Akahele - Conflicted boards

by Gregory Kohs

Just a short blurb this week, as the Akahele directors are quite busy with summer activities.

This is an example of Wikipedia's strange attitude to serious matters. It seems obvious that Schmidt would have to resign from Apple. Just as it seems obvious that Wales would distance himself WP or Wikia.

I had a debate here once with Newyorkbrad where I discussed how Wikipedia has no culture of resignations for the greater interest. Brad didn't seem to agree that these kinds of acts were necessary. But the Real World always tells a different story.

Jimbo and his minions don't seem to have a functional concept of conflict of interest.

the last three paragraphs were almost just perhaps barely almost bordering on barely almost half way decent;; the first three were too long and boring.


!!!!

Just to spell out one conflict of interest:

User-generated content = Money

Content is shunted from Wikipedia to Wikia by "deletionists" who maintain that certain topics are unsuitable for Wikipedia, but ok on Wikia.

Both organizations are controlled by Jimmy Wales, who is paid by both but stands to make more money from Wikia if it takes off. Wikia is for-profit whereas Wikipedia is not.

Moving content from Wikipedia to Wikia hurts Wikipedia, but helps Jimmy Wales.

Another conflict -
Having thousands of links to Wikia within Wikipedia, but preventing the inclusion of links to Wikia's competitors.

Is he? For what?

Good point, I'm not sure the Wikimedia Foundation pays him directly. Greg understands the actual money flows much better than any of us.

More on the salary question. No idea if this is reliable or not.

It doesn't; you're talking out of your ass.

It isn't, which is just shocking when I look at the all star cast in the article history.

How about indirectly? If you can go out to a $2000 meal (okay they refuse to pay $1300 of it) and get your trainfare paid for to visit the Russian hookers, then that's money that doesn't have to come out of your pocket. An expense credit card can be a scary thing (which is why my own company uses countersigned checks-- every one goes through the COO except in emergencies when there's a multiperson backup). They finally removed Jimbo's card. But was that Wikia that did that, or WMF?

I'm fairly certain that WMF COO Carolyn Doran used her corporate expense card to pay bail to get her out of jail after the DUI arrest on a weekend. And paid it back immediately, but the record was there.

The WMF.

Well, then.

Are you angry about something?