Jimbo reveals all Options

[thekohser]

Brandweek - lifestyle special issue
Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia
Aug 29, 2010
- Mike Chapman

What quality do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty. Those who stick by you through thick and thin.

What are you reading at the moment?
Warriors, a series of books for kids about warrior cats... I have only read four.

What's your favorite restaurant?
The little pizza joint across the street from me in Florida. My daughter and I go there, eat pizza and read about warrior cats.

Location of possible pizza joints nearby Golden Acres, in Dunedin, Florida

What's your guilty pleasure?
Eating the Pringles from the hotel mini-bar.

All-time favorite book:
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

All-time favorite movie:
Touch of Evil (1958)

This post has been edited by thekohser:

[Jon Awbrey]

Notable Quotables — “While you're up, get me a Dewar's Grant.”

Jon (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/tongue.gif)

[The Joy]

What's funny is that Jimbo complains when negative aspects of his private life come to public attention as he is a "private citizen," but then he does all these public interviews. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/dry.gif)

You can either be a public figure or a private citizen. You can't be both! (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/hrmph.gif)

[NuclearWarfare]

What are you reading at the moment?
Warriors, a series of books for kids about warrior cats... I have only read four.

That's...interesting. I wonder why he is reading that.

[Alison]

What are you reading at the moment?
Warriors, a series of books for kids about warrior cats... I have only read four.

That's...interesting. I wonder why he is reading that.

Because his daughter is? (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/mellow.gif)

(BTW - the thread title caught me for a moment. Thank goodness it wasn't literal! (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/confused.gif) (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/laugh.gif) )

[powercorrupts]

What are you reading at the moment?
Warriors, a series of books for kids about warrior cats... I have only read four.

That's...interesting. I wonder why he is reading that.

Because his daughter is? (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/mellow.gif)

(BTW - the thread title caught me for a moment. Thank goodness it wasn't literal! (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/confused.gif) (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/laugh.gif) )

I'd rather see his ginger balls than read him randomize about his daily life.

[Moulton]

(BTW - the thread title caught me for a moment. Thank goodness it wasn't literal! (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/confused.gif) (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/laugh.gif) )

I'd rather see his ginger balls than read him randomize about his daily life.

Wales is Welsh. He's not a red-headed kilt-wearing Scot.

[powercorrupts]

(BTW - the thread title caught me for a moment. Thank goodness it wasn't literal! (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/confused.gif) (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/laugh.gif) )

I'd rather see his ginger balls than read him randomize about his daily life.

Wales is Welsh. He's not a red-headed kilt-wearing Scot.

Good valley's name, "Jimbo".

The wacky thing is - he's Irish (of the polystyrene variety).

What was that about moratoriums, favouritism etc etc?

Can the world ever be peaceful with Wikipedia around?

This post has been edited by powercorrupts:

[Moulton]

Can the world ever be peaceful with Wikipedia around?

If you want peace, work for justice.

[anthony]

What quality do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty. Those who stick by you through thick and thin.

LOL. Now they should interview his former friends and ask them why he'd say that.

[everyking]

We all know that, according to Jimbo's Objectivist views, things like altruism and charity are morally wrong. But another question occurs to me. How would Rand have felt about someone falsely using the ideas of altruism and charity to exploit people and pursue one's own self-interest? What is the Objectivist position on charlatans?

[anthony]

We all know that, according to Jimbo's Objectivist views, things like altruism and charity are morally wrong.

Neither Jimbo nor Objectivism have a problem with charity.

But another question occurs to me. How would Rand have felt about someone falsely using the ideas of altruism and charity to exploit people and pursue one's own self-interest?

She probably would have said that was impossible.

[everyking]

Neither Jimbo nor Objectivism have a problem with charity.

You'll have to explain it to me more thoroughly, then. Where is the distinction between altruism and charity? Isn't charity just an expression of altruism?

She probably would have said that was impossible.

Again, I don't follow. How can it impossible to falsely use the idea for selfish gain?

[Somey]

What are you reading at the moment?
Warriors, a series of books for kids about warrior cats... I have only read four.

That's...interesting. I wonder why he is reading that.

I'd say he's going a little out of his way to point out that he's reading these books, with his daughter, in a local pizza parlor no less - IOW, "look at me, I'm spending quality time with my kid, teaching her the joys of reading, so surely I can't be guilty of promoting a website that threatens the survival of the publishing industry As We Know It, and coincidentally has been carrying numerous pornographic images of children, in some cases over my own objections."

It's not like he's getting her to read Cult of the Amateur either, is it?

[Somey]

Neither Jimbo nor Objectivism have a problem with charity.

Of course not - how can you have a problem with something you never even think about? However, charity does have a problem with them.

How would Rand have felt about someone falsely using the ideas of altruism and charity to exploit people and pursue one's own self-interest?

She probably would have said that was impossible.

Again, correct - since Rand considered altruism and charity to be false concepts in and of themselves, Rand probably would have considered it impossible to "use them falsely." That would be sort of a double-negative, I guess.

[Kelly Martin]

Jimbo does certainly value loyalty: he expects people to be unthinkingly and unswervingly loyal to him, while at the same time offering no loyalty to anyone else whatsoever.

