[Foundation-l] Has Wikipedia changed since 2005?

Sat Oct 2 20:55:00 UTC 2010

On 2 October 2010 21:32, Andreas Kolbe <jayen466 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> This suggests the problem is: how do you *get across to*
>> someone that
>> they're just ignorant, in a manner that is duplicable
>> across the wiki,
>> and do that without breaking our spectacular successes so
>> far?
>
>
> Well, one way is to make clear to our editors that we expect them to make a bit of an effort to research the existing scholarly literature. (And that they should do so first before arguing with people who have completed that step already.)
>
> However, that idea does encounter resistance. I am reminded that I proposed as much once, a good few years ago. I started a talk page discussion, and we made some changes and additions (some of which are still in the guideline today).
>
> One change which didn't make it was the addition of this sentence:
>
> "A review of the existing scholarly literature should be the first step in starting work on an article."
>
> The way the sentence was edit-warred out of the guideline is quite funny, in hindsight. It was removed a day later, with the edit summary:
>
> "Rm sentence that runs counter to policy."
>
> Another editor put it back in, slightly changed, so it now said:
>
> "A review of the existing scholarly literature *is recommended before* starting work on an article."
>
> Half an hour later, that was taken out as well, edit summary:
>
> "Asking the general public to become familiar with scholarly literature (which does not exist for all subjects) prior to editing places an unrealistic burden upon would-be editors. Where’s the policy?"
>
> I added it one more time, and it was taken out again and described as "nonsense".
>
> You get what you pay for.
>
> Andreas
>

Putting in place what are effectively featured article standards would
for starting new articles would be a great way of killing the project
if it was remotely enforceable.

Worse still articles like [[Canal]] would be effectively unrwritable
by anyone. Since there is not going to be anyone aware of all the
worldwide scholarly literature on the topic.

[[Canals of the United Kingdom]] would probably be impossible since
even Charles Hadfield needed help with his The Canals of North West
England book.

-- 
geni