Return to article

User talk:VirtualSteve

G'day Steve :-)

..and congrat.s on taking up the treasurer role for WMAU for this year - it was great to hear all the voices on the conference call yesterday - Liam was kind enough to open up his place for our very-mini-sydney meetup. You mention on your userpage that you're semi-regularly in Sydney, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you're going to be here sometime before christmas, just in case you fancied another mini-meet. It'd be great to have a drink, put a face to a name, and maybe talk about general chapter stuff (things like the possibility of a 'Wikipedia Day' in Jan being on my mind, for example) - being a rather crazy time of year schedule wise, it might be impossible, but worth a shot, I reckon... if you're passing through sydney at all, and are up for a drink, flick me an email, or leave the details below / my talk page, and I'll let the various sydney wiki folk know :-) best, Privatemusings 23:25, 29 November 2009 (UTC)

  • Thank PM - I will take you up on your offer but can't prior to Christmas this year (at this stage most of my calendar is totally booked). That said my schedule can change through court/commission attendance at the stroke of a pen so if I am up this year I will let you know. Other than that I'll be sure to see you next year.
I should probably add though that I think you and I have met - at GLAM when you were about to do a "how to edit Wiki" slide show - your second one and I asked you if you would like any help. Not sure if you recall - or perhaps I have the wrong person?VirtualSteve 23:35, 29 November 2009 (UTC)
'tis the wrong chap, I'm afraid - I was an apologetic non-attendee at GLAM unfortunately :-( - look forward to a meetup when schedules permit :-) PS. - I just created Meetups on this wiki to see if centralisation of info / effort might help - I'm thinking that a watched page where folk who travel can drop in some info from time to time might facilitate 'pop in' type meetups throughout the year - thoughts / feedback most welcome of course! Privatemusings 23:41, 29 November 2009 (UTC)
My error then PM - but that it will make it even more enjoyable to meet. Have added a bit at Meetups. VirtualSteve 23:54, 29 November 2009 (UTC)

Congrats are in order I see! Great to see rural and regional Australia get a look in. :-)Best of luck with the new role. -- Mattinbgn 06:59, 30 November 2009 (UTC)

  • Very kind Matt - thank you. I will do my best. Cheers VirtualSteve 07:04, 30 November 2009 (UTC)

chapter activities for 2010 :-)

G'day - I thought I'd swing by and see if there are any ideas kicking around for chapter activities at the mo. - I think we've probably missed doing anything for Wikipedia Day, but wondered if there was any other specific plans being mooted that I (or indeed other members!) might be able to engage with :-) - I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how best get them going, so maybe buying into / hepling out an existing project might work too? happy new year too, and hope you're well! best, Privatemusings 11:45, 8 January 2010 (EST)

ping on this, if you're around :-) - also is this a good spot for a chat on a related matter, or is another wmf talk page a better bet? I'd like to bend your ear for a bit of advice on progression of the schools project :-) best, Privatemusings 09:40, 11 February 2010 (EST)
Not sure if I can help - but bend away and I'll soon let you know.VirtualSteve 17:01, 19 February 2010 (EST)
I think it's pretty much common ground / general consensus that working in some way with schools is a good idea - I quite enjoy a gentle bit of outreach on a semi-regular basis, and I'd quite like that sort of thing to come under a chapter banner. I'm also someone who feels that the wikimedia projects are really unsuitable for children to access in many ways, a view that has been shared by the few teachers and educators I've spoken with to date - primarily in regard to the violent and sexual imagery readily available (in particular the growth of rather hardcore sexual stuff).
So I advocate educating schools and school children about what wikipedia is / isn't etc. - though I don't think using wikipedia live in a classroom is really safe for the schools / parents / kids unless and until further technical measures are taken - (like descriptive image tagging, or age verification, or something!)
I think working with Uni level students is interesting, valuable, and of course side-steps all of these issues. I'd like us to try and form a 'Chapter' view on this sort of thing - and of course work towards producing some info. that can be printed, distributed, used in the classroom or as part of presentations. I guess I'd like to ask you with your treasurer's hat on how we might go about setting a budget / applying for WMF funding / planning that side of things, and I'd like to ask you as a Chapter member and wiki volunteer for your thoughts on the former (access in schools etc.) - and if you have any suggestions for how a centralised Chapter discussion might occur such that a sort of 'official' view migh form?
hope you're having a great 2010 anywhoo.... planning to be in Sydney any time soon? It must be almost time to rattle the cages for another meetup :-) best, Privatemusings 13:21, 24 February 2010 (EST)
I should probably answer your last question first. I have been in Sydney one or two days every week for the past 3 or 4 weeks (Melbourne also but not quite as often) and I have many other trips coming up. Trouble is that my trips are usually to attend court (with me prosecuting this, that or another case or to push for conciliation) - which means I fly out on the first plane and I go back on the last - with about enough time (if I am lucky) to unwrap a sandwich in between. The other trips are normally high level executive meetings - top management along with top/highish level union organisers plus a delegate or two - with the object/purpose being to form Enterprise Agreements etc. I work every weekday and also work every Saturday afternoon in another business that I own - Sunday's at the moment are relatively free - but I have an up and coming poultry/market garden in the process of construction so I spend at least 3 hours there from early Sunday to around lunch time. None of this is meant to sound like me playing a lonely violin whilst crying in my pretzels. I am busy and I wouldn't have it any other way - but it probably gives you some idea of how difficult attending meet-ups are for me.
In relation to your other (and more important) point I make the following comments... As you know a school's project was canvassed in the IdeaScale forum. It was assessed and given a priority by all members of the current board. It didn't reach the highest level of priority but it wasn't completely cast off. Indeed we think it is a good idea but not the most important thing to do right now. I won't say any more than that yet because I note in another forum that Brianna is going to release a synopsis of the F2F meeting and the results (and it is right for me to allow her to do so). I guess when you read those results you will get a better idea of what the committee thinks it can achieve this term - and you might like to come back to me then with some other thoughts. On the other hand nothing is stopping you personally from working on this idea - and indeed something that did come out of the F2F as a higher priority might assist you in "gaining funds" for this work. So on this point have a look at the results - I believe they are being posted this week - and then we also have another meeting tomorrow which will move one of those items (and which might relate directly to your question) a little further on.
Finally I note in passing your views (perhaps that should read concerns) in relation to the possible need for a "censorship". I understand your points - especially in regards to primary school children; high school children probably already know enough to know they can see and find images etc on wikipedia already - and university students are probably submitting the images you are concerned about ;) I don't have exactly the same concerns but I respect yours - and of course if you wish to create something that is aimed just at university aged students then that would be fine.
All of that said, WikiAus can assist in helping you with this project - and may be able to assist with funds. In my view however, what the committee needs to see more of is members who are able to provide detailed, reasonable, analytical plans to progress our mission. From that perspective any suitable plan that does not require the committee members to be an actual player but rather a supporter, guide, director etc is likely to move ahead in leaps and bounds.
To my mind WikiAus will grow exponentially a little bit as we the committee continue to remind members that we are here to support (rather than take charge and complete every mission) - BUT WikiAus will grow very, very fast when members submit plans for our approval which are reasonable, realistic, human and capital resource effective, and which support the mission - and then when those plans are accepted, those same submitting members take on the task they have planned. This doesn't mean that every plan that is submitted will be supported - but part of the growth will come in our understanding of what can and should be considered. I appreciate and thank you for your informative question.VirtualSteve 18:32, 24 February 2010 (EST)