[anthony]

Neither Jimbo nor Objectivism have a problem with charity.

You'll have to explain it to me more thoroughly, then. Where is the distinction between altruism and charity? Isn't charity just an expression of altruism?

As I understand it, charity is helping others, while altruism is hurting yourself in order to help others. For Rand's view of charity, see here.

She probably would have said that was impossible.

Again, I don't follow. How can it impossible to falsely use the idea for selfish gain?

This message board is probably not a good venue for me to explain that. Fortunately, my comment was not that it is impossible, but that Rand probably would have said it was. She held honesty to be a virtue, and the practice of virtues to be in ones self-interest.

[everyking]

Jimbo does certainly value loyalty: he expects people to be unthinkingly and unswervingly loyal to him, while at the same time offering no loyalty to anyone else whatsoever.

Of course, people who will stand with him no matter what horrible stuff he does. "Reliable accomplices" is the phrase that springs to mind.

[EricBarbour]

"Reliable accomplices" is the phrase that springs to mind.

For me, not so much. More like this.

[SB_Johnny]

Jimbo does certainly value loyalty: he expects people to be unthinkingly and unswervingly loyal to him, while at the same time offering no loyalty to anyone else whatsoever.

Of course, people who will stand with him no matter what horrible stuff he does. "Reliable accomplices" is the phrase that springs to mind.

I think the word is "fealty".

[thekohser]

What are you reading at the moment?
Warriors, a series of books for kids about warrior cats... I have only read four.

That's...interesting. I wonder why he is reading that.

I'd say he's going a little out of his way to point out that he's reading these books, with his daughter, in a local pizza parlor no less - IOW, "look at me, I'm spending quality time with my kid, teaching her the joys of reading, so surely I can't be guilty of promoting a website that threatens the survival of the publishing industry As We Know It, and coincidentally has been carrying numerous pornographic images of children, in some cases over my own objections."

It's not like he's getting her to read Cult of the Amateur either, is it?

Kira is either 9 or 10 years old. She knows how to read. In fact, she's read many more of the Warriors series than has Jimbo. So, exactly how do two people who know how to read "spend quality time" reading books that the younger person has already read? Are they reading aloud to each other? My hunch is that maybe -- MAYBE -- Kira is reading aloud to her father. However, it's equally possible that they are just sitting there with their pizza, each with their nose in a different book in the Warriors series, quietly reading to themselves.

[thekohser]

I think the word is "fealty".

Believe it or not, some Wikibooks administrators and checkusers are unfamiliar with that term.

[Moulton]

Apostasy

Fealty and Treason were a big deal in the Age of the Monarchy, back in Medieval Times.

Jimbo is still living in a Medieval Culture (of his own making).

No doubt he is crestfallen when one of his loyal sycophants turns away from him.

[anthony]

My hunch is that maybe -- MAYBE -- Kira is reading aloud to her father. However, it's equally possible that they are just sitting there with their pizza, each with their nose in a different book in the Warriors series, quietly reading to themselves.

You're giving him way too much credit for honesty. Kira reads "Warriors". Jimbo goes across the street and gets pizza. After this goes on for a few months, Jimbo starts reading the series too, to try to figure out what it is about the book that his daughter finds so much more interesting than him.

This post has been edited by anthony:

[Abd]

Can the world ever be peaceful with Wikipedia around?

If you want peace, work for justice.

If you want justice, work for peace. Justice is impossible under conditions of war.

Obviously, an unjust peace is unstable. But that condition is necessary to begin to establish justice.

And here I'm tempted to go into an examination of this issue from the point of view of classical Islamic shari'a, settled religious law. The modern problem with "terrorism" represents a gross violation of shari'a, involving sectarian affliliation and disruptive action without the consensus of the community, and without authorization by the "khalifa" (two alternate sources of possible community decision-making). It is no coincidence that the problems have been strongest among the wahabiyya, a modern imitation of an earlier Kharijite community that rejected classical law and substituted their own "fundamentalist" imaginings, that considers everyone else (the majority!) heretical and to be killed when possible.

Sure, work for justice. But be sure to do so consistently with the need for all people for peace.

[The Adversary]

Kira is either 9 or 10 years old. She knows how to read. In fact, she's read many more of the Warriors series than has Jimbo. So, exactly how do two people who know how to read "spend quality time" reading books that the younger person has already read? Are they reading aloud to each other? My hunch is that maybe -- MAYBE -- Kira is reading aloud to her father. However, it's equally possible that they are just sitting there with their pizza, each with their nose in a different book in the Warriors series, quietly reading to themselves.

(IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/mad.gif) Come on. This is not fair.

Greetings, from one who loved to sit on her fathers lap and being read to, for several years after she had learned to read.

Jimbo does certainly value loyalty: he expects people to be unthinkingly and unswervingly loyal to him, while at the same time offering no loyalty to anyone else whatsoever.

Spot on, I suspect.

[thekohser]

(IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/mad.gif) Come on. This is not fair.

