ubuntu wiki documentation

[Matthew East]

Hi Sean,

Thanks for your email. If you'd like to continue this discussion, I'd
appreciate it if you could do so on the documentation team mailing
list (cc:ed).

I've read what you say and looked at the pages on the wiki. It should
be clear from the amount of time I've taken to write this email that
I've tried to address your arguments fairly.

I have to say that I don't understand your position.

wiki.ubuntu.com is used for coordinating the development of Ubuntu and
Ubuntu-related projects. Your pages are simply not related to Ubuntu
development. They are written from the perspective of an Ubuntu user
who wants to get involved in Amateur Radio (or its development). As
such, our policy, which we explained to you, is that the pages be
moved to the help website. That's why James moved them, and he was
right to do so.

I'd like to address the points you've made on the page and in your
email to me, as far as I understand them. First, you've suggested that
licensing privileges are required to get involved with Amateur Radio,
and therefore it isn't appropriate to show regular Ubuntu users how to
do this. That doesn't follow: there is nothing about moving the
material to the development wiki which makes any difference to such an
issue. People are most likely to find the material (regardless of
where you put it) by searching google, and those who follow Ubuntu
development have no greater likelihood of understanding licensing
issues than regular Ubuntu users.

The other points that you've made don't actually affect the question
of whether the material is more appropriate for the help wiki or the
development wiki. They are valid to some extent, and we are working on
addressing them, but are no reason for you to insist on keeping the
material in the wrong place. I'll outline them briefly:

1. You've suggested that it's unclear from the two wikis what the
policy is on which material goes where. I understand this confusion,
because I've seen it in a lot of places. We're always thinking about
better ways to make the distinction clear. Having said that, it's
clear from the homepage of wiki.ubuntu.com what purpose the wiki
serves - https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ - more importantly, once James and I
had taken the trouble to explain the policy, I don't really understand
why you'd continue to object.

2. You've said that the redirect that was put in place was bad taste
because it semi-instantly refreshes the user's browser. I agree that
the refresh system we're currently using is certainly not ideal:
however it is the best alternative and we are working on a more
graceful redirect.

3. You have said that it's inappropriate to alter another's work with
no intention to improve it. With respect, what James did was to bring
the material in line with his (correct) understanding of the policy
which we use on the Ubuntu wikis. I don't think it is true that he has
refused to collaborate: he has attempted to explain the division to
you. It's unfair of you to accuse him or any of us of violating the
spirit of Ubuntu - I guarantee that you've done our best to understand
your point of view.

4. You've raised the question of licensing - I'm afraid that if you
post material on a wiki under a free license, you're going to find the
editors of that wiki are going to move and alter the material in
whatever way they feel is appropriate: in the event that you disagree
with the way that is done, I'm afraid that's just a question of
opinion. When that happens, the only thing to do is to discuss the
question in a civil way with the appropriate groups, in this case the
documentation team. That's what James did, and I support both his
point of view and the approach he's taken to resolving the issue.

I hope that you will understand the reasons behind our decision and
that you'll continue your work on a free basis on the help wiki.
However if you can't accept it, it's perfectly fine for you to take
the material and develop it on your own website under a free or
non-free basis.

-- 
Matthew East
http://www.mdke.org
gnupg pub 1024D/0E6B06FF