Re: [tdf-discuss] [libreoffice-website] [Forum] How will the forum be organized?

Hi Narayan, Michael :-)

If you read the various SC meeting minutes objectively, there was
never any firm commitment to going over to Drupal. It was, in fact, an
openness to re-consider the issue at a later date, and to evaluate a
working site alongside specific statements and proof of the advantages
that Drupal would bring.

The most recent SC meeting re-stated the same openess to that *in the
mid-term future*. But it was clearly desired to put an end to what has
become a disruptive argument backed up by what has been, IMHO,
disruptive disinformation about the SC's stance, in a quest to
"bulldoze" the adoption through.

In my own perception, it seemed to be less based on any possible
advantages that Drupal could bring to the Web infrastructure, and more
a question of forcing a Drupal adoption without any real consideration
of technical merits/demerits and TDF's more-urgent needs.

In reality, there is a lot of higher priority work to be done.

There has been *so* much written in the lists about all this - I think
many people are fed up of the subject, and I think it has caused a lot
of disharmony that is damaging to the project.

Progress will soon be made towards implementing the Community Bylaws
and steadily establishing a stable, community-driven governance for
the project. Charles Schulz drafted those bylaws, with public
discussion during the process on the SC discussion list. IMHO, they
are a good model of FOSS project governance, and a sincere effort to
apply high ideals of democratic community government within the
project.

If you guys can show some patience and forebearing in your desires, I
think you will have every fair opportunity to fulfill your goal of
Drupal adoption at a future date - if you can concretely demonstrate
that it is a better choice and truly advantageous for the community,
and if you follow the procedures and channels that will be implemented
for such purposes. But now is not the right time.

Meanwhile, if you are truly interested in getting involved in the
project's Web communications, I invite you both to work with me on the
subject, and to actually constructively contribute ideas, time and
written material as part of a team that has been placed, *as an
interim thing*, under my coordination and management.

If you can prove that you truly have the project's real interests at
heart, and that there is a genuine meritocratic justification, you
(and anyone else) have every chance of becoming the website content
lead in my stead, with my full support and cooperation, if there is an
official decision in that respect by the SC.

But you have to win that role by merit and real work that furthers the
project's immediate interests and needs.

So, I'm laying down a challenge to you: let's stop this damaging,
conflictual and time-wasting discussion on the mailing lists, and
let's get to work together building superb web content on the
SilverStripe site.

You will find me an objective, constructive, consensual and
cooperative person to work with. My only desire is to see real results
as quickly as possible.

We can arrange a website content team confcall at an early date and start work.

The only condition are that:

- We have to stop talking about Drupal at this time, and only think of
content and information for the LibreOffice and TDF community on
libreoffice.org.

- We have to commit to the governance laid down in the Community
Bylaws, and be supportive of the SC in *progressively* working towards
their implementation within a reasonable timeframe. In the design of
the bylaws, there are mechanisms for bringing about change in a fair
and viable manner. So, if there are things in them that displease you
now, you *will* have the opportunity to work towards change in them in
the future.

Please, guys, put Drupal out of your mind for the CMS for *at least*
6-9 months - indeed, there are perfectly rational reasons for deciding
to stay with SilverStripe as CMS quite far into the future. Maybe it
would be a good idea to think laterally and broach the subject of
Drupal-powered *forums* with the SC, instead?

Meanwhile, remember that there is an opportunity to take part in
exciting and interesting mass media communications work.

What do you say? :-) I am very keen to work with you, hear your
imaginative ideas, and see fruitful results on our
SilverStripe-powered CMS, libreoffice.org. :-)

David Nelson

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