[WikiEN-l] Prudishness and censorship

Wed Apr 20 18:48:05 UTC 2005

> Rick: Do you object to the principle of providing a mechanism that permits users to prevent the display of some images?

I can't answer for RickK, but since I also would like to view
Wikipedia articles with illustrations, let me offer my view. The
problem with any mechanism that enables users to filter images is that
that mechanism threatens to become default. Noone has a problem with
someone choosing not to see certain images, but (almost) everyone has
a problem with someone telling US which images we should see. Noone
has explicitly or implicitly stated that image filtering should be a
default. But if it is not default, then the feature is worthless. At
most 1% of all Wikipedia visitors has registered an account, and at
most 10% (guesses) of those that has, has changed their preferences.
It is only those few that would benefit from this feature if it was
optional. Sure, it would help a few like the guy who said he risked
losing his job because he surfed on Wikipedia, but the vast majority
would gain no benefit at all.

-- 
mvh Björn