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Wikimedia to Hold First International Conference

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the lets-get-together-and-[drink] dept.

teslatug writes "The Wikimedia Foundation will be holding its first international conference, Wikimania, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany from August 4, 2005 to August 8, 2005. Featured speakers will include Jimmy Wales, Ross Mayfield, Ward Cunningham, and Richard Stallman. It will be the largest gathering of Wiki[pm]edians to date."

6 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The neutrality of this conference is disputed. by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 3, Funny

    Would their credibility stay high if they all stayed at home?

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  2. Agenda by thijsa · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess we can all freely change the agenda and speakers order in a collaborative effort?

    1. Re:Agenda by fm6 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Of course! But as with Wikipedia, all deletions must be by consensus. Which means that hundreds of new speakers will be suggested, and only the most obviously demented or offtopic speakers will not make the cut. The converence is expected to last several years.

  3. An upcoming media conflict? by CyricZ · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I fear we may witness a major media conflict within the next few years. As organizations like Wikimedia gain strength, power and momentum, the existing corporate media will start to worry.

    I see two things happening:

    1) Discredition
    The corporate mass media will try their best to discredit Wikimedia. They will have their pundits (ie. Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Kudlow & Kramer, etc.) make some outrageous lies about Wikimedia. I wouldn't be surprised if Wikimedia was labelled as "unpatriotic" and declared to be "supporters of terrorism".

    2) Financial Cloutery
    The corporate mass media may instead use their massive financial wealth to purchase Wikimedia out of the picture. They may start by purchasing hosting companies that host Wikimedia servers. Then using their financial clout, they may persuade the backbones and ISPs to limit access to Wikimedia sites.

    Regardless of what happens, the upcoming battle between the Old Media and the New Media will be spectacular. But I fear the only victims will be the individuals, who no longer have access to the open-minded, and truly free content that Wikimedia offers.

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  4. Change in date and venue by flyingsquid · · Score: 4, Funny

    In keeping with the spirit of Wikipedia, I have decided that the Wikimania conference will now be held September 17th-23rd in Ulaan Bator, Mongolia. Featured speakers will include Mikhail Gorbachev and Pamela Anderson.

  5. WikiMEDIA. by CyricZ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Pardon me, Mr. Coltrane. I believe that you are partaking in trollery. This conference covers Wikimedia, not just Wikipedia.

    Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, yes.

    But then there is Wikinews that directly challenges the Old Media.

    Wikimedia covers all of the new wiki-based, individualistic, non-corproate media.

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.