Title: WordCamp Dhaka 2023 Cancelled: Corporate Influence on Community Decision-Making
Introduction:
WordCamp Dhaka (Bangladesh) 2023, a highly anticipated event for the WordPress community, has been cancelled by The WordPress Community Team. The decision was made due to concerns regarding corporate influence on the community decision-making process. This article will delve into the reasons behind the cancellation and the call for greater transparency within the WordPress community.
Heading 1: The WordPress Community Team’s Decision
The WordPress Community Team, responsible for supporting and nurturing the WordPress community, published a statement on the WordCamp Dhaka 2023 website. The statement highlighted the team’s commitment to upholding WordPress’ globally shared values and ensuring that WordCamps are aligned with these values. The team expressed their inability to support an event that is influenced by corporate interests, leading to the cancellation of WordCamp Dhaka 2023.
Heading 2: Corporate Influence and Community Decision-Making
The Community Team emphasized that WordPress events should benefit the entire community, rather than specific businesses or individuals. They firmly believe that decisions regarding WordCamps should be guided by the collective wisdom of the community, free from any one company’s interests. When companies attempt to exert influence on the planning process, the Community Team intervenes to maintain fairness and impartiality. In this case, they decided to cancel WordCamp Dhaka 2023 to preserve the integrity of the event.
Heading 3: Observable Actions and Undermining of the Organizing Process
According to Sam Suresh, a contributor to the Community Team, the cancellation was not a result of inadequate planning or insufficient effort by the organizing team. Instead, there were observable actions from local community members aimed at influencing decisions that would benefit specific individuals or companies. When these attempts did not yield the desired results, these individuals resorted to undermining the organizing process and event success. The severity of these actions necessitated the cancellation of WordCamp Dhaka 2023.
Heading 4: Consequences and Community Response
To address the issues at hand, all co-organizers and event organizers were removed from their roles and required to repeat their orientation to regain access. Additionally, a community deputy and a mentor were also removed from their positions. The companies involved in the infractions faced a ban from sponsoring WordPress events for a year. However, the level of secrecy surrounding the incident and the lack of transparency regarding the individuals and companies involved sparked objections from the community.
Heading 5: The Call for Transparency and Revisiting Policies
Community members expressed their concerns about the secrecy surrounding these incidents. They highlighted the damaging effects, such as unknowingly supporting individuals who have not honored their community commitments. While not all participants in the discussion favored revealing the individuals’ names, there was a demand to know the companies that were banned from sponsoring WordPress events. The community called for a greater level of transparency to ensure that those who act against WordPress’ globally shared values are held accountable.
Conclusion:
The cancellation of WordCamp Dhaka 2023 due to corporate influence on the community decision-making process has raised important questions about transparency within the WordPress community. The WordPress Community Team’s decision to prioritize the community’s collective wisdom and uphold globally shared values is commendable. Moving forward, it is crucial for the community to revisit policies and find a balance between protecting individuals’ privacy and ensuring transparency when addressing Code of Conduct violations. By doing so, the WordPress community can continue to thrive and foster an inclusive environment for all its members.
