No, 100M is actually probably on the low side. Heck, Firefox gets more than that for less.
The problem is Craigslist is for-profit. Even assuming the Foundation had the wherewithal to execute the legal maneuvers to make advertising possible (not necessarily a safe assumption; they prefer projects like helping out starving African schools with DVDs), the community has known of the possibly money right from the start—and been adamantly against it as long.
And it’s not just talk either. One reason the Spanish Wikipedia is noticeably smaller than it ought to be (given its status as one of the most important languages in the world and its early start) is because the Encyclopedia Libre forked just over rumors of advertising.
Now, that was with the hardcore of early contributors, so sentiment no doubt has weakened; but anyone forcing through advertising of any kind must consider that advertising will do a decent amount of damage to En, at the very least.
Yeah, I’m just brainstorming. The last thing I want to do is hurt wikipedia.
Part of the problem is… is anyone here actually on craigslist on a regular basis? I might get on if I have a toaster to get rid of but I’m not part of the community that would actually be affected by the ads.
The problem is Craigslist is for-profit.
Interesting. Are non-profits not allowed to sell advertising space to raise money for their cause? That seems like part of the tax code that damn well ought to be fixed.
is anyone here actually on craigslist on a regular basis?
Me? No. Too ugly & unusable, and I have no need of its services.
Are non-profits not allowed to sell advertising space to raise money for their cause?
It’s difficult for non-profits; they are after all being held to higher standards to ensure they are genuinely charitable. They have to remember the ‘public support’ criteria the IRS applies (ie. no sugar-daddies), and their >5% disbursement requirements; I assume there are other issues. Mozilla had to set up a for-profit subsidiary which somehow channels the money back to the Mozilla foundation, IIRC.
No, 100M is actually probably on the low side. Heck, Firefox gets more than that for less.
The problem is Craigslist is for-profit. Even assuming the Foundation had the wherewithal to execute the legal maneuvers to make advertising possible (not necessarily a safe assumption; they prefer projects like helping out starving African schools with DVDs), the community has known of the possibly money right from the start—and been adamantly against it as long.
And it’s not just talk either. One reason the Spanish Wikipedia is noticeably smaller than it ought to be (given its status as one of the most important languages in the world and its early start) is because the Encyclopedia Libre forked just over rumors of advertising.
Now, that was with the hardcore of early contributors, so sentiment no doubt has weakened; but anyone forcing through advertising of any kind must consider that advertising will do a decent amount of damage to En, at the very least.
Yeah, I’m just brainstorming. The last thing I want to do is hurt wikipedia.
Part of the problem is… is anyone here actually on craigslist on a regular basis? I might get on if I have a toaster to get rid of but I’m not part of the community that would actually be affected by the ads.
Interesting. Are non-profits not allowed to sell advertising space to raise money for their cause? That seems like part of the tax code that damn well ought to be fixed.
Me? No. Too ugly & unusable, and I have no need of its services.
It’s difficult for non-profits; they are after all being held to higher standards to ensure they are genuinely charitable. They have to remember the ‘public support’ criteria the IRS applies (ie. no sugar-daddies), and their >5% disbursement requirements; I assume there are other issues. Mozilla had to set up a for-profit subsidiary which somehow channels the money back to the Mozilla foundation, IIRC.
Good point