[WFS-India] Suggestion for re-modelling of the mailing list rules

[Kaustav Das Modak]

On Friday 21 June 2013 09:15 PM, A. Mani wrote:

>> I haven't found any document on the mission and goal of this group. Was it
>> on the old website? If yes, can you please provide me the link? It needs to
>> be uploaded on the new website as well.
>>
>> Without a mission and goals document, it gets pretty tough to follow them.
>
>
> There are few lines in the front page of our website.
> I read them :)
>

[Long response alert]

I had put together those lines from 
https://techchicblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/irc-planning-meeting-to-promote-foss-among-women-in-india/. 
Even if it makes sense to someone, please note that I had put it their 
as a *placeholder* till someone else comes up with a better suggestion.

At present, it reads:

<quote>

WFS-india is a voluntary organization of some enthusiastic people 
wanting to see some gender parity in FOSS world. If you are enthusiastic 
about FOSS and sometimes/always wondering why there are so few women in 
India contributing/working in FOSS, please do join. People would love to 
hear your ideas and suggestions to include more women in FOSS.

If you are a woman and think that women in software should come together 
to address the common issues faced by them, please do join.

</unquote>

The agenda of the first meeting at #wfs-india as described on the 
TechChicBlog page reads:

<quote>


    - why and if at all do we need a group to promote FOSS among women 
in India,

    - how we can improve networking among women in software in India,

    - how we can unite to address common issues faced by women in 
technology in India,

    - how we can help each other to build skills, expertise and grow 
professionally and personally

    - if we can organize an event (something on the line of adacamp – (I 
really love the idea)) in India.

    - anything that you wish to bring up to help the cause.


</unquote>


Though these write-ups constitute the initial ideas behind this group, 
they are not complete and do not in any way represent the mission and 
goals of this group in totality. I believe so because they have not been 
vouched for or have been voted upon, and have not been formed into a MoU 
or Constitution. So using them to justify your views on behalf of the 
whole group does not make any sense to me at least; excuse me for being 
blunt here.

However, even in these write-ups, I find three crucial points:

  a. The urge to introduce more women in India to FOSS, by guiding them 
through the initial ice-breaking.

  b. The stress on reaching out through public activities, like 
organizing events

  c. Asking people to put in their ideas and suggestions for any 
possible improvement.


Your experience in FOSS groups and other form of activisms is surely way 
more than mine, however, I fail to see to why you are been putting up 
your views with a timeout in every case. If no one responds within a 
stipulated time frame that you set, you take that as unanimous decision. 
Most members of this group are either full time professionals or 
students and they may usually take time to respond to certain views and 
concerns raised by you. Please wait for everyone's response, or at least 
a majority response before flagging your view as the choice of others.

Also, I fail to see how your experience and your radical views are doing 
anything progressive in terms of encouraging new members, or even to 
organize a public outreach that takes the word of FOSS out to 
uninitiated. I haven't, for example, seen any feedback from the Git 
workshop participants on the list, though at least 3 or 4 of them had 
joined the list after the workshop. Maybe they are finding this 
atmosphere too toxic to even put in a "Hello World!"?

I would agree with them. I am going to resume my post as the maintainer 
of the website, maybe for another six months. I'm afraid my skills will 
be of no more use in a radical atmosphere which constantly urges people 
to stick to feudal style stringent rules and regulations. Maybe I am not 
cut out for this.

Maybe, I'm wrong and others here might be nodding in assent to your 
views and concerns. Maybe the silence is really an acknowledgement of 
your commitment. In that case, I really do stress that our views differ.

With all due respect,

End of a really long reply.

-- 
Kaustav Das Modak
Desinated Partner
CodeBinders Web Development Services LLP

Web: http://www.codebinders.com
Blog: http://kaustav.codebinders.com
Ph: (+91) 9874456551