[okfn-discuss] Suggestion: OKCentral henceforth be called OKGlobal

Wed Sep 17 13:26:07 UTC 2014

Hi all,

I don't have strong opinions on either name, both are fine to me. I would
just like to point out that networks do have centers (for some definition
of centrality). The center on OKCentral doesn't necessarily mean "command
center", but it can be the center where all started from, or the center as
where we all meet, etc.

I agree with Naomi that OKGlobal sound like we speak for all groups, but I
think OKCentral has the same problem (maybe even more). All in all, I
sightly prefer OKGlobal or OKInternational.

Cheers,

2014-09-17 9:58 GMT-03:00 Naomi Lillie <naomi.lillie at okfn.org>:

> Hi Tom & all,
>
> Interesting! Personally, I am in two minds about this.
>
> To me, calling the non-profit organisation 'Open Knowledge Global' implies
> we would then speak for all the global groups, as a sort of collective or
> overall representative of all the individual Chapters, Local Groups,
> Working Groups and other community groups and individuals. As you know,
> this may not always be appropriate - different groups have different aims
> and methods, and - for example - if 'Open Knowledge Global' were to write a
> thought-leadership blog on successful lobbying, that could damage the
> reputation of groups in areas where lobbying is perceived as anarchic or
> subversive. 'Central' seems more representative of a supportive
> administrative hub, which I would say is closer to my understanding of the
> role the non-profit organisation currently undertakes, or seeks to
> undertake.
>
> On the other hand, I agree there isn't a 'centre' of Open Knowledge (if
> there is, I want the key!!). The non-profit organisation doesn't dictate
> what groups do or say, the lines of communication aren't radiating out from
> a centre, the groups aren't gathered 'around the centre'; 'global' allows
> for a more amorphous cloud of multiple communication streams, and less
> hierarchy. Also being called 'OKCentral' has sometimes given the impression
> that the most usual geographic location for OKCentral to meet - London,
> Berlin or Cambridge - is therefore its 'capital' or office. in the case of
> London and Cambridge, this is exacerbated by the fact that there is no
> established Local Group, and many people assume 'OKCentral' is the same as
> 'OK-UK' or 'OK-England'. 'Global' may go some way to address this
> misconception and/or help us move away from this habit.
>
> There are examples of other organisations and communities being called
> 'international' - for example Amnesty International and Greenpeace
> International - perhaps people involved in those groups could share
> information about what the 'international' there implies and means in
> practise, and we could see whether that model fits with what we all are or
> hope to be?
>
> I would love to hear more from people on this list about what you think
> and/or have experienced, as well as Local Group and Working Group leaders -
> here looping in on CC.
>
> Thanks Tom for the thought-provoking suggestion!
>
> Naomi (speaking for myself only)
>
>
> On 16 September 2014 16:02, Julio Feliciano <julio at sfsu.edu> wrote:
>
>>  +1
>>
>>  On Sep 15, 2014, at 11:36 PM, Nurunnaby Hasive <nh at nhasive.com> wrote:
>>
>>  +1
>>
>> On Tue, Sep 16, 2014 at 12:31 PM, Pieter Colpaert <
>> pieter.colpaert at okfn.org> wrote:
>>
>>> +1
>>> Op 15 sep. 2014 13:18 schreef "Rufus Pollock" <rufus.pollock at okfn.org>:
>>>
>>>  Very good suggestion Tom - we sort of fell into the "Central" by
>>>> accident (btw it was always intended to convey coordination and support
>>>> rather than direction).
>>>>
>>>>  If others were happy with the "Global" moniker rather than "Central"
>>>> I think this would make perfect sense as a change.
>>>>
>>>>  Regards,
>>>>
>>>>  Rufus
>>>>
>>>> On 13 September 2014 16:12, Everton Zanella Alvarenga <tom at okfn.org.br>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>   Dear all,
>>>>>
>>>>>  I believe for we work as a network, we shouldn't have a center. Thus
>>>>> I'd like to suggest henceforth to call Open Knowledge Central of Open
>>>>> Knowledge Global (OKCentral -> OKGlobal). And we work hard to work in this
>>>>> way.
>>>>>
>>>>>  Thoughts?
>>>>>
>>>>>  Tom
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Everton Zanella Alvarenga (also Tom)
>>>>> Open Knowledge Brasil - Rede pelo Conhecimento Livre
>>>>> http://br.okfn.org
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  --
>>>> * Rufus Pollock Founder and President | skype: rufuspollock |
>>>> @rufuspollock <https://twitter.com/rufuspollock> Open Knowledge
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>>
>>
>> --
>> *Nurunnaby Chowdhury Hasive*
>> Administrator | Bengali Wikipedia
>> <http://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/user:nhasive>
>> Member | IEG Committee, Wikimedia Foundation
>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:IdeaLab/People>
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>>
>>
>>
>>  Julio Feliciano
>> Division of Information Technology
>> San Francisco State University
>> 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco CA 94132
>>
>>  p: 415.405.3685
>> e: julio at sfsu.edu
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
>
> Naomi Lillie
>
> Network Director
>
> skype: n.lillie  |  @naomilillie <https://twitter.com/NaomiLillie>
>
> Open Knowledge <http://okfn.org/>    -    See how data can change the
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> Open Knowledge is a not-for-profit organisation.  It is incorporated in
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> Knowledge, St John’s Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 0WS, UK.
>
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