Boy Scouts are for spanking?, More from Wales talk Options

[Peter Damian]

As part of the increasingly incestuous relationship between the Wales page and WR, see here

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=...for_spanking.3F

Mr. Wales, it may be time for you to either pay more attention to what's happening with this Wikipedia/Wikia relationship, or begin setting down some rules at Wikia along the lines of, "Don't embarrass Wikia or the Wikipedia project with your actions on Wikia or Wikipedia." You'll wonder what I'm talking about? I'm delighted to see that Wikipedia has a GFDL image of some boys involved in the Boy Scouts mission. I'm not so delighted to see that photo copied into a Wikia called "Spanking Art", to enhance an article about Boy Scouts that reads:

While nowadays the Scouting movement prohibits the use of corporal punishment as part of its activities, this was not always so, and in spanking stories they often go hand in hand, especially with Beaver and Cub Scouts. There are also some spanking drawings that show young scouts, e.g. by Comixpank.

Because of the connotations of discipline that comes with scouting, some adult spankophiles like to roleplay/ageplay a boy or girl scout (similar to playing schoolboys).

Exactly what kind of perverts are Wikia and the Wikimedia Foundation enabling, by allowing them free and unfettered access to simple pictures of boys, that are then twisted and exploited on your for-profit company's website, so that they are interwoven into adult perversions and roleplay?

I know I'm not supposed to link there [direct link to WR, horrors], but you really ought to spend a minute or two reviewing this analysis of what's going on, before you unwittingly spawn a worldwide boycott of Amazon.com, the primary investor in Wikia "Spanking Art", for being a pro-pedophilia corporation. - John Russ Finley (talk) 02:56, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

I see he uses the word 'perverts' for which Giano was temporarily blocked, and I was indef blocked. Be careful John.

Is there a reason that you are complaining on Wikipedia when the problem you have is with Wikia? Another site is using our image (or rather the Wikimedia Commons' image) in accordance with copyright in a way that you find inappropriate. There is nothing that Wikipedia can do. Mr.Z-man 04:13, 22 January 2008 (UTC)
Sorry, I saw above that this is the place to praise Mr. Wales for his development of Wikia, Inc. I assumed that it would also be the place to bring criticisms of Wikia to light. - John Russ Finley (talk) 04:21, 22 January 2008 (UTC)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Jimbo_Wales"

Hey and before you unwittingly spawn a worldwide boycott of Amazon.com, the primary investor in Wikia "Spanking Art", for being a pro-pedophilia corporation has got to be a WP:LEGAL if I saw one. I DEMAND a community ban (as Durova argued in my case).

This post has been edited by Peter Damian:

[privatemusings]

I thought I'd echo here Greg's comments over at wikback - that some good has come of our efforts, which is to be welcomed.

For the record, I did talk about this with sannse (in her capacity as a wikia representative) - she was very helpful, and assures me that discussions continue. I've asked them to consider just closing the wiki - which I hope will happen as soon as possible - as well as editing the actual page itself, I've emailed Jimbo, Angela, Sannse and the NSPCC (a child protection charity) in the UK the following message;

Hello,

I'm writing to you in the hope that I might solicit some advice about the content of a website which has unsettled me. The website is called 'Spanking Art' and it is a "wiki" (website which anyone can edit) hosted by the company Wikia, which is a 'for-profit' company created by Jimbo Wales, the co-founder of the famous 'Wikipedia'.

Wikia themselves are also somewhat troubled by the site, and are considering what best to do - they have currently disallowed all photos of living children being added to the site, and I am asking them to consider shutting it down altogether for the following reasons;

* The content of the wiki can be reasonably categorised as marginal / extreme
* Categorised as a sexuality wiki, it contains drawing and computer generated images of children being spanked, and nudity;
o http://spankingart.wikia.com/wiki/Image:Cmxpack.jpg
o http://spankingart.wikia.com/wiki/Shower#Shower_spanking
* I believe it to be reasonable to have deep concerns over the context of this imagery
* In my view, the wiki also runs the risk of facilitating social networking between editors whose common interests may include images even closer to the legal knife edge, or beyond.
* I do not have sufficient faith in the ability of the community to police itself through the available 'back channels'


I'd really appreciate any advice you may be able to offer, and have copied this mail to 'Sannse' who is a Wikia representative who has been very helpful in discussing these issues,

best regards,
PM.

I also emailed the author of this pic - a rather nice picture which was disturbingly juxtaposed with adult imagery at the 'nudity' page. He responded quickly - though briefly; "I'm not very pleased seeing my photo in this kind of site.". - that puts my actions over this one firmly 'on the record' - and kudos for Wikipedia Review clearly picking this one up and doing good work quickly. I'm very pleased that this record exists here.

thanks,

PM.

[Peter Damian]

I thought I'd echo here Greg's comments over at wikback - that some good has come of our efforts, which is to be welcomed.

Indeed. Mr 'Spankart' has been very busy removing things last night.

http://spankingart.wikia.com/index.php?tit...&action=history

Well done WR.

[Edit update]

Checking here:

http://spankingart.wikia.com/wiki/Category:CC-BY_images

it seems like all the really offending images (i.e. pictures of children) are gone, so left with a rather mild, though still rather sick, spanking site. Thanks to Greg for his efforts (note some of the discussion on Jimbo's page appears to have been a sock, at least according to Wikipedia). Residual issues:

1. The cub-spanking picture is still there. Has to go.

2. Wales has not apologised. Indeed, he has not commented at all.

3. Likewise, the role of WR has not been recognised in this, apart from some people calling us 'trolls'.

4. There remains a spanking site on Wikia, next door as it were to sections used by children (such as the Thomas the Tank Engine and other 'kiddie' parts. I'm not comfortable with this, but then this is an internet issue. For example, LiveJournal used by kids (and I use it for discussion of medieval Latin, it is a good site), but also has sections devoted to heroin abuse, zoophilia, coprophilia, paedophilia &c.

This post has been edited by Peter Damian: