This is a page to gather reasons why you (not your neighbour, not your dog, not your grand-mother) would go to one or the other of the cities shortlisted for Wikimania. This is not a vote, this is not even really a poll, the jury just has been speculating on what would attract (or not) people to one or the other city and also what would prevent them from going there. Please state your reason, nickname (link to your project page if you don't have an account here) and country of origin. You may of course give reasons for both cities. You can see the Boston bid and the Toronto bids by following the links on the title.

Boston[edit source]

I would go to Boston because...[edit source]

please give your reason in the form: your reason, signature - or link to project page, (country)
*reason ~~~~ (country)

It is relatively close to my parents' house, making it convenient. 128.227.97.107 23:32, 19 October 2005 (UTC) (IP edit from Snowspinner who can't be bothered to log in)
Anywhere in North America is good enough for me. --Delirium 23:36, 19 October 2005 (UTC) (USA)
Not far away and easy drive or train ride. Jtkiefer 23:48, 19 October 2005 (UTC)
I live about 45 minutes away. Karmafist 03:21, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
I have friends living there and could also visit them Mfront 08:06, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (French@Germany)
It seems a nice city and one of my best friends here in Thailand is a Boston native User:Waerth not logged in .... 58.8.187.247 08:07, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Agree with Waerth and also have friends there - well, hey, I'm Irish! Cormaggio ^@ 11:07, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Ireland/UK)
I have friends there. Would also be slightly easier to get to. Laura Scudder | Talk 13:49, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
After reading "Danthe Club" I am facinated by Harvard nad Boston. I have an US bussiness visa valid for 10 years, so traveling to US shouldn't be a big issue for me (except money matters) Polimerek 17:56, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Boston is one of my favourite cities. Cambridge is pleasant enough and it is in easy reach of Boston itself. And I delight in Fenway Park. Theo (Talk) 19:06, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (UK)
Boston is meant to be lovely, though I've never been; I would like to change that. James F. (talk) 19:44, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
It's a great city and a cheap flight from anywhere in the States, specifically the west coast where I'm from. 66.235.58.10 21:39, 20 October 2005 (UTC) ()
Never been in North America. I would like to start from Canada, but Boston is Ok. --Snowdog 08:51, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Italy)
It's a historical city and I love history. -- Derek Ross 07:39, 21 October 2005 (UTC) (UK passport but lives in Canada)
I missed the last one because of $900 cost of tickets to Germany. New York is a cheap bus ride away from Boston and I think institutions like Harvard and MIT would make for a good mix. - Reagle 14:34, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
Boston is, as far as I am concerned, the centre of the world. Nowhere else I have met so many smart people as there. Wikimania would be a great excuse to spend a few days there. Direct flight from Munich is very comfortable and not too expensive. Branimir 18:35, 21 October 2005 (UTC) (Germany)
Because I would get to see so many great wiki people again - User:SvenDowideit (Australia)
My husband said he might come with me and visit some friends at MIT :-) Anthere
It's in on my continent. --Brian0918 18:42, 22 October 2005 (UTC)
To return to the "No Name" fish restaurant. Easy, cheap flights from the UK with only 5 hours time difference. LoopZilla 16:54, 24 October 2005 (UTC) (London, England, UK)
I grew up in Cambridge, and Harvard Law School is a 10-minute walk from my mother's house. I know the terrain initimately and can speak the local di-ah-lect fluently. Boston is also very is to get into by car. Subway from Logan airport is quick and cheap, and the "Harvard" metro stop is 3 minutes from the Law School; you don't even have to cross a street! Ed Poor 13:37, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

I would not go to Boston because...[edit source]

please give your reason in the form: your reason, signature - or link to project page, (country)
*reason ~~~~ (country)

expensive to go from Europe to America and stay here. --Ilario 23:34, 19 October 2005 (UTC) (Switzerland)
In recent years US Immigration has become notably unwelcoming, even to visitors from friendly countries. Granted BOS is not LAX, whose immigration staff have a reputation as the most pig-ignorant, nasty, bullying and self-important immigration agents anywhere outside North Korea, but still... There is a distinct tendency among UK SF fans (who are normally frequent visitors to the US) to avoid travelling to the US whenever possible because of all the hassle. -- 83.104.44.241 00:59, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (sorry, Arwel not logged in) (UK)
Expensive to go from Japan to America and English only. A☮ineko 02:10, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (French@Japan)
At first I want to say that I probably would also attend the conference in Boston if I get voucation at the time. But I personaly would prefer Toronto because of the visa policy of the USA. For German with an old passport (without digital information) he must go to the embassador and ask for a visa. And the policy of the ambassador is very unclear. A friend of me had already booked flight ticket and than his request for a visa was denied. Such things are very annoying.--Wing 06:38, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Germany)
US Immigration rules. Kelson 07:25, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (French@Germany)
In a US plane, if you are french, in the toilet for a long time and you say to the stewardess "OK, OK, My s...t will not explode !", you are jailed for 3 weeks because of anti-terrorism laws. US has become a very dangerous country for french... Traroth 08:00, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (France)
US demands a lot of personnal informations about passengers from european flight companies, and store them for an indefinite period. Traroth 08:00, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (France)

