I don't agree at all, Carlos.
The "monetizing" pays for our hosting and software; if we raise a bit more money and pay a subscription fee we can get rid of the advertisements on the Ning site but frankly I don't think that's a priority. But if that bothers you, it really isn't that much.
The problems which Norbert complains about - endlessly, it seems - would arise with Drupal and any other platform. In fact they'd probably be worse. Because someone would have to start from scratch and develop the site from nothing. Good luck with that.
I think a lot of folks here are taking an awful lot for granted and, frankly, getting a bit spoiled. For many years we made do with essentially NO web site for the elections, just material circulated on an email list. We are trying to migrate to a SNS amidst a large increase in membership and there are going to be rough patches.
--MM
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Non-Commercial User Constituency [mailto:NCUC-
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carlos A. Afonso
> Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:45 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [NCUC-DISCUSS] [Fwd: Re: [Ncu-exec] South America]
>
> I think the reason is we make a very poor use of online resources,
> always recalling we do all this on a voluntary basis and in these
> conditions the work already done is great.
>
> But the fact is that the flow of information sharing and decisions taken
> which happens in our lists is not reflected in the only space people
> really visit -- our Web portal, which is now in an
> information-monetizing space.
>
> I personally strongly resist using any commercial "social networking"
> space, which is no more than a data-mining monetizing concoction making
> money on other people's information, and of course mostly these
> information speculators are USA-based.
>
> However, I understand that without a project (to be funded) to develop
> our space in an autonomous way (using Drupal and the like, and not
> having to donate our content to monetizers) and/or fund people to keep
> information organized and updated in a regular way, there is not much
> else we can do.
>
> I am ready to help draft a project if some more people volunteer to help
> and we could try and seek funds for it (could ISOC/PIR fund it?) -- if
> people agree my suggestion (and my "weird" opinion on monetizers) makes
> sense, of course.
>
> frt rgds
>
> --c.a.
>
> Norbert Klein wrote:
> > Dear Friends,
> >
> > Avri's note encourages me to write again - somewhat in desperation,
> because I
> > was obviously not able to say clearly enough that I am seriously
> concerned about
> > a POLITICAL problem, but I received basically some TECHNICAL
> information. And I
> > appreciate the time and technical skill that you, Brenden, dedicate -
> but this
> > did not touch on my concern.
> >
> > The NCUC has been under fire for all kinds of reasons, and one has been
> that
> > there is a kind of "inner circle" controlling affairs in a not
> transparent way.
> > We all know that this is NOT true.
> >
> > But I am concerned that such accusations might get new fuel, saying that
> the
> > process of candidates nominations is not transparent to the public, as
> the our
> > site is not easily readable when it comes to candidates, and the site
> > administration does not put up all info, but only what some people want
> to disclose.
> >
> >
> > Just now, as I write, whoever goes to our site:
> >
> > http://ncdnhc.org/
> >
> > they will see on the first page only the *Annual Elections: View the
> call for
> > nominations *- but not the candidates.
> >
> > If somebody does not turn away disappointed, and looks even two levels
> under
> > *Resources* - where one normally would NOT expect the actual list of
> candidates
> > - there is the map. I think it is very impressive to see that the NCUC
> > candidates are spread out geographically, but this map shows only
> those who
> > made use of the facility that *allows members who have been nominated*
> to put up
> > some more info. Correct. Though we are most happy to have a Latin
> American
> > candidate, and a very qualified one - the map does not clearly say that
> this is
> > only a selection of candidates - not the full list. By inference you can
> guess it.
> >
> > If somebody really wants to know *all nominations* - here it is:
> >
> >
> > "The map below allows members who have been nominated for the 2009
> Annual
> > Election to post more information about themselves. Click on an icon to
> learn
> > more about the member. Please *consult the NCUC listserv archive for all
> > nominations*."
> >
> >
> > How? Where?
> >
> > This does not give the impression to be an invitation for a wide
> participation
> > in NCUC.
> >
> > Please try not to take all this as criticism - I know that the NCUC does
> not
> > have the financial resources others have (which I have felt enough over
> time), I
> > know that we live from the dedication of all of us cooperating.
> >
> > But please forgive me to lift up the voice of some from the outside,
> from those
> > whom I want to motivate to participate in the "bottom-up" process,
> > inter-cultural, and whatever. "It is too complicated - I cannot find my
> way
> > around to understand how you are organized."
> >
> > I would like to be able to avoid having made people embarrassed because
> they are
> > not not - as they say - educated enough to follow a process which I
> claimed to
> > be not high-tech and Western culture centered.
> >
> > No, we should have, as soon as possible, *on the first page* of the
> > http://ncdnhc.org/ *a simple list of all nominations*, not depending on
> the
> > candidates editing the NCUC page, so that everybody can easily see where
> we are
> > in the election process.
> >
> >
> >
> > Norbert
> >
> > PS.: And I am now going to edit the map, as Brenden suggested, and add
> our
> > Brazilian candidate "Graciela Seliamen" - her name is actually "Graciela
> Selaimen."
> >
> >
> > = =
> >
> > Avri Doria wrote:
> > > hey, i know i am new around here, and on this list on suffereance,
> > > but i wonder if someone doesn't have time to update the map, do the
> have the
> > > time ...
> > > or is that just silly?
> > >
> > > a.
> > >
> > > On 11 Sep 2009, at 23:24, Brenden Kuerbis wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi Norbert,
> > >>
> > >> Thanks for your explanation, it is a problem if nominees don't bother
> > >> updating the map. I just edited the text based on your comments, and
> added
> > >> Horacio. I'll try to dig back through through the archives and add
> some more
> > >> nominees.
> > >>
> > >> In the meantime, I also shared the edit link with you so you can add
> some
> > >> nominees if you like. If anyone else wants to help out, let me know
> and I'll
> > >> send you the link.
> > >>
> > >> Cheers,
> > >>
> > >> ---------------------------------------
> > >> Brenden Kuerbis
> > >> Internet Governance Project
> > >> http://internetgovernance.org
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 11:04 PM, Norbert Klein <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> > >> Robin Gross wrote:
> > >>> Here's a suggestion for the South America Representative on the
> Executive
> > >>> Committee: Graciela Seliamen of RITS in Brazil.
> > >>>
> > >>> She is an IGF MAG member now also.
> > >>>
> > >>> Robin
> >
> > --
> > If you want to know what is going on in Cambodia, please visit
> > The Mirror, a regular review of the Cambodian language press in English.
> >
> > This is the latest weekly editorial of the Mirror:
> >
> > Is Every Khmer Citizen Equal Before the Law? - Sunday, 6.9.2009
> > http://wp.me/p2Gyf-Y2
> >
> > (To read it, click on the line above.)
> >
> > And here is something new every day:
> > http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com
> >
> >
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