[@OKau] Move from the mailing list to the new OK Forum?

Fri Jun 5 01:16:32 UTC 2015

As someone who's only just starting following the list, there's something
to be said for the "archiveability" of a forum - with the list, topics tend
to pop-up and then disappear, and once disappeared, they're quite hard to
find and resurrect.

>From a user perspective, its probably important to consider those who
aren't participating in the discussions, but are interested in the outcomes
and points made.  There's no doubt an email list is probably a better place
for point-in-time discussions (such as organising events etc), but for the
items that have long-term potential - links to useful info, discussions on
tool selection, social/conference updates etc - the use of a
discourse-style forum is probably more suited, and people will be able to
browse, comment and learn in their own time - the creation of relevant and
encouraging categories in a forum should stir more of us from our slumber?

Just a coupla thoughts!!

On 5 June 2015 at 09:56, Steven De Costa <steven.decosta at linkdigital.com.au>
wrote:

> RE: I'm not sure if a decision has been reached about closing off this
> group in favour of the other?
>
> No this list wont be closed off :) People can and/or use the discussion
> forum at their discretion.
>
> RE: Who is the OKAU trying to reach? [edited]
>
> It depends on each individual and/or group. In some regards I would simply
> say OKAU is centered around principles of openness in the main domain areas
> of knowledge and will advocate for these principles in any forum. As an
> entity OKAU is here to help build community around these principles and
> amplify the voice of those working in alignment with them. As such, who it
> tries to reach really depends on the people doing the reaching.
>
> *STEVEN DE COSTA *|
> *EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR*www.linkdigital.com.au
>
>
>
> On 5 June 2015 at 08:40, Rosie Williams <budgetaus at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm glad to finally have a moment to get back to this thread. I'm not
>> sure if a decision has been reached about closing off this group in favour
>> of the other? It's been an interesting discussion. I think we do need to
>> clarify the purpose of this list and it's role in the bigger picture (not
>> to mention what that bigger picture should be).
>>
>> Steve (B), you say you are happy to work with a group of specialists and
>> leave someone else to do outreach. I think this brings up a question about
>> the purpose of this list and the OKAU site.
>>
>> Is either meant for the general public? Who is the OKAU website trying to
>> reach? Who is this forum intended for- the general public, experts in open
>> data?
>>
>> If all the OKAu events are aimed at experts and all the blog posts that
>> come out are suited only to specialist audiences, then how does the general
>> public engage with open data/open knowledge in Australia?
>>
>> I'm not saying it is wrong to have specialist forums, events and websites
>> specific to an expert audience or that everyone needs to do 'outreach'. I'm
>> not suggesting either that we can't learn from other countries and I guess
>> that is what OKAU is, an implementation of an initiative that began in the
>> UK. I'm just trying to clarify what the motives and objectives of OKAU are,
>> given the lack of general public engagement that I see.
>>
>>
>> Rosie Williams BA (Sociology)
>> ________________________________________
>>  NoFibs.com.au <http://nofibs.com.au> - Open Data Reporter | InfoAus.net
>> <http://infoaus.net> - Founder and Developer
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> From: stevage at gmail.com
>> Date: Tue, 26 May 2015 09:43:08 +1000
>> To: okfn-au at lists.okfn.org
>> Subject: Re: [@OKau] Move from the mailing list to the new OK Forum?
>>
>> Lots of great comments, I'll try to respond succinctly.
>>
>> 1) I don't think there is, or should be, "one" community. "The public"
>> would probably prefer a Facebook group. I'd prefer not to be on it. I'm
>> very happy working with a group of specialists, and I'll leave public
>> outreach to someone else.
>>
>> 2) Re: international engagement, we have a huge amount to gain by tapping
>> into international initiatives. Open Spending being one, and there are two
>> local government data standardisation projects I can't wait to look at.
>> It's less about talking, and more about learning and listening.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> On Mon, May 25, 2015 at 8:19 AM, Rosie Williams <budgetaus at hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I thought I'd contribute to this thread with my observations about
>> strategies and audiences for open data in Australia.
>>
>> There seems in my mind, to be two different pushes on within the OKAu
>> community. One is to build international networks and the other is to build
>> more local connections and engagement. Perhaps both these directions need
>> to be catered for in different ways or in different places.
>>
>> Personally, I'm behind improving understanding and engagement with open
>> data within Australia. What I mean by this is educating the general
>> population (people from all walks of life who may not be technically
>> savvy). I don't see much point in telling people in another country about
>> open knowledge in Australia when the vast proportion of Australians don't
>> know about open knowledge/data in Australia.
>>
>> This list and in my opinion the OKAu site is not general public friendly.
>> Right now the 'open data community' in Australia consists of developers and
>> other experts (many of whom work for government ie very clever, middle
>> class people). I see people out in the community asking for improved or new
>> data but there's no specific place for them to channel their requests
>> (other than my initial efforts at the InfoAus wiki).
>>
>> Most events run by the open data community seem to be aimed almost
>> exclusively at the professional class and often focus on the needs of
>> developers or other experts. There is little comprehension of the role of
>> the general public in shaping where open data goes in this country. I do
>> see there is potential for a better way for our current list to discuss
>> topics provided by different functionality however I also see that
>> discussion has only really sparked up here in recent weeks and if it was
>> moved now we might lose the sense of community emerging here.
>>
>> I have enjoyed the discussion lately on this list. I'm always watching to
>> see new contributors and find out who is actually here since I have no idea
>> unless someone posts something. However I also see a another level of
>> engagement that needs to occur not so much with international experts but
>> with regular folk who don't speak in jargon but who do often know the
>> information they want. There needs to be a forum non technical people can
>> ask for the data they want. I aim to do a fair bit of engaging with a wide
>> audience through various channels over coming weeks as I move toward public
>> requirements gathering and crowdfunding.
>>
>> Ultimately I think this list is more of a stage in the process of
>> creating forums that will hopefully lead to larger scale engagement in open
>> knowledge (both internationally & locally) however IMHO I don't think now
>> is the time to end the engagement that has sprung up here and I also think
>> that focusing on international conversation is not the full picture of
>> where open knowledge needs to go in Australia.
>>
>>
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>
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-- 
Toby Bellwood
toby.bellwood at gmail.com
0409 773105
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