[WikiEN-l] Proposal on userbox disagreement

Wed Jan 4 20:27:18 UTC 2006

On 1/4/06, Tony Sidaway <f.crdfa at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 1/4/06, Anthony DiPierro <wikilegal at inbox.org> wrote:
> >
> > It's a lot easier to get along with somebody if you know who they are,
> > what they believe in, etc.  Do you disagree, or do you just think it
> > isn't important for Wikipedia editors to get along with one another?
>
> I work well with many editors and seldom give a thought to their
> backgrounds, native tongue, politics, religion or personal outlook on
> life.  That they share with me an ability to cooperate is evident from
> their behavior and the results of our cooperation.
>
So, I guess your answer is that you don't know if it's easier, because
you've never tried it.

> I am very suspicious of the suggestion that having editors categorized
> by beliefs and convictions helps Wikipedia, and I see no evidence that
> this is so.  Moreover Wikipedia survived very well to the point of
> 800,000 articles without any significant user categorization by
> belief.  I am aware of three recent cases in which that categorization
> was used in attempts to further factional ends, and I am also aware
> that the number of such boxes has increased tenfold in one month.  The
> balance is thus tipping strongly against conviction-related userboxes.

You're entitled to your opinion.  I hope you don't think everyone else
shares it with you, though.

Anthony