OpenKollab

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/openkollab/topics

• Why and how work together? [1 Update]

ms@ms.lt Apr 19 10:33PM +0300 ^


 
I'm glad for Franz Nahrada's and other letters at Global Villages
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/globalvillages/ in response to the closing
down of the free-of-charge Ning services and what we might do next.
 
I wish that:
* We organize around people who have demonstrated successful leadership as
networkers working openly, whether its Suresh Fernando (Open Kollab),
Tiffany Von Emmel (Dreamfish), myself (Minciu Sodas), Michel Bauwens (P2P
Foundation), etc. And actually double check what has been successful.
So, for example, our Pyramid of Peace http://www.pyramidofpeace.net was
undeniably successful. Franz Nahrada is a key person at Minciu Sodas, but
not a "hub" for "working openly", rather a person who destructively
"compartmentalizes" activity, which is to say, works in a closed,
untransparent manner. Sam Rose is less of a "hub" and Alex Rollins even
less so. How can we make progress if we don't acknowledge merit?
* We organize around social goals – for example, I'm interested in an
"economy of dreams". Suresh (and Janet Feldman!) is interested in how to
organize millions of people to tackle big problems like world poverty.
Tiffany Von Emmel is interested in a new kind of work cooperative.
Whereas Franz was interested in Ning and Sam is interested in Elgg and
Alex in Drupal. I think that's backwards and unhelpful.
* Let's organize around existing groups. Tiffany already has an Elgg site
running at http://dreamfish.com Why do we need more Elgg sites? Or why
can't we build around existing ones in a more general way? Why can't we
build on existing software teams like Dreamfish's? Why couldn't we build
a team for Minciu Sodas, there was such need? I was very disturbed when
Franz walked away from years of free service I provided – without any
consultation – just set up a new server with Ralf – and what has he
gained? Or pays 3,000 EUR per year to closed version of ProWiki, why?
Why aren't we trying to share resources? (And thank you to Franz for
sharing in many other ways, I recently stayed 6 weeks with him in Vienna.)
* Let's look at technologies and see if there's any examples that actually
encourage us. I can't think of a single Drupal website that impresses me
as a community. Nor a Ning or Elgg site for that matter. Certainly none
as strong as the Minciu Sodas community, which isn't all that strong.
* What are our personal goals, values, questions, concerns,
accountability, etc.? Why are we wasting time with people who offer
"help" when we have no idea of their own dreams, values, endeavors, quests
nor they of ours? That's why I believe it's important to start with a
cultural commitment as I'm trying to with "12 Questions"
http://www.12questions.org
* Let's make a technology strategy that can support a culture. In a
Facebook/Twitter world it's no longer possible to develop a culture
through venues, there's no reason for people to be loyal to an online
space. So the cultural commitment has to be I imagine a cultural code but
not a set of venues.
 
I'm very troubled that leadership is offered without credibility, and that
people like myself who have demonstrated credibility are not supported.
How can we have a meaningful network then?
 
Andrius
 
Andrius Kulikauskas
Minciu Sodas
http://www.ms.lt
ms@ms.lt
+370 699 30003