The World and Wikipedia - Andrew Dalby Options Rating

[sappho]

Did anyone read this book yet?

[Andrew Dalby]

On this you're very wrong. I don't say that these or any Wikipedians do everything right. I say that these and some others, because of their work on the site, face personal attacks, harassment, public verbal abuse -- over long periods -- that might well be more than you or I could stand up to.

Do you mention those who face personal attacks, harassment, public verbal abuse and worse because of their efforts in criticizing Wikipedia?

"Facing personal attacks" is often something one endures when you have anti-social (sociopathic?) tendencies yourself.

Interesting viewpoints. I prefer not to pre-judge the victims (any victims, either side).

It has become too easy for us to talk and talk, attack and wound, without thinking of the consequences. The last episode discussed in my book is the temporary suppression of news about David Rohde's kidnapping in Afghanistan. Was this "censorship" right or wrong? I want the book's readers to think about this. I don't tell them the answer. I want them to try to grasp the intentions, not only of those who were keeping the news secret, but also of those who were trying to reveal it; some claiming freedom of speech -- one of those inviolable rights -- and some, possibly, with darker intentions. As you'll know, there was an anonymous Wikipedian, an enthusiast for fighting games, who, tried many, many times to put the news of the kidnapping on to the Rohde page, and each time he was reverted. He was an enthusiast for fighting games: here's one of his other edit summaries:

Saddler was blown up by a rocket. Krauser's left arm disintegrated. Las Plagas only dies when the host dies. Grow the fuck up.

Eventually -- when Rohde was released -- his edit to the Rohde page was allowed to stay, and here's the edit summary:

Is this enough proof you fucking retards? I was right. You were wrong.

Was he?

This post has been edited by Andrew Dalby: Sun 8th November 2009, 3:19pm