The key to avoid decision-making on Wikipedia being
taken
over by
single-interest groups is to ensure wide-ranging and
continued
participation by a reasonable number of independent editors
with new
voices being added to the mix to avoid ossification
stagnation. At
various times, one or the other person will drive an
initiative, and
some will voice concerns about short-term and long-term
issues, but
overall, as long as the atmosphere doesn't drive people
away, things
will get done. If things aren't getting done, they should
be
identified and something done about them, but problems
won't get
solved if people walk away from them.
Carcharoth
Any culture is a function of the people participating in that culture, and
the only way to change the culture is to change the people in it. We need a
critical mass of mature, knowledgeable editors; people who participate
because they are knowledgeable, and not because they have strong opinions.
The next ten years of Wikipedia should be about multiplying the number of
real-life scholars and experts participating. The Ambassadors program is a
good start. Once the demographics change, the rest will follow; and until
the demographics change, all the talking will avail nothing.
Andreas (Jayen466)