[WikiEN-l] On cultural sensitivity

Sat Apr 16 19:28:10 UTC 2005

On 4/16/05, Tony Sidaway <minorityreport at bluebottle.com> wrote:
> Jimmy Wales said:
> >
> > First, whenever possible I think people should try to see if a "link"
> > solution is helpful.  It does not reduce the educational value of an
> > article by much if a potentially disturbing image is put behind a link
> > instead of being shown by default inline.
> 
> I think this is a good idea where a photograph is of subsidiary
> importance.  I think it would have be a poor choice for illustrating
> topics where the image and the text are best seen together  Nobody has to
> download the inline image, but if the Wikipedia editors link the image
> instead of inlining there is no easy way for the reader can see both the
> image and the text it is supposed to illustrate.
> Inlining is *always* more flexible.  If you link an image, you are *taking
> choice away from the reader.*
> 

Linking gives more choice than it takes away.

Also, Jimbo mentioned the shock value of images detracting from the
article. The is a very good point that isn't limited to objectionable
materials. Its hard to concentrate on reading an article when
distracted by certain types of images, and that detracts from the
value of the article. For a non-objectionable example see [[Radial
engine]]. Try concentrating on reading the article.

This is also a good example of an image being necessary, much more so
than autofelletio.