Le 19/02/2013 11:23, Christophe Henner a écrit :
I would even add that chapters should, and perhaps are, be key part of our
community. Online communities tend to "die" slowly over the time. The main
reason is that "virtual" bonds are much easier to forget than "physical"
ones. I mean it's easier stop sending email to someone than stopping to see
someone.
I think Wikipedia gathered such a community because of an ideal, not of
social bonds. Though parts of the community may form social,
professional or political bonds, and thus perdure through these
mechanisms, the cause "sharing the knowledge" should be the main raison
d'être of the community. Thus, I disagree that Chapters should be
considered the key part of the community: the cause should be the key
part. In fact, if the cause ceases to be the highest priority, then the
community will tend to die and only the institutions will tend to remain
because of their own inertia and interests. I don't consider that a good
thing per se since this tends to lead to sclerosis and a hollow
structure with no other point than perpetuating itself, instead of
pushing for the next needed accomplishments to collect and disseminate
knowledge.
Yes, chapter as such do not edit the projects directly. But does this mean
they're not part of the community? I don't think so. They're a different
part of the community, but still are a part of the community.
Being part of the community doesn't allow to act on the name of the
entire community. The gap between the community and the Chapters is
significant enough to distinguish both, in particular for political and
communicational matters.
So should the Chapters seats be considered asa "Community seats" ? I'd say
that the term is wrong.
We have the "editing community seats", the "meta" community seats and the
appointed seats. Perhaps we should differentiate the two sides of the
community.
Why not distinguish the community seats from the Chapters seats with the
terms "community seats" and " Chapters seats"?
Using the word community in both cases may induce to believe that's it's
the same community with two branches. But nothing guarantees that unity.
By the way, what would you say Chapters actually are? Is it correct to
say that they're an administrative organization financed by the WMF
through Fund Dissemination Commitees?
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