I could see how there is an interest in providing an official response to the petition, as most other large organizations and networks make such declarations in response to large petitions. However, I believe that part of the beauty of Wikipedia is that there is not an official spokesperson making such statements, and there is a strong negative effect by forcing the famously publicly-crowd-sourced network to choose sides. Such a "press release" to this petition, though it would be backed by strong evidence, could be a dangerous precedent, with future similar statements ostracizing members of our community. 

Though I agree that there would be far-ranging media exposure to this proposed response, I believe that the message Diptanshu would like to pass along to the petition organizer is best summed up in one of the recent comments to the petition:


"There is no need to create a petition to change Wikipedia. The current text is written by people just like ourselves. Anyone can edit Wikipedia to state whatever they can substantiate by reference to reliable sources. The contents of this petition and letter contain sufficient justification to edit wikipedia and state your pov and give the sources for it taken from reliable and authentic authorities writings and so forth. There is no need to seek anyone's permission to do this. Even if there is a clash between your biews and those of others who believe homeothepay is a "quack", one can register one's views, quoting these reliable sources, as an alternative and more acceptable pov. At worst, one can present it as a "controversy" which gives equal exposure to both views and allows the reader to make up their minds or to look into the sources quoted in order to find out more." -Sean Jones

As a result, I'd argue it isn't necessary for us to respond, and actually don't believe that we could respond in any official capacity on behalf of Wikipedia. However, if we theoretically did, I'd move for something witty similar to what Peter wrote. 

Would appreciate others' thoughts on this,

R



On Sep 20, 2017 02:47, <wikimedia-medicine-request@lists.wikimedia.org> wrote:
Send Wikimedia-Medicine mailing list submissions to
        wikimedia-medicine@lists.wikimedia.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
        https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-medicine
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
        wikimedia-medicine-request@lists.wikimedia.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
        wikimedia-medicine-owner@lists.wikimedia.org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Wikimedia-Medicine digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article on   Homeopathy
      (Diptanshu Das)
   2. Re: Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article  on
      Homeopathy (Peter Southwood)
   3. Re: Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia  article on
      Homeopathy (Sean Jones)
   4. Re: Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article on
      Homeopathy (Diptanshu Das)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2017 22:45:49 +0530
From: Diptanshu Das <das.diptanshu@gmail.com>
To: Wiki Medicine discussion <wikimedia-medicine@lists.wikimedia.org>,
        wjmboard <wjmboard@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article
        on      Homeopathy
Message-ID:
        <CADcdAx-nSVB95ExEYbp52Duf2to-U75b3Z3pzxsriJOX8ku0Hw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I would like to bring your attention to the petition
https://www.change.org/p/wikipedia-changing-wikipedia-s-article-on-homoeopathy

Regards
Diptanshu

Please do not print this e-mail unless you really need to.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-medicine/attachments/20170919/1d833a5d/attachment-0001.html>

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 00:11:25 +0200
From: "Peter Southwood" <peter.southwood@telkomsa.net>
To: "'Wiki Medicine discussion'"
        <wikimedia-medicine@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: Re: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia
        article on      Homeopathy
Message-ID: <004501d33194$3e7963e0$bb6c2ba0$@telkomsa.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Maybe next they will have a petition to repeal the law of gravity

Cheers,

P



From: Wikimedia-Medicine [mailto:wikimedia-medicine-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Diptanshu Das
Sent: Tuesday, 19 September 2017 7:16 PM
To: Wiki Medicine discussion; wjmboard
Subject: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article on Homeopathy



I would like to bring your attention to the petition

https://www.change.org/p/wikipedia-changing-wikipedia-s-article-on-homoeopathy



Regards

Diptanshu



Please do not print this e-mail unless you really need to.




