I recently visited San Diego for a Wiki[m|p]edia conference. I was able to attend this very special event, thanks to WIkimedia Sverige (Sweden). During my visit I were able to put face together with old names I’ve previously collaborated with over the net.
It is empowering to feel that you are not alone in this movement of our, but instead that we are a collective with the same principles and goals. It is easy to forget, when we are sitting in our bedrooms with our laptops in bed, that it isn’t just you doing it, but a whole bunch of other nerds people doing the exact same thing, but on another side of the planet.
We might not share the same languge, and we might not share the same political or social beleives, but we do believe in a movement to provide the sum of all human knowledge, to everyone, no matter the former stated differences we, or they, might have.
Not all project, movement, or groups of people are as interconnected and caring towards each other as we are. I was able to travel roughly 14 hours away from home, to meet mostly strangers at a conference I’d never attended before – and yet I was able to connect and be included amongst these people.
I just wanted to say that I love every single one of you who are working to make others lifes better or easier. Either by providing more information by writing or translating, or if you help develop new software which will help new users feel included, or make a tool more accessible towards blind people. As I’ve said, no matter what you do, you should always now: We are in this together! We are united towards the same goal, and only together can we reach it. #WikiLove