WikiValues

(Proposal sent to Advocate Europe)

WikiValues: a global repository of what we stand for, and why we do it

Teaser

Why people think what they think? Do we question ourselves our thoughts and values enough? How do we europeans compare in regard to our values and beliefs? Are we close, far? WikiValues is a repository of values backed by arguments so we can develop better informed opinions in collaboration.

DESCRIPTION

A web and mobile tool that allows individuals and organizations (NGOs, associations, companies, political parties) to state their values and opinions, browse other’s opinions, adhere to existing positions, and include references (from media, articles, experts opinions) and documentation about values and opinions, that ultimately answers the question: Why we think what we think? How we have gotten to this conclusion?

This online system would include a place for the discussion about values: what arguments sustain a given value, pros and cons, references, related values… and a community moderated system that allows the community to self-moderate (without doubt, a huge challenge)

In the end, individuals would be able to have their own online belief system for personal use, and they could decide to share it publicly or not. And people could check what is the position of organizations (companies, political parties...) about specific issues.

WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND YOUR IDEA?

National debt should be limited. Borders should be open. Same sex marriage shouldn’t be legal... People hold strong opinions. But how they have gotten there? Public opinion construction is a complex process result of interactions between media, leaders, organizations... But the outcome is not the best: everyone push for their own particular interests so the result depends on one’s power to disseminate them.

What if we had a place that compiles key facts and arguments about an issue in a community-moderated fashion? A canonical reference for values where we can review the reasons and information about it so we have the essential material to form our opinions. Reaching absolute objectivity is not feasible nor an objective but a repository of values will exist one day. Let’s start building it.

WHAT WOULD BE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF YOUR PROJECT OR INITIATIVE? WHAT IS THE AIM YOU WANT TO REACH?

To become a non-partisan, objective, and community moderated reference place for when people wants to get informed about a given issue, or question their own beliefs and values. A place where people go to get the facts about an issue so they can form their opinion.

To articulate a community of people and organizations that states their values and opinions about the issues they care about, and document why they think what they do. To create a tool that serves to archive your own belief system.

Our aim is that people become more reflexive on why they think what they think, and help them with tools to do it.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO GET THERE?

Research about belief systems, people’s motivations and stops to share values and opinions Build the tool: for web and mobile, the development and code will be open Develop community: by working key themes (to be defined) to kickstart activity, and by integrating organizations and media in as many EU countries as possible Offer an API so any other service can consume data produced (values, opinions and arguments) to build upon.

WHY DOES EUROPE NEED YOUR IDEA?

The European dream is only halfway through: We have a common currency, we can circulate freely… businesses have benefited greatly about this, but what about individuals? At the citizen level languages are a clear cultural barrier; we still have a very strong country-identity that makes us feel that we are more different and far apart than we really are. We think that we are much closer than we think we are: we only need to be able to see it.

Being able to check what people and organizations in other places of Europe think about important issues, and why, will empower us to understand their reasons and motivations, see things from new perspectives, empathize with other’s views and ultimately be closer to each other .These are the building blocks to knowing and accepting your neighbours.

PLEASE LIST YOUR PARTNER ORGANISATIONS AND TEAM MEMBERS WITH THEIR RELEVANT EXPERIENCES/SKILLS

Alvaro Ortiz (Spain), digital product designer; founded several startups and online communities; interested in media and transparency. Beatriz Martinez (Spain), social researcher, worked in the top digital research company in Spain, rural development and social inclusion programs. Fernando Blat (Spain), developer, cofounded Actuable, became Change.org Spain; built the biggest blogging-community in Spain among other projects. Pablo Serret (Denmark), artist, mixes genres and disciplines (video, sound art, editorial intervention) around themes as margins, pioneerism, identity, power, daily politics, transit or error. Quim Gil (Germany), community expert, Wikimedia Foundation: Interested in communities contributing to the commons, software freedom and the ingredients of social happiness.

Related

• Reasons.club
• Public_Self
• WikiPeople