Just throwing this out there for discussion,
integrate with existing threads if needed:
Statement 1:
Ideally, Wikipedia should be developed to the point where
1) it is the canonical reference resource on the web.
2) a) such that articles reference other articles as sources
for the current discussion, or
b) articles should only reference outside sources and
never other articles.
Accordingly there is some disparity between those who think Wikipedia
a) should be well cited by its researchers.
b) should be well written by its editors.
...where neither is mutually exclusive and neither has "official" status.
There are a number of modalities for how people behave and operate on
Wikipedia with respect to what they do on Wikipedia. I think disparities
between these modalities have led people to think along extreme lines about
the value and values of Wikipedia, some of which appear to violate core
policy. A canonical example of this was IAR, which was basically a loophole which
basically claimed itself to be above even NPOV and CIVIL.
Re-examining that policy led to its deprecation, and I believe other policies,
in order to be taken seriously need to be put in a formal place within the policy
heirarchy. In this respect, I view Wikipedia bi-polar way where on the one hand
we have content disputes which are are ultimately guided by NPOV/objectivity, and
behavioural disputes which are ultimately deferential to CIVIL/civility. Where
there is a choice between these two appears to end up becoming a contest between
free willed independents who aspire to excellence, and the culture of beauraucrats
who aspire to process and formality.
Conclusion: Even if these groups represent a somewhat fundamental divisions in
real society, they should not operate on Wikipedia in a mutually exclusive way.
-Stevertigo
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