[wsfii-coord] Dumb question

[Saul Albert]

On Wed, Apr 26, 2006 at 07:27:36PM +0200, Laird Brown wrote:
> Could someone give me the microwaved version of how WSFII came into   
> existence, please?
> 
> Was it started by an individual, a few people? Where was it started?  
> My guess is in Europe. Yes/no?

Hi Laird :)

It was started by a group of people - in response to generally felt need
to consolidate gains in many areas of Free Infrastructure by networking
them 'crossing the streams' in a pragmatic, focused event.

I became aware of the *name* WSFII at the Fresh Air Free Networks
conference organised by Djurslands.net and FreiFunk.net in summer 2004.
Juergen said it to me. I thought it was a funny idea and sounded so big
that it would be thought of as a joke, then I agreed to help organise it
and watched it escalate into what it is now with wonderment and
enjoyment.

The name, however, was not 'where it started'. It comes out of all the
long and interesting histories of all the brilliant and inspiring ideas,
effort and genius poured into the development of free information
infrastructures. I'm sure there are many people on this list who can
provide many such histories at length - but preferably over good food and
drink, after a day spent learning about the latest bits of that history
at the next WSFII.

> PS - some of us in Dharamsala are still trying to get our heads  
> around what WSFII is all about.

Well, that depends who you are asking, and what you want to find out :)
I'm very curious to find out what people in Dharamasala think would be an
interesting way to approach something called a World Summit on Free
Information Infrastructure. If you're asking me, as far as I'm concerned,
I'm on this list and involved to support your activity as WSFII 2007
organisers- if needed, in any way I can. 

Cheers,

Saul.

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