[WikiEN-l] Don't push POV into the Wikipedia software and policies

Thu Feb 24 13:41:02 UTC 2005

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 13:25:10 -0000 (GMT), Tony Sidaway
<minorityreport at bluebottle.com> wrote:
> Nicholas Knight said:
> >
> > No one, NO ONE, has said any sort of filtering must take place by
> > default.
> 
> All these arguments about appeasing those who will attack us for not
> filtering, are meaningless if a non-logged-in user approaching the site
> for the first time will see the images that it is proposed should be
> filtered on the grounds that most people may be upset to see them.  So
> what's the point of filtering if we only do it for people who are
> motivated enough to either create a user and log in, or fill in a form
> saying what kinds of image they want to have filtered?
> 

Of course some form of filtering has to be on by default (if we are to
have certain content). Insisting on anything else is based on a
crusade to broaden unwilling conservative/conventional minds. It isn't
our place to do that, and if we wish to continue to be widely accepted
(which *is* necessary to acheive Wikipedia's aim, a free encyclopaedia
for all), we need to recognise the sensitivies of a large swathe of
anonymous readers/editors (yes, for signed up users we can count on
them setting their own preferences).

I could almost guarantee that were someone to submit a particular list
of Wikipedia articles/images for review by popular media outlets, they
could destroy Wikipedia's reputation for ever. Afterward mostly only
that section of the public that doesn't have concerns about such
content would use Wikipedia.

I should point out, that I am not convinced that a majority of
Wikipedians most active editors don't disagree with all this. Were we
to put it to a vote, it is quite possible that people here would
insist on no filtering at all (or at least not on by default for
anons). I do not think we can rely on the majority judgement here, as
it is perhaps the case that particular liberal positions are held by a
majority at Wikipedia. If that is the case, such a systemic bias must
be borne in mind in forming new policies.

Zoney

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