User talk:Jimbo Wales

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Emergency!! Invitation from Business Weekly Magazine in Taiwan

Hi Jimmy:

My name is Hung-ta Lin. The senior reporter of Business Weekly magazine in Taiwan. I really have an emergency here. People in Academia Sinica told me you agree to interview with us on March 10 in Japan. But we don't know the time, place and other details of this interview.

Before we fly to Japan for this interview, we wish to discuss all details with you. So we really need to know how to contact you.

This interview is different. We let you decide which topic you want to talk. It will be a special report or cover story. The report may contain 10 pages or more. So, it takes some time for us to discuss the detailes. I sent my proposal to you jwales@wikia.com and wikispeaker@gamil.com account. The subject is "An invitation from Business Weekly magazine in Taiwan to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales".

My email account is hung@mail2000.com.tw. My another email account is hung@bwnet.com.tw I really need to contact with you!! Please send me an email as soon as possible!

Thank you very much

Hung-ta Lin

Business Weekly magazine: the most popular magazine in Taiwan.

Dear Jimbo Wales

After some serious thinking I decided to stop contrubing to wikipedia. The site has become a source of stress due to someone’s Trolling over their obsession over others editors to contribution to “his” articles and scorn them because they have a different opinion based on fact by citing their sources and the troller having “ the my way or the highway “ attitude. If Wikipedia is become a reliable open scoure Encyclopedia then the articles have to be based on fact rather than one person bent on bending the truth and putting down editors down when they report the facts.

Smile

Pikminlover^Meep! has smiled at you! Smiles promote WikiLove and hopefully this one has made your day better. Spread the WikiLove by smiling to someone else, whether it be someone you have had disagreements with in the past or a good friend. Smile to others by adding {{subst:smile}}, {{subst:smile2}} or {{subst:smile3}} to their talk page with a friendly message. Happy editing!

Tim Pierce situation

Jimbo, your input to WP:ANI#Further on the Professor Tim Pierce situation, WP:ANI#Tim Pierce is *not* a professor! WP:ANI#Tim Pierce: Over the top would be greatly appreciated. I wouldn't normally think to bother you, and have not one dog in this fight, but the notion that we might be ruining people's careers is more than I'm willing to accept without making some noise.Proabivouac 11:45, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

Can I second this - please take a look, even if you feel it is inappropriate for you to comment. --Fredrick day 21:53, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

Hi Jimbo, You've said the matter was resolved but not what the resolution was. [1] Is Tim Pierce going to repeat the exercise? Regards, Ben Aveling 09:43, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

I talked to him, he apologized, he said he would not do it again. It was very simple. Many instructors have made the same error. Nothing to see, really.--Jimbo Wales 00:39, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo, thank you very much for stepping in to state this matter has been completely resolved. CyberAnth 19:17, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

Television episodes

Hey, when you wrote: "Why shouldn't there be a page for every Simpsons character, and even a table listing every episode, all neatly crosslinked and introduced by a shorter central page like the above? Why shouldn't every episode name in the list link to a separate page for each of those episodes, with links to reviews and trivia?" did you mean that as a blanket statement that every popular television show should have an article about each one of it's episodes? Salad Days 01:29, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

When did I say that? It would be fun to look at the context, since I am not sure that I agree now. I think we have learned over time that it is hard to do content at that level of detail without getting into some very difficult territory for reliability, verifiability, and accuracy. I now think that such articles are not a very good idea. (This, like that, is not a decree, just a very mild sort of opinion, of course.) When did I say that?

Anyway, in general, I do not think that MOST shows should have an article about each episode. Maybe The Simpsons, just because it's the greatest show in history. :) --Jimbo Wales 00:38, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

You didn't say that (though you agreed). See the first revision (and current version) of m:Wiki is not paper. —Cryptic 01:00, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification, guys. I was trying to figure out the consensus on this, because of some horrible Gilmore Girls articles which just consist of plot summaries and virtually nothing else. I nominated a few for deletion here: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/French Twist (Gilmore Girls) and was looking for another set of eyes on the issue. There is apparently a rough consensus over at WP:EPISODE, but in the AfD someone made the claim that the episode itself counts as a primary source, and together with the fact that it's a popular program, the article on the episode itself merits inclusion. Salad Days 01:20, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Zoe

