Wikipedia: No More Changes to Articles on People without Approval
Wikipedia: No More Changes to Articles on People without Approval
Posted 08/25/2009 at 7:58am
| by Paul Lilly
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In the very near future, Wikipedia will add a new feature called "flagged revisions," which will require that an experienced volunteer editor for the social encyclopedia approve any changes made by the public before the changes go live. This new layer will only be applied to articles about living people, at least initially.
"We are no longer at the point that it is acceptable to throw things at the wall and see what sticks," said Michael Snow, a lawyer in Seattle who is the chairman of the Wikimedia board. "There was a time probably when the community was more forgiving of things that were inaccurate or fudged in some fashion -- whether simply misunderstood or an author had some ax to grind. There is less tolerance for that sort of problem now."
The new feature, which will be implemented in the coming weeks, will separate Wikipedia's contributors into two classes -- experienced, trusted editors, and everyone else, The New York Times points out. But advocates point out this is a small price to pay if flagged revisions prove effective in catching hoaxes and improving the overall accuracy of Wikipedia's content.
Is the flagged revisions feature a good idea? Hit the jump and tell us what you think.
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VaMage
August 25, 2009 at 12:43pm
On two things, one what does it take to become a trusted editor, is it going to turn into some kind of "in crowd club", which some would argue is already happening, or will there be some objective standard?
Second, does it become politicized. By politicized I obviously don't mean U.S.A. politics, though the fanaticism on both the left and the right is now nearly religious in scope. Instead look at the current challanged articles, world wide everyone with an axe to grind, or propagangda to spew, has tried, is trying, and likely will continue to try, to spin Wiki's.
If the new "trusted editors" act like typical editors in every other arena, then Wiki will no longer have a set of checks and balances to keep those editors opinions from being the only view of, "the facts", that are presented.
Also, don't just think politics, religion or nationalism, if you're into physics you will know what I mean as easily as if you're into climate change, or genetics, or, or, or... "Facts" in science are slippery things at best.
VaMage
American by Birth, But Southern by the Grace of God.
DarKarvin
August 25, 2009 at 10:24am
But, who's to say that that editor is not completely wrong.... ?
I'm thinking back to the early 1900's with Edison, and well, anyone that could have possibly caused him any monetary loss, He defamed basically any other inventor of the time, citing scientific facts (which we know was just BS).
nekollx
August 25, 2009 at 9:17am
as long as the flagged editors also count the people who are apoited staff in a wiki. I somehow doubt soeme "experienced editor" wouls have the knoledge of PIGG divers digging up dirt for paragonwiki
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