Wikipedia denigrated in The Register

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Bill

14 Jul 2004 14 Jul '04

4:36 p.m.

In passing review of Wikipedia: "For example, if you consult the world's most useless online text, the captive Wikipedia, you'll see Fuller's entry is a plug for Eric "AI" Drexler." From: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/14/buckminster_fuller_stamp/ Guess Andy doesn't love us. Bill

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Rowan Collins

15 Jul 15 Jul

8:05 a.m.

Bill wrote:

...

[...] "For example, if you consult the world's most useless online text, the captive Wikipedia, you'll see Fuller's entry is a plug for Eric "AI" Drexler." From: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/14/buckminster_fuller_stamp/ Guess Andy doesn't love us.

Why does it not surprise me that the self-same paragraph mentions that other pet hate of theirs, Kevin Warwick - I mean, alright, the guy's a bit of a poser, but they don't half go *on*! I guess they find slagging people off an easier form of journalism than actual intelligent writing. Out of interest, what do you suppose he means by "captive"? Captive to one PoV, perhaps - unlike, say, a "news" website having patronising nicknames for those they disapprove of. Erm... -- Rowan Collins BSc [IMSoP]

Jimmy (Jimbo) Wales

8:11 a.m.

Rowan Collins wrote:

...

Out of interest, what do you suppose he means by "captive"?

Yeah, I thought that was more interesting than calling us useless, actually. Useless is a wrong and stupid opinion, but at least I can grasp what it means. But "captive"? --Jimbo

Jimmy (Jimbo) Wales

8:19 a.m.

...

> "For example, if you consult the world's most useless online text, > the captive Wikipedia, you'll see Fuller's entry is a plug for > Eric "AI" Drexler." > > From: > > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/14/buckminster_fuller_stamp/

Another weird thing about this is that there is no rational possibility of reading that entry as a "plug for Eric "AI" Drexler". Drexler is mentioned, in one sentence, but not favorably or unfavorably, just a simple fact. Is the whole article just an inside joke or something? I'd hate to call the guy to discuss this only to find out I'm just lame for not getting the joke. --Jimbo

Fennec Foxen

9:36 a.m.

I sent a (long rambling and somewhat annoyed) comment to the guy via the Register's web interface, and got a reply saying that he'd chat with me if we didn't use my Gmail account. More on this as it occurs.

18 Jul 18 Jul

6:27 a.m.

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 08:19:02 -0700, Jimmy (Jimbo) Wales <jwales(a)wikia.com> wrote:

...

> > "For example, if you consult the world's most useless online text, > > the captive Wikipedia, you'll see Fuller's entry is a plug for > > Eric "AI" Drexler."

The whole piece was a bit tongue-in-cheek, and this part too just seemed like a bit of dry humour... we are after all the world's most useful online text, the free! Wikipedia. How better to convey that to a British audience? I'm not sure if it was all an *inside* joke, though; it had the sweet sting of truth in places.

...

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Bill
Fennec Foxen
Jimmy (Jimbo) Wales
Rowan Collins
Sj