[WikiEN-l] Anons banned from creating articles

Wed Dec 7 14:24:31 UTC 2005

On 12/7/05, Jimmy Wales <jwales at wikia.com> wrote:
> The Cunctator wrote:
> > What annoys me particularly is pretending that this is an experiment.
> > It's not. It's a permanent policy change.
> >
> > Who's willing to bet that I'm wrong?
>
> I bet it is a permanent policy change because (a) it seems to be working
> quite well and (b) it is consistent with our commitment to remain open.

Okay, I'm trying really hard not to be very annoyed. As the person
running the "experiment" Jimbo is not supposed to make prejudgements
on the results while we're collecting data. But then, if we were all
willing to admit it's not an experiment, I'd be much happier.

As for point (b), Jimbo also wrote:
> That's rather a bit over the top, isn't it?  Wikipedia is still
> completely open to everyone who is attempting to make a legitimate
> contribution.

"Completely open" means without *any* restrictions. Compelled
registration is not "completely open". All of those newspaper websites
that force you to register (for free) to read their articles are not
"completely open".

Wikipedia has not been completely open for a long time -- the ability
to move and delete articles has been pretty much always restricted.

I'm not saying this is necessarily bad (though I do have my opinions
about it) but that it is untrue that Wikipedia is completely open.

Let me make a practical example: say I, a longtime user, want to
create a new article but I'm not at my home computer. To do so I have
to log in again; I have absolutely no memory of my password. Before
Monday, I could still easily create the password. Now I have to have
the system send me a new password, open up my email, enter the new
password, and remember to change my settings at home with the new
password. These are new hurdles that I may not want to go through, so
no new article.