Leaving the Web Standards Group
I sent this email earlier today to the Web Standards Group core mailing list:
I let Russ know earlier this week that it was time for me to hang up my WSG hat.Tags: melbourne, wsgWhile I’ve never really been one for engaging on the mailing list, so haven’t come to know the core members in other cities as well as others, I have been running the Melbourne WSG events for about 4 years now.
My reasons for moving on are largely personal (family commitments, plus a personal project that I’m working on), but there is more to it. While there will always be a place for webby social events and education, I don’t think that web standards as a movement is the important force for moving the web forward that it once was. When you no longer believe that the cause you’re investing time in is having a big impact, the role of organising these meetings just becomes an events management chore … and nobody wants chores in their life.
I don’t know what the future holds for WSG events in Melbourne—encouraging volunteerism in Melbourne has long been an uphill battle. I don’t really understand why that is, but the benefits of running WSG Melbourne have been very tangible for me, from both a personal and professional perspective. Adam, Will and Ricardo, who have helped out in various capacities in the past, may have a vision for the future, but they too have (ever expanding) family commitments so I guess we’ll see.
Melbourne has long been a horse that you can lead to water, but can’t force to drink. Cameron Adams made a similar observation several years ago before moving to Sydney.
At any rate, I’d like to praise everyone on this core mailing list for the efforts they put in, however large or small, whether with the list or forum or with the events. In particular, Russ Weakley, I don’t know how you keep on keeping on, but you have my utmost respect for it—thanks for everything.
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Matthew Magain works as the manager for online media at
Comments:
Ricky Onsman [www.flyman.com.au]
Oct 16, 07:40 pm #
No arguments about the burden of being organiser etc, and I know Melb can be ‘difficult’, but it’s this bit that intrigues me: “I don’t think that web standards as a movement is the important force for moving the web forward that it once was”.
Is it the standards that are the issue, or the movement?
Matthew Magain [http://magain.com/]
Oct 16, 07:58 pm #
Neither, Ricky. It’s that the the movement is no longer necessary. The future of the web is indeed with web standards, but it seems that everyone knows that now. Is evangelism still required?
That and the fact that I’m tired of finding speakers, booking venues, writing “come to this event” emails, finding and placating sponsors, promoting the event online, uploading pics … it’s someone else’s turn! :-)
Jonathan O'Donnell []
Oct 16, 10:22 pm #
Matt
Well done on being a great organiser, and on putting together some terrific events.
Thanks for all your hard work.
Does this mean that you will be moving to Sydney, too? Seems like its the thing that ex-Melb-WSG organizers do.
Jonathan
Ricky Onsman [www.flyman.com.au]
Oct 16, 10:44 pm #
Understood.
Personally, I think evangelism, the movement, is still required.
I don’t yet see standards embedded into the education and training paths that our future web designers will take.
And until I see that, I think we need the opportunities to focus on standards issues at a peer-to-peer level that WSG meetings present.
The thing about movements is that they typically involve a lot of people, among whom the burden should be shared to deal with the practicalities of maintaining the movement.
That sounds a bit more Karl Marx than I intended, but I guess you know what I mean.
Your work for WSG has been invaluable, Matt, and appreciated.
Cheers.
Matthew Magain [http://magain.com/]
Oct 17, 09:04 am #
No plans to move to Sydney, Jonathan!
Thanks guys.