Hi Jimbo,

I don't think this comment was the best way of resolving the situation, nor was it very diplomatic. I feel Zoe was acting in good faith, trying to defend Wikipedia in a perfectly legitimate way; how was she to know you have spoken to Tim on the telephone beforehand? Perhaps a little clarification and AGF would be in order here. Yuser31415 (Editor review two!) 00:31, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo's words were entirely warranted. This was not even the sort of issue that admins or editors should have been dealing with on their own. They should have immediately alerted the WP lawyer or Jimbo concerning it, and left it to them to handle. There is a time to recognize and work through authority and this was one of them. As it was handled before Jimbo stepped in, it resembled the dynamics of a lynch-mob. That is shameful. Very shameful. CyberAnth 00:43, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia is a community project, and as such I don't see it as out of line that any member of the community would object to someone assigning their students a project to vandalize Wikipedia. I would've at least emailed the professor myself to ask him to retract the assignment if I had known about it, as it's a wildly inappropriate assignment. As an academic who does some research in this area myself, I'm quite familiar with the ethics concerns of online research, and one simply cannot do such things; at least I know of no Institutional Review Board that would approve it. So I also feel Jimbo's public attack on Zoe is highly inappropriate, and deserving of an apology. --Delirium 07:15, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo I don't think this was handled very well. As should be evident from the thread on ANI I support the opinion that this should have been handled by the foundation. This is not something that administrators should be engaging themselves in. But... Zoe wasn't acting in bad faith. She wanted to protect Wikipedia from what was considered a real threat to Wikipedia. Organized vandalism isn't something that the community is going to accept. I respect the fact that you and the foundation are ultimately the only real authority around here. And so it should be. But Wikipedia is also community driven. The content here is written by ordinary members of the community and as such I don't see how it is wildly inappropriate for ordinary members (I count administrators as ordinary members of the commmunity as well) to be concerned when someone wants to systematically vandalize our work, even if it is only meant as a test. In the future it would be much more beneficial if you and the foundation would keep a closer eye on what happens at ANI and step in earlier. I am sure Zoe would have appreciated the support of you and/or Brad Patrick and you should have informed her when you resolved the matter. Respectfully and thanks for a really great project, MartinDK 08:21, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

It wasn't concern about vandalism which was called "wildly inappropriate," but the unorthodox measures which were being taken to check it. I must agree with Martin DK that someone with a project-level perspective should be keeping an eye on WP:ANI, with the minimal goal of ensuring that PR and legal functions aren't being decided by the night shift. I appreciate you stepping in to restore perspective. As Jimbo, your criticisms are bound to sting more than they otherwise might, but they were quite measured relative to the average tone of the noticeboard.Proabivouac 09:55, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

She was presumably acting in good faith, but her response was so far over the top that it disappeared into the distance never to be seen or heard from again. I did not get a chance to read the email exchange (and it now seems to have been deleted) but, if accurately quoted, accusing a university lecturer who sets a class assignment in good-faith of committing a crime (apparently vandalising Wikipedia is a "federal offence", no less) is so wacko as to be unbelievable. This was a really shameful episode for Wikipedia- Jimbo, your rebuke was harsh, but entirely appropriate, given the bother that could have resulted from this. The lack of perspective shown by Zoe and many of the other correspondents in the discussion was mind-blowing. By the same token, everyone was I'm sure acting as they thought best, hopefully Mr. Pierce will not take any further action, and the matter is closed. Bottom line- Well done. Badgerpatrol 17:00, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo's comment was rather measured, given the circumstances. Using Wikimedia resources to attempt to drum up a posse to harass a man's name and avocation by threats of legal and media action is without question wildly inappropriate. Unlike Zoe, Jimbo did not make any threats about what will happen if an apology is not forthcoming. Zoe is perfectly free to render an apology or not. Zoe is also free to continue to assert that Jimbo condones vandalism (or not). Tim Shuba 18:31, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

Zoe is a longtime Wikipedian, I am sorry if my remarks sounded harsh. Zoe is good. We just have a disagreement in this case, no long term damage I am sure.--Jimbo Wales 00:35, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the clarification and reassurance. Yuser31415 (Editor review two!) 06:58, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Hmm I wish people on this page would understood that Jimbo can speak for himself, and that the person's question was directly intended for Jimbo, not the rest of Wikipedia. LuciferMorgan 01:12, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Running this encyclopaedia is entirely dependent on open and unfettered discussion taking place whenever and wherever necessary. Badgerpatrol 01:28, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps, Jimbo, in the interests of removing any ill feeling that may have been caused, you might consider going back here and softening or clarifying your comment somewhat, so that the page will not be archived with an unmodified public rebuke to someone who was never made aware that the matter had been resolved, who was most certainly trying to protect Wikipedia, and who was simply looking for an assurance that the assignment would not be repeated. Personally, I would not like to think that some troll that Zoe blocks in a month from now would be in a position to use your AN/I statement to taunt her with. Musical Linguist 01:43, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

