Comments on the manifesto from FSCONS 2011

The Manifesto, on the wall, with comments - License: CC-BY-SA 2.0

Closer look at some comments - License: CC-BY-SA 2.0

Here are the comments collected from the sticky notes during FSCONS 2011, where we asked the participants to comment on the manifesto interactively using pen and paper and huge print-outs of the manifesto on the walls.

(Bold text annotes that the item has been dealt with, Italics that it is under review.)

1. Awesome to see a manifesto for FSCONS this year! Thanks
2. Cross-pollination" Fancy expression.
3. I don't mind the "fancy" but "pollination" is sufficient.
4. It exists to provide ... from the P.O.V of freedom.
5. "Virtual space" (for meeting each other and discussions): I don't think there is much of that provided by FSCONS now, but actually I like the idea. Action: Bring this up on a meeting!
6. When "FSCONS is founded as a Free Software conference "Scandinavia"? Action: This sentence has at least one error in it. Look it up!
7. Crowd sourcing the manifesto is a brilliant idea!
8. "We strive to lower the barriers for...": good! indeed!
9. "We are non-discriminatory in terms of gender, age, sexual orientation...": Incompatible with workshop for one gender only. Action: Clarify this somehow?
10. "We respect each other...": It also help being including by showing people that have been discriminated earlier, and might be so at FSCONS also, that it is not tolerated. Action: This is a matter of strategy. See if it fits somwhere under "Goals/Approaches"?
11. "We respect each other...": YES! Although discrimination might be illegal it is really great to be explicit about it! It will help educate people.
12. "We respect each other...": I vote against including this discrimination if any kind is inherently bad, and already prohibited by the law everywhere appropriate (to say the least). Let's not be pointlessly politically correct. Action: this appears not to reflect the majority view. Suggest no action be taken,
13. "The content should be a challenge for the participants, and encourage new thinking": Did you mean something along the lines of "challenging the participants" or "challenging participant's views"? Action: Rephrase sentence to make this clearer.
14. "We strive to be open and transparent in how we work, and what we do": 'Strive to' is vague.. what are the possible limits to transparency? Action: Again, this should perhaps be under "Goals/Approaches", rahter than under Foundations?
15. "We respect each other, and we are non-discriminatory and accessible": Why limit the non-discriminatory policy to only these foci? What about political opinions? Action: Adding "etc" would fix this, but may appear too sweeping?
    1. "We respect each other, and we are non-discriminatory and accessible": My political opinions are to discriminate people based on gender,age,sexual orientation,ethnic background,..... Now what?
16. "participants at each activity": visitors to FSCONS every year? visitors at lectures? what? Action: This is indeed unclear. Rephrase (but see also notes on 20%-issue below!).
17. "Low barriers": the cost of entrance! which barriers is it? Action: This is about being inclusive and non-elitist I think? Clarify with a word or two.
18. "Financially self-supporting": Consistent web usage. Action: Not sure what this means...
19. You may want to clarify how these goals relate to the overall purpose of the conference. The goals are ok but it would be good to put them in an explicit context. Action: Check all goals against the Foundations; are the at all instances former firmly anchored in the latter? If not, rephrase/remove goal, or expand Foundations!
20. "Goal,Being accessible...": make sure not to alienate advanced participants by keeping it too basic. Action: clarify intent.
21. "Goal,Being accessible...": is it about knowledge? Action: Yes, what do we mean?
22. "Goal,Being accessible...": accessible for who? what are the criterion? Action: This obviously needs clarification!
23. "FSCONS should spark interesting discussions and co-operations ": sloppy definitions aren't what make things interesting, they are just sloppy. Action: Yes, while a commendable aim, as goals go, this is not measurable. Integrate in Foundations instead?
24. "FSCONS should spark interesting discussions and co-operations ": we don't know that is what make it interesting. Action: See above!
25. "Approaches to accomplish the goals": since it's a continuous process and not a single one-off activity, "accomplishing" would probably sound better.
26. "Receiving help and funding through an active sponsorship of FSCONS ...": Some native English speaker could review this paragraph for grammar consistency and improve the flow and cohesion. Action: While not a native, I still had a look at it. Does it read well enough now?
27. Rephrase.. FSCONS sponsoring... or sponsoring FSCONS. who is sponsoring who?
28. "Investigating what good quantitative approaches could be established in order to meet the goal of having a reasonable and fair gender distribution among the participants": what exactly is "quantitative approach" ?
29. "Establishing a system of local ambassadors of FSCONS in order to attract new participants (including speakers, staff and volunteers) " how do we do this? Action: This should be brought up at a meeting.
30. "Metrics for the goals": Arranging tracks on specific themes is not a way to measure, it's an approach. This paragraph is quite confusing. Action: And I too am confused; this seems to ahve been dealt with already..?
31. "A feedback mechanism for keeping track of that projects, and what discussions continue after FSCONS.": Isn't it already implemented by mailing people after the conference?
32. " Metrics for the goals": Measurable goals can lead to optimization towards compliance of measurement rather than solution of problem- rather promote deliberative culture. Action: This is a fair point. Add somethign to the effect of goals being secondary to the spirit of the event or some such..?
33. "A constant review of what percentage are returning visitors.": In the long run, am I welcome back if 20% of all attendees each year should be first-time? Implies infinite growth? Action: Yes, this is strange... Rethink?
34. "A constant review of what percentage are returning visitors.": Anyone has anything here? Action: See below!
35. "A constant review of what percentage are returning visitors.": You are welcome as long as you are with the 80%. Action: See note regarding 20% above!
36. "A constant review of what percentage are returning visitors.": So registration of visitors, some people with paranoia won't like that. Action: this has been discussed on a meeting. Add a note dispelling concerns that we are keeping files on visitors..? (eg. "through post-conference surveys etc.")
37. "Goal,financial follow-up..": donate all the money!