אומנות

Interested mostly in artistic subjects, geography, history, music, theater and general culture.

Volunteered for about a year within Wikimedia workshop and on a bunch of other occasions for more than 13 years while I contributed content. At the workshops and other projects freely assisted to paid head-organizers, when afterwards also discovered more of those supposed-volunteers got paid for specific missions I partook at under similar role. We taught about Wikipedia and it's tools in order to increase the number of new editors.

Went once on a half 3-day scholarship and few times for a whole week on my expense to Wikimedia physical events, turning in part to closed-chapters/meetings for scholars only, leaving no activities for independent travelers, taking to unpleasant boycott-like associations; on one related occasion - blatant and deliberate abuse I'v been through and surrounding precisely the one time I finally gained that half-scholarship, which I won't get into here.

I will definitely say this: for independents who already have so much arrive-stay-return self-expenses, there's lesser access benefits on Wikimania kind of events - no free transportation included in price paid for the conference compared to scholars, and when scholars stay at specific expensive hotels, with the further need to the former for mobility from their hotels; same people given scholarships every year; local chapters divisions with their own activities, with limited access, up to cases where there's no offered general activity to the independent travelers which every year seem to be fewer and fewer compared to the scholar ones. Further - cases of gathering-events intended for newcomers which got cancelled or hijacked by organizers for themselves. Something I'v made my stance clear and detailed to the foundation, by filling their improvement-wishing surveys and by personal emails from my side and face to face talks with few San Francisco WMF members which I made.

This consequentially creates an opposing-force to increase the volunteering radius, while maintaining the "dinosaurs" and further self-pampering of specific circles, missing the general initial aim to also welcome new attendees especially via those such high-cost conferences and donations, and an unfortunate shot in the foot to expend the community. For now, what's done is done.

So, unfortunately, learned not to go on my own expense again, nor think I would want to be active enough and contribute content even close to try applying for a scholarship again, nor think I'll get any based on writing this severe issues here, yet unlike the hidden surveys systems, which may or may not be taken to heart.

Aside for that, while it lasted, I did meet nice people who in general volunteer, as well as mostly very nice and thoughtful foundation-organizers responsible for different aspects of the events, like meetings scheduling - which is good and very important. When I went to those conferences, I tried myself to help and advice with ways to make it easier and more fun to contribute on Wikipedia, also sharing and venting my own online experiences, in the intended meetings there. Only from the head of the fish, the foundation, I feel that the rest of the body will succeed increasing it's own radius, and then, and only then, it can push forward a more fresh and friendly online atmosphere on here and the sister websites as well...

At this hard times, with life struggles for everyone, I share two songs with their beautiful uplifting-mingled-with-melancholic melodies, gentle voices, deep lyrics and overall quiet and philosophical vibe: this as my 2nd favorite ever, and this as probably my all time favorite which manages to uplift me the most when I feel lost.