I have unblocked Blair P. Houghton. Re:[WikiEN-l] Unreasonableblock of user

Wed Mar 16 17:41:32 UTC 2005

>From: "Blair P. Houghton" <blair at houghton.net>
>
>JAY JG wrote:
>>I hadn't heard "Be bold" referred to as Wikipedia's "prime directive" 
>>before; I'm not sure everyone here would agree.  In any event, while I 
>>don't know the details of this particular case, it amazes me how often 
>>people attempting to make major, usually contentious, and often highly POV 
>>re-writes to articles cite "Be bold", yet fail to note that the majority 
>>of that policy is devoted to when you *should not* "Be bold".  In 
>>particular, much of the policy clearly points out that on disputed issues 
>>and controversial subjects one should, instead, get consensus on Talk: 
>>pages first.
>
>Clairvoyance isn't my strongest skill.  I don't know who will complain 
>until I do what I have a right to do.  And I suspect I'm "only human" in 
>that regard, as is everyone else.

Little clairvoyance is needed to know that the very first time you are 
reverted, it means that your edits are contentious and disputed.  And it's a 
bad sign when people start taking about what they "have a right to do" on 
Wikipedia; as far as I know, editing Wikipedia is still not covered under 
the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or similar legislation.

>>I believe we are straying into "argument from silence" logical fallacy 
>>territory here.
>
>It's the basis for most of the Wikipedia.  What doesn't get munged is 
>accepted.  And if you see a problem, you fix it.  Has a lot to do with the 
>way life works, too.  Which is one of the attractive features of the place.

As soon as you are reverted, the "argument from silence" is obviously no 
longer correct.

>>Cooperation is something that comes from both sides; it cannot be 
>>unilaterally imposed by "Bold" individuals.
>
>Tell that to the guy who reverted me, hollering "consensus!" from the back 
>of his mule, then having me jailed for arguing the point, then including 
>everything I added

Referring to one's opponents on Talk: pages as "juvenile delinquents" and 
oneself as the "teacher" is a particularly bad strategy for getting 
cooperation.

>(but retaining a bit of stuff that is soon to be gone anyway).

This statement is an ominous sign.

Jay.