Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2018-12-01/Opinion

Opinion

The blogosphere migrates to Galaxy WMF

Suppose they gave a blog and nobody came?

What was (in my opinion, but perhaps I'm old fashioned after 25 years of the Web) a nice, clean newsletter-style blog, has, like most of the other readily accessible and commentable – and sometimes commendable – stuff, been incorporated into one of those quick-build WordPress sites that are taking over the creative art of web design; those WordPress sites are all instantly recognisable, aren't they? Content management systems have their advantages of course though, but sometimes only for those with privileged access.

The news to come out of the Wikimedia Foundation's effort to the Word Wide Web this month is an eclectic mix of essays and reports, and certainly a worthwhile browse for whatever takes one's fancy, and this is just my quick pick:

As if they can't give it a rest, Robert Fernandez on November 2018 brings up the issue again on Wikipedia lacking an article on Strickland, but provides some excellent advice on how to volunteer and contribute to Wikipedia.
Saskia Ehlers, Houssem Abida and Ed Erhart on 9 November 2018 go into compulsory heterosexuality. This concept, reported by Ed Erhart, Senior Editorial Associate, Communications Wikimedia Foundation, describes how heterosexuality is assumed, enforced and viewed as an obligation regardless of one’s own sexual preferences – something they originally discussed at an event way back in August in Stockholm, when in just two days, over 80 LGBT-related Wikipedia articles in more than 10 languages were created, translated, or improved, and added over 300 photos. Now if all editathons could be as productive as this excellent contribution by the LGBT group whose event was supported by the Germany, Swiss, and Austrian chapters.
Jan Gerlach on 29 October 2018 talks about the Wikimedia Foundation being honored to join the Global Network Initiative (GNI) as an observer, "an opportunity we hope will advance our efforts to champion freedom of expression and privacy for the Wikimedia community and beyond. GNI is a channel for collective action, advocating to governments and international institutions for policies and laws which promote..."

...and much, much more than I had time to read. This will probably change the shape of The Signpost's WMF blog column in future issues. Anyway, it's all out there on Wikimedia Foundation News for anyone who wants to keep abreast.

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1 December 2018 (all comments)

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Spot on. If you are trying a little bit to be sarcastic, you are very good. If you aren't trying to be sarcastic, my mistake and I apologize. Best Regards, Barbara ✐✉ 15:14, 2 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm. Doesn't WordPress support comment sections to blogs? Or did someone at the Foundation decide comments from the community or readers was unnecessary? Or is the problem that no one who manages the blog knows how to implement a comment section? -- llywrch (talk) 07:31, 3 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
- The WMF do not want an "Open" blog where readers can give feedback. The organization has been suffering a form of cognitive dissonance over the last decade by on the one hand ensuring their systems are increasingly protective and their operating decisions and procedures happen behind closed doors, while at the same time claiming to be leading the ethical fight for openness and transparency. It's bizarre, but I guess not a surprise for an organization that has closed down all possible strategies for moving its servers and data storage outside of U.S. legislation because its most senior managers really like working in Silicon Valley. --Fæ (talk) 14:53, 3 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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