listening to the speaker and watching their presentation. Seems a foolish (and disrespectful) kind of multitasking.

Probably distracted by orange dots. It can happen.

Peryglus · Unread post by **Peryglus** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 7:24 pm

Jim wrote:
Peryglus wrote:I don't understand why all of the audience is doing stuff on their laptops while listening to the speaker and watching their presentation. Seems a foolish (and disrespectful) kind of multitasking.
Probably distracted by orange dots. It can happen.

Stop talking nonsense, Jim.