Submissions/Wiki Bites People: and what one can do about it.

After careful consideration, the Programme Committee has decided not to accept the below submission at this time. Thank you to the author(s) for participating in the Wikimania 2014 programme submission, we hope to still see you at Wikimania this August.

Submission no. 1123

Title of the submission: Wiki Bites People: and what one can do about it.

Type of submission (discussion, hot seat, panel, presentation, tutorial, workshop): Participatory presentation

Author of the submission: Aegis Maelstrom (Michał Buczyński)

E-mail address: sandboxo2.pl

Username: Aegis Maelstrom

Country of origin: Poland

Affiliation, if any (organisation, company etc.): Wikimedia Poland

Personal homepage or blog

Abstract (at least 300 words to describe your proposal)

Everyone knows that one shall not bite the newcomers, yet bruises and tooth marks are gladly shown whenever wikis are discussed. Over the years, the world became populated with legions of former editors or participants trained to avoid conflicts and certain areas. Perceived-only problem or a well-grounded issue: it is a real problem for Wikimedia and perhaps we could do something to mitigate?

This is the (tough) man's world...

Some say that only the fittest will survive, others will add that these will be the most merciless and thick-skinned. As wikis matured, their openness has been subdued in favour of a quality pursuit, power play and a plethora of regulations. Similarly to other cultures, wikis became hermetic and full of own traditions, rules and precedents. Wikis also encouraged a wiki way: wiki edits but also wiki reverts and wiki deletions - which was not helped with a fact that this is far faster to revert or distract then to write or organise; nor with a human proneness to Us vs. Them patterns.

Today, we live in a matured project's world, with a lot of high ranks and a few Antediluvians. With a shrinking editor crowd, we are looking for some new blood but things are different now: very seldom we preach on Wikimedia to people not knowing it or knowing it only from mass media, more often one can hear a yeah, I've tried to edit but they removed my submission testimony.

Regardless whether it is a problem with a perception, rules, software or community itself, the problem is user experience and it is real. Some people do not receive their share of fun, credit or self-respect although they did deserve it. Is there anything an individual or an org can do?

This submission is a far-fetched follow-up of a reportedly successful 2011 Haifa presentation. As I believe that wikis are about individuals in collaboration and a person can make here a huge difference, we can develop ourselves to be Better Wikimedians(TM) and tackle Real Problems.

During this session I would like to share with you my experiences and ideas as a Wikimedian, Chapter Member and a researcher, as well as discuss your thoughts and observations in a light-hearted but serious-minded manner.

Notes: activity and sense of humour are strongly invited.

Track: WikiCulture & Community

Length of session (if other than 30 minutes, specify how long): 30 minutes

Will you attend Wikimania if your submission is not accepted?: Likely yes

Slides or further information (optional): tbd

Special requests

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Slowking4 (talk) 03:07, 1 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]
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