That would be very unlikely. Zoe has the confidence of the community and as far as I can tell Jimbo. This was a matter of misjudgement on Zoe's part. I don't think anyone outside of the lynch mob is disagreeing with that. Also I am pleased to see that Jimbo is getting more involved in ANI. It is that kind of leadership in difficult to judge cases that is needed. Maybe some kind of "Jimbo noticeboard" with a strict policy against trolling and general complaining over small matters would be an idea. That way Jimbo wouldn't need to scroll through the endless debating on ANI to get to the stuff that requires his direct involvement. MartinDK 07:16, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Just one small comment here, echoing Tim Shuba's point. Zoe made clear that if Mr Pierce apologised and made clear that he wouldn't do this again, she would drop the matter. Ignoring for the moment the issue of whether the matter was hers to take up or drop in the first place, couldn't the same be said about Zoe's conduct here? If she apologised on her part for the way she approached the matter (not for doing something about it, but for the manner in which she did something about it - compare her approach to that of Jimbo and Georgewilliamherbert), then similarly, the matter could be laid to rest. I'll add this comment to Zoe's talk page as well. Jimbo's comment may have upset Zoe, but Zoe quite clearly wasn't listening to the concerns people had raised at ANI about how she was handling the matter. Jimbo was good enough to later apologise to Zoe. It would be nice if Zoe could recognise that an apology from her for the way she handled this would put the matter to rest and allow everyone to move on. Carcharoth 11:20, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo, thanks for softening the comment you posted at WP:AN. Zoe has been in a difficult spot. She posted to the message board in order to seek feedback and guidance for an unusual situation, but most of the responses were off target: either hot reactions that mischaracterized her actions or superficial replies that suggested solutions she had already tried. The whole thing would have gone much better if people had known that you'd already resolved this by telephone. Could you make a point of communicating that more swiftly in the future? Zoe has earned a good reputation generally and a few words from you carry so much force. Respectfully, Durova^Charge! 18:36, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

I personally have some sympathy for her as she seems to have been acting in good faith, although her occasionally flip contributions to the AN/I discussion and subsequent over-reaction have not helped her case. I believe I'm correct in saying however that she posted to the noticeboard after she had already sent 1 or more threatening emails to Pierce and/or his employers. But it is not important whether or not the matter had already been resolved by Jimbo ex machina. What is important is that Zoe's actions were massively disproportionate to the problem and could conceivably have got the project and herself into a lot of trouble, not to mention the possible personal upset caused to this- completely innocent- lecturer. Jimbo was 100% correct in this case- it is a shame that Zoe seems not to have taken his words in the spirit in which I'm sure they were intended. Badgerpatrol 19:17, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

My post to Zoe's talk page expressed that thought in softer terms. I doubt any publication other than the student newspaper would have bothered with the story, and if Jimbo hadn't acted that particular venue might have been a reasonable option...especially as a fallback possibility if the problem were to recur next semester. Terms such as massively disproportionate are out of place here: she ought to have started the thread before sending the e-mail. Calm discussion is more likely to make that point effectively than an inflammatory response. Durova^Charge! 21:03, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

I don't mean to labour the point and I broadly agree with your assessment...but minor and contained Wikipedia vandalism as a good-faith demonstration => accusations of "committing a federal offence" = massively disproportionate. In some ways the level of the general debate on AN/I (especially the persistent and completely unwarranted character assassination of Pierce and the bizarre and repeated linking of Wikipedia vandalism to real-world criminality) were more worrying than Zoe's isolated response. Anyway, what's done is done and everyone involved has learnt a few lessons I'm sure. Badgerpatrol 00:03, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

I think Durova is right here. This appears to be a communication problem. I don't think anyone, including Zoe, would question Jimbo's right and duty to protect the project and make executive decisions and statements. I just think that this situation shows a need for more rapid statements from Jimbo on such issues because, eventhough the reaction to Mr. Pierce's assignment was inappropriate, there does seem to be a genuine concern within the community. I think the community needs to be assured that things are being dealt with in the best interest of Wikipedia and Jimbo has shown that in his latest posts here. Apparently those posts just came a little too late. MartinDK 19:43, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

