[WikiEN-l] The Counter Vandalism Unit? Whaa?

Fri Feb 3 21:05:29 UTC 2006

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Philip Welch stated for the record:

>> On one end of the spectrum is the concept that any "non-authorized"
>> edit is vandalism--that seems absurd for Wikipedia, but it's the
>> standard at, say, Encyclopedia Britannica or a newspaper, the Nupedia
>> project, etc.
>>
>> At the other end of the spectrum is that there is no such thing as
>> vandalism, just edits that are less helpful than others.
>>
>> We should try to function as close to the latter end as possible.
>>
>> The very word "vandalism" I think is a somewhat false analogy, since
>> there's no permanent damage in Wikipedia. It's just as easy, easier in
>> fact, to remove unwanted edits than to add them. It's the exact
>> reverse of, say, spraypainting a wall or scratching your name in a
>> subway car window -- much easier to add than to remove.
>>
>> By creating the crime of vandalism we make people into criminals.
>>
>> By creating categories of good users we create categories of bad  users.
>>
>> By creating restrictions, rules, trials we create mechanisms for 
>> conflict.
> 
> 
> So what do you suggest we call it when someone blanks the featured 
> article and overwrites it with "COCK COCK COCK COCK COCK FUCK ASS  COCK
> GAY LOLWTFBBQ"?

I call it "better than adding a link to a [[Last Measure]] Web site."

- --
 Sean Barrett     | They can have my DeLameter when they
 sean at epoptic.org | pry it from my cold, dead tentacle.
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