It's a long, expensive and boring flight from Europe. Traroth 08:07, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (France)
US immigration is definately unfriendly. Apart from that Dutch people without a biometric passport will actually have to get a visa for the USA from next year on!! Which makes it even more unfriendly. User:Waerth not logged in .... 58.8.187.247 08:09, 20 October 2005 (UTC) - Thailand
US policy towards foreigners and VISA... Mfront 08:10, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (French@Germany)
Because of the US Immigration rules. Unlike Canada, I need a Visa (from Switzerland) --217.162.88.176 08:25, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
This is mistaken. Switzerland participates in the Visa Waiver Program, and visitors to the US from Switzerland (as with the rest of Western Europe) do not need a visa.
This is not true. From Italy we need a Visa, starting 26 october 2005 :(-
Please note: the deadline for requiring new passports has been pushed back many times; currently 26 October 2006. --Sj
Poor as. Also, I wouldn't be able to bear the questions about liederhosen. --61.68.92.188 08:29, 20 October 2005 (UTC) ( has no meta account)
Too expensive (from Italy). Frieda 08:53, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Both of my encounters with US immigration have been detestable and dehumanising experiences. Cormaggio ^@ 11:04, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Ireland/UK)
Too far away from Europe, travel too expensive Biopresto (Italy)
US Immigration rules (money is not a problem)--Iron Bishop (IT) 12:08, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Boston is great. But there is a great risk not everyone will be able to attend because of immigration rules, blacklists, passport issues. Perhaps a conference in later years. Until then Toronto is preferable. Longbow4u, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Germany)
Dislike US Immigration policy, have had hassle before (coming from Ireland). --159.134.54.118 16:27, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Immigration policy. I will have to get a visa, even though I'm from the UK. Even if I didn't, on arrival I would be treated like a criminal - fingerprinted, photographed, iris-scanned, whatever. This is more than a little ridiculous. James F. (talk) 17:56, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Please note that I do not consider this a "show-stopper", merely a significant irritation which makes me feel very uncomfortable. James F. (talk) 19:44, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
US Immigration rules. Yann 18:21, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
US immigration is definately unfriendly . US demands a lot of personnal informations about passengers from european flight companies, and store them for an indefinite period. Gac 19:21, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Italy)
US Immigration rules are a ballast. --80.180.184.204 09:52, 21 October 2005 (UTC) (Italy)
USA has become a unwelcoming country in the last few years, there are many people in Europe disliking what the USA has become and therefore a Wikimania in the USA would attract fewer people from Europe (or other continents) Londenp 11:45, 21 October 2005 (UTC) (Switzerland, but nl:WP). I would lesslikely go if it is decided to have Wikimania in Boston.
I have reason to believe that a conference in the USA will bear some problems for participants from countries that are not the USA. I have seen the difficulties for honest people to enter the USA legally for participating in science conferences. The winner of the Ignobel Prize for Biology was not allowed to enter the USA. I have reason to distrust the functionality of a proper immigration procedure to enter the USA for this kind of conference even for European wikipedians. I will not disclose my eating habits, my political beliefs, the items on my book shelf, my fingerprints, my mugshot or any other detail of my private life with a foreign administration without full trust in the reason. I am not a terrorist and I request not to be treated as one. A change in US foreign and immigration policy will change my decision immediatly. 84.58.52.32 19:34, 21 October 2005 (UTC) de:Benutzer:Mathias Schindler. SJ did some helpful clearifications about the difference between "the US administration plans" and "the US administration does". de:Benutzer:Mathias Schindler
I can only repeat what Mathias wrote (see above). If there is only the choice between Boston and Toronto (and it looks like this) I would definitely prefer Toronto. --Mazbln 20:30, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
Too expensive Helios89 19:45, 22 October 2005 (UTC) (Italy)
US Immigration rules. Fruggo 20:17, 22 October 2005 (UTC)
US Immigration rules and expensive. 15:13, 26 October 2005 (UTC)
Too far from Miami --JAranda | watz sup 23:15, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Toronto[edit source]

I would go to Toronto because...[edit source]

please give your reason in the form: your reason, signature - or link to project page, (country)
*reason ~~~~ (country)