Life isn't fair. Look, I'm happy that Jimbo's at least reading. If it's children's books, so be it. It's more palatable than chat transcripts with Rachel Marsden. Poor Kira when she discovers those.

[Moulton]

Can the world ever be peaceful with Wikipedia around?

If you want peace, work for justice.

If you want justice, work for peace. Justice is impossible under conditions of war.

Abd, if you want justice, work for mirth.

It's hard to be at war when you're laughing your ass off.

[SB_Johnny]

(IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/mad.gif) Come on. This is not fair.

Life isn't fair. Look, I'm happy that Jimbo's at least reading. If it's children's books, so be it. It's more palatable than chat transcripts with Rachel Marsden. Poor Kira when she discovers those.

Greg Kohs once again manages to give the Jimbo Juicers a perfectly good reason for dismissing any sensible criticism he makes (and anyone else who sees the sense in the criticism). Special blog at 1:45AM!

[thekohser]

(IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/mad.gif) Come on. This is not fair.

Life isn't fair. Look, I'm happy that Jimbo's at least reading. If it's children's books, so be it. It's more palatable than chat transcripts with Rachel Marsden. Poor Kira when she discovers those.

Greg Kohs once again manages to give the Jimbo Juicers a perfectly good reason for dismissing any sensible criticism he makes (and anyone else who sees the sense in the criticism). Special blog at 1:45AM!

Thank you, thank you very much. I'm here through Thursday. Try the meatloaf.

[Somey]

...Poor Kira when she discovers those.

Actually, has anyone ever published anything regarding the effects of widespread, easily-accessible public criticism (or for that matter, sex-chat transcripts) on the children of people being criticized? Not to mention widespread, easily-accessible public praise, facile and poorly-researched though it may be.

I suspect Kira is in a rather unusual situation, or will be when she's old enough to start making her own decisions. As a Randian objectivist, Jimbo is unlikely to provide much financial support for her at that point - right now, he can probably just say things like "those people don't like what Daddy does for a living," and get away with it. Later on she might start asking, "why don't they?" ...followed by "what's a 'troll'?" ...followed by "isn't that what you do?"

[Moulton]

Terry Gross, host of NPR's Fresh Air, has on occasion interviewed authors who did research on their parents or other ancestors, including cases where the parent or ancestor has, shall we say, a "checkered past."

Then again, someone who is mature enough to research and write a book like that might not be the general example you're looking for.

[everyking]

It is a sad, sad statement on the Wikipedia community that it has never gotten rid of Jimbo Wales. It's remarkable to me that now, in 2010, Jimbo is still around, while the project itself is stagnating quite badly. I thought at one time that such a vibrant project with so much potential would surely jettison Jimbo--who is so obviously a useless and unprincipled opportunist--in relatively short order, once it matured to a certain point. Instead I'm starting to wonder if the project will sink and Jimbo will still be sitting there when it does.

[Moulton]

My theory — and associated prediction — is that Jimbo's reliance on Monarchial Bill of Attainder (and WikiCulture's extension of that to Parliamentary Bill of Attainder) will sink the project. Bill of Attainder is arguably the most corrosive and corrupting tool of government ever to have been devised by a misguided God-King.

[thekohser]

I'd like to apologize to Jimmy Wales and to Kira Wales for the commentary I published on this thread. If the moderators would please remove my comments (and copies of those comments) from the thread, I think that would go a long way toward showing that I really harbor no personal animosity or threatening posture toward Miss Wales.

Barring that, at the very least, I can remove my own comments after some short amount of time, and also ask if others who quoted my comments might remove them from their own posts.

This post has been edited by thekohser:

[Vigilant]

I'd like to apologize to Jimmy Wales and to Kira Wales for the commentary I published on this thread. If the moderators would please remove my comments (and copies of those comments) from the thread, I think that would go a long way toward showing that I really harbor no personal animosity or threatening posture toward Miss Wales.

Barring that, at the very least, I can remove my own comments after some short amount of time, and also ask if others who quoted my comments might remove them from their own posts.

Way to man the fuck up.

[Selina]

Thank you - I'll let one of the other mods deal with this since I'm trying to keep hands-off on arguments I'm involved in

[thekohser]

Barring that, at the very least, I can remove my own comments after some short amount of time, and also ask if others who quoted my comments might remove them from their own posts.

As it turns out, the threads are far too old, so we don't have the ability to Edit our own posts.

[Selina]

(Mod note: Offtopic discussion about PaoloNapolitano's advertising of a new project on Jimbo's talk page moved to previous thread by Zoloft)

[SB_Johnny]

Barring that, at the very least, I can remove my own comments after some short amount of time, and also ask if others who quoted my comments might remove them from their own posts.

As it turns out, the threads are far too old, so we don't have the ability to Edit our own posts.

You know, I went through and tagged the ones that would be removed (and actually the first one was Somey's, not yours), and then realized that rewriting history is just a stupid thing to try to do.

Maybe the wikipediots will see things differently, but honestly I'd rather see a mistake and an apology than a coverup without an apology.

And for the record, my daughter is also enthralled by the "Warriors" books... I also answer to "Bramblestar", if you get tired of calling me "Johnny" (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/smile.gif).