Kelly Martin : Nonbovine Ruminations

Do as I say, not as I do

"During the Late Great Userbox Wars, Jimmy Wales reminded us all about how it's a bad idea to use your userpage to forward a political ideology, that one's user page should be about oneself as a Wikipedian, and not for some other purpose."

I'm not certain Kelly has this right. WP has always had a self-indulgent, internet culture that has tolerated the expression of solidarity for geek causes. Not that Wei Wenhua is only a geek cause, as it has wider and more important implications. It is, however, the fact that he was a blogger that is important to Wikipedians, including Mr. Wales. Probably just about anybody (other than banned users or other out-castes, literally) could safely post statements of support for Wei Wenhua on Wikipedia. Remember the strange displays of outrage around the not publishing the "illegal number" used to de-encrypt DVDs? Same is probably true for expression of support for "net neutrality."

Her point that the application of all sanctions has a hidden factor of social influence is correct. This means the sole flounder can get away with murder. The use of Wei Wenhua to illustrate this is a little off the mark.

Moreover, the belief that one can control others through the selective use of sanctions is not only a popular political belief, it's a profoundly foolish one.

Unless, of course, one is interested in promoting drama.

It's a funny thing to wipe and protect your talk page as an expression of support for free speech, isn't it?

That's gotta be the motto of some fine public service organization.

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals?

Do they make Antiseptic Handi-Wipes?

Lots of people turned their Web pages black in the mid '90s to protest the Communications Decency Act and its (soon ruled unconstitutional) censorship provisions.

No. They make this.