[Foundation-l] Concern for the safety of Wikimedians at Wikimania in Alexandria.

Mon Mar 3 06:24:57 UTC 2008

In this rare case, I completely agree with Gerard. As someone who plans to
go, these issues do not factor into my decision at all.

On Sun, Mar 2, 2008 at 10:41 PM, Gerard Meijssen <gerard.meijssen at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hoi,
> You may have your opinion but imho you are wrong. My sister has been now
> twice to Iran. She tells me she feels safer there then in the USA. When
> you
> talk to her about this, she tells it is quite straightforward; you dress
> in
> the way that is appropriate, you know a few of the first things there are
> to
> know and you are good. The first time she went, she took her son with her.
> The most annoying thing to him was that people were amazed at how blond
> and
> white he is.
>
> As a person that is not going, is ok for you to feel concerned. But what
> can
> you realistically expect? Do you really think it matters to the people
> that
> are going? Do you really think that it makes much difference to the people
> organising the conference? Do you really think that your voiced concern
> makes the ones that are part of Wikimania 2008 more comfortable or feel
> better?
>
> I am tall. I have been in places where I tower over the local people. I
> have
> two nephews that tower over me. For me it makes no difference I will bend
> my
> neck in order not to hit the door post where needed. My nephews will have
> to
> stoop even lower then me. It is not comfortable but it is the price for
> entering some doors.
>
> Mark Ryan assesses that I might have missed the Muhammed images
> controversy.. Well, I have not. I am however not qualified to assess this
> risk. I am not qualified either to assess the risk of a lunatic going on a
> shooting rampage on a university campus or a shopping mall something that
> has happened with appalling frequency.
>
> I have been to Harvard and I was amazed at the amount of guns that I saw
> on
> police officers. They did not make me feel secure at all. Now when I go to
> Alexandria I expect to have a great time at a great venue. I expect to
> meet
> many Wikimedians and learn many new things. Due to the fearmongering there
> may be less Americans, this will only make the input from other countries
> and languages bigger and better. And if it is time to meet my maker, if
> God
> wills it ...
>
> From a propaganda point of view, blowing up Wikimania would be the most
> stupid thing that could happen to the cause of Islam as a whole. In the
> end
> Wikipedia is very much an acceptable human face of what is in origin part
> of
> a Western value set. These Wiki values are equally acceptable in most of
> the
> Arab world. When we are to be "martyred" in the good cause of free
> knowledge
> and the free exchange of ideas, it will only strengthen the resolve of our
> friends to continue the work that we will be associated with.
>
> I am quite happy to go to Egypt for Wikimania 2008. There is a risk, but
> there is a risk when I get into a car, a bus, a train a plane as well. As
> a
> pedestrian, the risk per kilometer is biggest but does that mean that I
> should not get out of my house? There is a risk, but should that mean that
> we leave our message unheard and only preach to our own parish?
>
> Thanks,
>     GerardM
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 3:31 AM, Chad <innocentkiller at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Agreed.
> >
> > And Gerard, it's not just about bringing your baggage with you.
> > Sometimes it's parts of your personality that you cannot hide
> > that simply (ie: being a woman).
> >
> > Imagine a fake scenario in which we held Wikimania in a
> > country where if you were tall you had to bow before all
> > the short people you saw on the street. Effectively you're
> > saying "act like you're not tall or just don't bother coming."
> >
> > What kind diversity is that supposed to promote? Wikimedian
> > volunteers are a diverse group of people, and Wikimania is
> > a manifestation of that. In a world that isn't necessarily as
> > tolerant of divergent viewpoints, we have to ensure that the
> > safety of the attendees is being considered.
> >
> > You say that "...the perception of the people that would not
> > go anyway is completely irrelevant." I beg to differ. I'm not
> > going, but I still am concerned for my fellow volunteers.
> > If someone got hurt and it could've been avoided through
> > proper safety precautions, I would feel some level of
> > responsibility if I had just not voiced my concerns because
> > I was told they weren't important.
> >
> > -Chad
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 2, 2008 at 7:24 PM, Mark Ryan <ultrablue at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On 02/03/2008, Gerard Meijssen <gerard.meijssen at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >  *snip*
> > >
> > > >
> > >  > When people come to Alexandria and insist on bringing their
> cultural
> > baggage
> > >  > and make a point of it, it will increase the risk. When people come
> > >  > primarily to the conference to meet and talk about Wiki related
> stuff
> > it
> > >  > will not impact the risk to the conference and its attendees.
> > >  *snip*
> > >
> > >  Have you missed the whole Muhammad images controversy? Attending a
> > >  conference about Wiki stuff is probably the biggest risk factor at
> all
> > >  right now. Cultural baggage fades into insignificance.
> > >
> > >  ~Mark Ryan
> > >
> > >
> > >
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