Anywhere in North America is good enough for me. --Delirium 23:36, 19 October 2005 (UTC) (USA)
I've already been to Boston. ;) --brion 23:38, 19 October 2005 (UTC) (USA)
English/French bilingual city. A☮ineko (French@Japan)
- You are mistaken, perhaps you are thinking of Montreal. Toronto is no more bilingual than Boston. -- Curps 05:43, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Germans don't need a visa for canada.--Wing 06:39, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Germany)
English/French bilingual city. Kelson 07:25, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (French@Germany)
- See above. Toronto is not a bilingual city, and there are far fewer speakers of French than many other languages (such as Cantonese). You would have a hard time finding restaurant or hotel or store personnel or taxi drivers who could speak to you in French. -- Curps 05:43, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
Multicultural city. Mfront 08:11, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (French@Germany)
Never been in North America. I would like to start from Canada. --Snowdog 08:51, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Italy)
Not sure because is too expensive from Italy, but it's cheaper than Boston. Frieda 08:54, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
I haven't been there since 1994! (But don't have any spare cash to go anyway... :( ) -- Arwel 10:06, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
..it seems like an exciting, cultimultural city - and for the selfish reason that I've got a half-brother there who I really want to visit :-) Cormaggio ^@ 10:56, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Ireland/UK)
...i've never been there --Iron Bishop (IT) 12:15, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Never been there, would be nice to visit Canada. 62.203.233.188 12:56, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Never been to Toronto. Laura Scudder | Talk 13:50, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Favorable exchange rate from USD, for now at least. - jredmond 14:04, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (USA)
It is my home. I can also offer loging and acomodation for couple of Wimedians here for free. I am living in GTA but representing polish Wiki. Jonasz --207.61.57.35 15:39, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Nice and friendly place. Definitely a go. Longbow4u, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Germany)
Supposedly a very nice city, never been there, would definitely like to go. --159.134.54.118 16:27, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Never been to Canada, but have been thrice to the States. OK, so this is a very bad reason, but... :-) James F. (talk) 17:57, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Never been there but would like to go. Theo (Talk) 19:08, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (UK)
I like canadian. Very friendly. Gac 19:27, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Italy)
I like it.Luka (IT) 21:58, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
I live 20 minutes away, and my parents will let me. :)--Shanel 21:29, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Canada's lovely. 66.235.58.10 21:48, 20 October 2005 (UTC)()
I like Toronto, the Niagara area and Ontario generally, and I haven't visited since 1989. Toronto is my preferred location for Wikimania. -- Derek Ross 07:39, 21 October 2005 (UTC) (UK passport but lives in Canada -- a long flight from Toronto though.)
Never been in Canada, good connections from Europe, great bid. Looks like a more "neutral" place to meet Londenp 11:48, 21 October 2005 (UTC) (Switzerland, nl:WP)
I've never been to canada, and I live somewhat near it. --Phroziac ^(talk) 21:10, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
Because I would get to see so many great wiki people again - User:SvenDowideit (Australia)
Multicultural. Anthere 16:45, 22 October 2005 (UTC)
Multicultural: agree with. Officially bilingual too. Easy, but not always cheap flights from the UK with only 4 hours time difference. LoopZilla 16:57, 24 October 2005 (UTC) (London, England, UK)
- Toronto is not officially bilingual, and there are few French speakers. -- Curps 05:43, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

I would not go to Toronto because...[edit source]

please give your reason in the form: your reason, signature - or link to project page, (country)
*reason ~~~~ (country)

It is somewhat further away than Boston from anyone I know. 128.227.97.107 23:32, 19 October 2005 (UTC) (IP edit from Snowspinner who can't be bothered to log in)
expensive to go from Europe to America and stay here. --Ilario 23:34, 19 October 2005 (UTC) (Switzerland)
massive immigration issues getting from U.S. and back, granted international people getting to U.S. is tougher. Jtkiefer 23:47, 19 October 2005 (UTC)
Expensive to go from Japan to Canada. A☮ineko (French@Japan)
It's a long, expensive and boring flight from Europe. Traroth 08:08, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (France)
Quite a long travel from Europe :-( Mfront 08:12, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (French@Germany)
Too far away from Europe, travel too expensive Biopresto (Italy)
Too expensive, what an innovative argument ! 62.203.233.188 12:55, 20 October 2005 (UTC) (Switzerland)
I have no Canadian visa and for people from Poland getting Canadian visa is no easy. Travel from Warsaw to Toronto is more expensive than to Boston. Anyway, if it is decided to organize Wikimania in Toronto I may decide to try to go. Polimerek 18:00, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Further away and more expensive for me. 66.235.58.10 21:48, 20 October 2005 (UTC) ()
Toronto and any places in US and Canada are very strongest way for me and many Wikipedians from Europe. If You would like some meeting for all of us I (many people from Europe) prefer place when I/They can walking or driving. Joy
I don't have any spare cash go to Canada and multiple countries. -- Mike Garcia | talk 22:33, 6 November 2005 (UTC)