 <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>

Virus-free.  <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> www.avg.com



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-medicine/attachments/20170920/b5f10763/attachment-0001.html>

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 06:43:23 +0200
From: "Sean Jones" <seanj@losmasos.com>
To: "'Wiki Medicine discussion'"
        <wikimedia-medicine@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: Re: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia
        article on      Homeopathy
Message-ID: <001201d331ca$fe5f7560$fb1e6020$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

There is no need for any petition. Just go into “edit” and re-write Wikipedia as you wish, quoting and citing reliable and authentic published sources to substantiate your case. Then people can investigate and make up their own minds. If your argument is good, they will agree with your presentation.



From: Wikimedia-Medicine [mailto:wikimedia-medicine-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Peter Southwood
Sent: 20 September 2017 00:11
To: 'Wiki Medicine discussion'
Subject: Re: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article on Homeopathy



Maybe next they will have a petition to repeal the law of gravity

Cheers,

P



From: Wikimedia-Medicine [mailto:wikimedia-medicine-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Diptanshu Das
Sent: Tuesday, 19 September 2017 7:16 PM
To: Wiki Medicine discussion; wjmboard
Subject: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article on Homeopathy



I would like to bring your attention to the petition

https://www.change.org/p/wikipedia-changing-wikipedia-s-article-on-homoeopathy



Regards

Diptanshu



Please do not print this e-mail unless you really need to.




 <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>

Virus-free.  <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> www.avg.com





---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-medicine/attachments/20170920/45f1f133/attachment-0001.html>

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 12:16:35 +0530
From: Diptanshu Das <das.diptanshu@gmail.com>
To: Wiki Medicine discussion <wikimedia-medicine@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: Re: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia
        article on      Homeopathy
Message-ID:
        <CADcdAx97ZqnGan1byrByWYVo38cP-t6DqRgAWwy8raM69ZzWwg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Although I had highlighted the issue to you all, I myself am aware of how
to edit Wikipedia and the norms relating to the same. However, the
petitioner is possibly unaware of how Wikipedia works. I just thought
perhaps somebody would like to send an 'official' response.


Please do not print this e-mail unless you really need to.

On 20 September 2017 at 10:13, Sean Jones <seanj@losmasos.com> wrote:

> There is no need for any petition. Just go into “edit” and re-write
> Wikipedia as you wish, quoting and citing reliable and authentic published
> sources to substantiate your case. Then people can investigate and make up
> their own minds. If your argument is good, they will agree with your
> presentation.
>
>
>
> *From:* Wikimedia-Medicine [mailto:wikimedia-medicine-
> bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] *On Behalf Of *Peter Southwood
> *Sent:* 20 September 2017 00:11
> *To:* 'Wiki Medicine discussion'
> *Subject:* Re: [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia
> article on Homeopathy
>
>
>
> Maybe next they will have a petition to repeal the law of gravity
>
> Cheers,
>
> P
>
>
>
> *From:* Wikimedia-Medicine [mailto:wikimedia-medicine-
> bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] *On Behalf Of *Diptanshu Das
> *Sent:* Tuesday, 19 September 2017 7:16 PM
> *To:* Wiki Medicine discussion; wjmboard
> *Subject:* [Wiki-Medicine] Petition pertaining to the Wikipedia article
> on Homeopathy
>
>
>
> I would like to bring your attention to the petition
>
> https://www.change.org/p/wikipedia-changing-wikipedia-
> s-article-on-homoeopathy
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Diptanshu
>
>
>
> Please do not print this e-mail unless you really need to.
>
>
>
>
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>
>
> Virus-free. www.avg.com
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia-Medicine mailing list
> Wikimedia-Medicine@lists.wikimedia.org
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-medicine
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-medicine/attachments/20170920/75df2f5e/attachment.html>

------------------------------

Subject: Digest Footer

_______________________________________________
Wikimedia-Medicine mailing list
Wikimedia-Medicine@lists.wikimedia.org
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-medicine


------------------------------

End of Wikimedia-Medicine Digest, Vol 34, Issue 1
*************************************************