User:Ilya (usurped)/Wikimania

(my very random thoughts about Wikimania)

What is Wikipedia?
 * dream about free knowledge
 * society's board for archieving consensus

Thesis:
 * we are in the state of transition from encyclopedia as a sum of existing knowledge to the new space that will create new knowlegde. Goal for WM'06: to create a link between 'persons' (editors of wp) and 'society' (formal structures)

Projects for Wikimania 2006:
 * ecology board
 * scientific circle
 * future society discussion event

Motto - Edit the World

Why Boston?
 * US, MA, Boston, Harvard, MIT share same fundamental values - symbolic
 * possibility of strong scientific programme (lots of people can talk, although need to prove to them that it's worth that)

Some points:
 * I've heard that many people don't like politics of the US - but you should separate between government and people (not liking government would be a very strange reason to refrain from going to a wiki conf); moreover, Commonwealth of MA is often labeled 'free' state and in that respect is very like Wikipedia!
 * crimes in Cambridge do occur, but you should take common sense precautions (don't walk in the night alone)
 * housing is a hard problem, but we have nearly a year for planning!