input 1   from  John   -  https://join.wsf2021.net/organizations/8427  CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND DOCUMENTATION

SLOW NET MEETS. ( 28 01 ) 

My Observation is that social media including Zoom, Whats app, Facebook tend to socialised us into fast paced , hierarchical  and individualistic relationship. At the WSF, we seem to have a class of panelist and a class of participants, and the twain are distanced in the Webinar mode. I observe that the normal Zoom meeting with break out groups is a better arrangements as we can hope to meet people in the main room via chat, and go over to a chat room for more detailed interaction.

Most of the speakers, in the panels, are people who have several videos on line. So can the organisers put a webpage with links and notes to these inputs.. so that people can access these at their own time.  The time in a forum like WSF could then be mainly discussion where "participants" can speak and react..

Another observation is that we are packing the schedule to a few days, as if we were restrained by the fact that we are meeting in between flights and hotel bookings.  We are all at home, and so we need not be hemmed in by time/schedules, and activity lists.

For the next meet, I propose that small groups mett physically in their geographic area, so that we can plan Group to Group Netmeeting, where there is a hybrid of local and internet meetings.  as well as off line pre recorded presentations...

If we feel that Zoom and You tube are a limitation, can we have those who have hacked JITSI and Peertube to hold workshop online.. to give us a chance to figure it out/implement it..

So my proposal for activities for the next year is to both discuss and well as unravell alternative communication/net meeting/ using the the NETMEET as a lever.  SLOW as in SLOW FOOD.. organic, traditional, local ingridients, etc.. 

input 2   8 02 2021     from  John   -  https://join.wsf2021.net/organizations/8427  CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND DOCUMENTATION

 I was really looking forward to WSF 2020.. since it was a low cost, low carbon event.

Unfortunately, I found that the systems adopted were totally hierarchical, and there was not sense of particpation by us "shudras".   We allowed technology to replicate it hierarchy, and top down system communication..

I dont see any reason why this could not be overcome.. Instead, we had a heady mix of system where even a person like me who is tech savvy, found very difficult to navigate.. I therefore just gave up on the fourth day.

I do feel that we need to explore ways which we can do a moreinteractive on line virtual meet.. or some kind of hybrid decentralised  poly centric system..

I am quite clear that I cannot afford to join the next WSF if it is only physical.. But will do so if there is a kind of hybrid, decentralised, spread out system.. given tech we all dont need to be in one place.. and we can have polycentric fora.. spread over a few weeks.. some according to time zones, and others according to interest groups..

it can be a combination of on line of off lines exchanges..  Just to tell you that you don't need to have a stirct webinar model, where we cant talk to each other I am just sending you a link of the layered talking screen like in this ndtv, broadcast.  I dont see why we cannot have a system where we can have conversations rather than talk downs,and discreet time slotted utterances..

This is a forum not a Seminar... I  cant belief that we do not have the talent to tweet some of the messaging software to act more democratically.  Please remember a break through here will impact many other interactions and on line systems the world over..

Another digital world is possible.. 

input3 

Dear John

 I am particularly happy that you claim a perspective of greater digital interaction in the world of the WSF. It has been an important debate, but it is still a process of collective maturation.

Not as a justification, but as a clarification to anyone interested in.

The option for  this virtual edition ot the WSF,  was to 1) Take advantage of the experience developed for the Social Forum on Transforming Economies for the registration process. 3) Allow the insertion of activities in a common program-platform, distributed according to collective agreements - thematic spaces, cross-cutting themes, joint panels (progressively built by open facilitating groups) and self-managed independent activities.

There was no interference in view of the diversity of possible or accessible platforms for different collectives and regions, to include activities, formats, wich were defined by organizers themselves.  You could organize a seminar or an artistic performance, an informal round table or a podcast, using  corporate platforms or based on free software, broadcasting via youtube, facebook or fediverse

The interactions only took place through the participation  in the activity, during its realization and according to the degree of openness established by its organizers, or even through the social networks in which they were transmitted, including the WSF social media.

Anyway, I agree with you that the interaction between participants, activities or organizations in the same toll in wich they were registered is a demand to be resolved. 

At that time, it was not an option.

Making everything more fluid, easier, more intuitive is a desire of designers and programmers. It is also necessary to deal with the peculiarities and requirements of the WSF.

The militant and open group which built and managed some collective solutions for the WSF continues to meet to contribute to the process. Your participation would be most welcome. If you are interested, just say it and I will be happy with your inclusion.

warmly  Rita   https://join.wsf2021.net/organizations/911   Ciranda.net