< music to my ears, Steve :-) - what I take from the above is that the best thing for me to do is to work up some plans for outreach work (basically I think I'll offer myself, and anyone else I can persuade on board to a few schools here in Sydney) - get them on this wiki, and that's the best way of ensuring momentum for the chapter at the mo. It's great to hear that concrete plans will be considered, and if feasible, the committee may be able to help with funding streams etc. - if the talks in Sydney go well, personally, I'd like to 'go bush' this year too, and offer members the chance to train up to give talks / seminars etc. throughout NSW (hence the funding requirement) - more on this anon :-) Privatemusings 13:12, 25 February 2010 (EST)I look forward to reading the committee's plans etc. very soon too!

thanks for stepping up / stepping in :-)

Glad to see you've stuck your hand up to be Pres. for the remainder of this year :-) What do you reckon to us arranging a meetup of whatever scale next time you're available for an evening in Sydney - or lunchtime if that's likely to happen sooner? - It's been way too long since wiki types chatted in real life down / up here, so your presence could be just the catalyst we need - lemme know your thoughts :-) cheers, Privatemusings 18:40, 16 May 2010 (EST)

  • Yes I guess given my new role a meet up is even more important. Trouble is that I don't normally know when I am going to be in Sydney except for a few days beforehand. For example I am in Sydney (Newtown (for a RL business meeting)and also at The Galleries at 500 George Street (I have to vist Kinokuniya Book Store there)) this Wednesday for a few hours. Is it possible to organise a meet up of a 3, 4 or more interested parties in just two days. I'd see it as an opportunity to hear the views of members and non-member wikimedians to gauge some views as to what they want from the chapter, committee etc. I could probably arrange to be available from around 12.30pm and have to leave no later than 2.00pm. What do you think? How could we/you get the word out and back to me before Tuesday evening?VirtualSteve 19:01, 16 May 2010 (EST)
heh.. my apologies for missing this note, and failing horribly therefore to meet. Hopefully you'll be back in the next couple of weeks, and maybe with just a wee bit more notice :-) - My feeling is that whilst there are a few willing wiki types (perhaps up to 7 or 8?) here in sydney, we're not really cohesive, or organised particularly strongly, so there's a bit of inertia to overcome. Lemme know when you're around anywhoo, because it'd be nice to say hi :-) cheers, Privatemusings 14:21, 29 May 2010 (EST)
following up - I was considering trying to organise one of these - and would hope to coincide with your schedule? Lemme know if a late June / early July time suits at all :-) cheers, Privatemusings 11:34, 8 June 2010 (EST)
following up again :-) cheers, Privatemusings 12:57, 17 June 2010 (EST)
Sorry PM I have no time frame for being anywhere near Sydney in June or July - meaning that I will be there during that time, but at best I will have two maybe three days notice.VirtualSteve 13:35, 17 June 2010 (EST)