I think the bottom line is that Jimbo and the rest of the big bods have other things to do and perhaps in complete innocence did not think that anyone would really get so all in a twist about this. They can't be expected to watch and report on everything, and I think it's clear that Jimbo and many others did not even envisage that the response to Pierce's class assignment would be so extreme, even if it was only a few isolated individuals. The number one lesson here is: anything that involves on-Wiki actions spilling over into the real world (e.g. legal issues, contacting an individual's employers or even frankly contacting the individual themselves) should be WP:OFFICE actions or at least run past someone in WP officialdom. If this can't be done for whatever reason then at the very least correspondents should make crystal clear that they are acting as private individuals and not as official representatives of Wikipedia. There is a real world and there is this world- the values of each are often very similar but we should not assume that they will always be exactly consonant. In the gross and scope of things, WP vandalism is just not that big of a deal to real people, who generally have much, much more important things to worry about. Badgerpatrol 00:03, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

With respect Jimbo, it is worth remembering that Zoe did what she did out of concern for the integrity of Wikipedia, and to protect the encyclopedia. Her actions, if over-zealous, were done in good faith and it would do well for us all to remember that we are all valued contributors until it is proven we are destructive influences. I would ask you to reach out to and assure Zoe of your intentions. Right now she is determined to leave Wikipedia. Cheers, ✎ Peter M Dodge ( Talk to Me • Neutrality Project ) 01:48, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Better press communication?

Perhaps there's an unerlying dynamic that needs attention. The people who communicated with this instructor may know better than I whether he read this report in last October's Chronicle of Higher Education. That story calmly describes a university professor's breaching experiment without mentioning the Wikipedia policies he violated. The publication did not acknowledge the e-mail I sent them afterward and to the best of my knowledge they published no correction. When reputable sources create the impression that vandalism of Wikipedia can be ethical conduct it's understandable if some junior faculty member implements that idea in the classroom.

A similar story ran this month in Australia's Sydney Morning Herald. Afterward I traded several cordial e-mails with the author and posted a polite reply at the paper's site, yet most responses from Wikipedians there and at his IP talk page[2][3] carried a strong tone of frustration. To a reader who doesn't walk a mile in their moccasins those responses probably look inappropriate and uncivil. Wikipedia's countervandalism volunteers could use better support in correcting these stories and in making sure the journalists are better informed in the first place. Durova^Charge! 21:33, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

I have a great idea.

I have a great idea. Why don't we turn this wikipedia into a online country. It could easily work as one. It has laws, (policies), it has a population of 3 million, and is already a gigantic community. Excellent idea isn't it? Retiono Virginian 16:39, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

You're not thinking big enough. Let's turn it into a Galactic Empire, like was the goal of the Encyclopedia Foundation of Terminus in Asimov's Foundation Trilogy! *Dan T.* 00:45, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

What, is it April 1st again already? (See this, this and this for reference.) --Derlay 01:57, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

LOL! That's funny, but you know, if we did that, Uncylopedia's joke wouldn't be false. Know what I mean? Funny though! RyGuy Sign Here! My Journal 14:10, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

I mean this in a serious way... Retiono Virginian 18:08, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

Well, wikipedia is an encyclopedia, of course, so let's stay the course on that. But who knows, maybe some of the principles we've worked out here could also be applied in governance. An interesting concept. --Kim Bruning 07:36, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps the case of James Sabow will be a test case for the wikijustice that will eventually prevail in a world that has Wikipedia.org. JPatrickBedell 17:47, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Hi Jimbo

This is doug jensen — Preceding unsigned comment added by Big D-unit (talk • contribs)

Question

How can non-admins have access to rollbacks, because I need to use them (people always beating me to reverts) Hank Ramsey 03:09, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Try popups. It has a quick-revert capability.--Aervanath 06:52, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

"NNDB is never a source"

Why is the NNDB not considered a valid source? You mentioned this in your recent edit to Maria Bartiromo. Chupper 04:02, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Why on earth should we consider it a valid source? It seems to me to be riddled with errors, many of which were lifted directly from Wikipedia. To my knowledge, it should be regarded like Wikipedia: not a valid source for anything in Wikipedia. We need to stick to REAL reliable sources, you know, like newspapers, magazines, books. Random websites are a very bad idea.--Jimbo Wales 18:03, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Stephen Colbert

My advice to deal with this whole Colbert vs. Wikipedia ordeal: go on the show. I think you and Dr. Colbert need to get together on TV and hammer this whole situation out. Show that you are taking his actions in stride and that there are Wikipedia users out there dedicated to making sure what is posted on here is as accurate and as "truthy" as possible.

Killintimeslowly 18:16, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Hey, that's a good idea! I was just going to suggest sending him a nice e-mail or something, but going on the show would be an awesome idea. Grandmasterka 01:12, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Sounds good to me too. Durova^Charge! 22:17, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Hall of Fame

Hi Jimbo - I request your input and advice on the suggestion creation of a Hall of Fame to celebrate the editors who've made lasting, non-revertable contribution to the Wikipedia project and deserve some permanent form of recognition, which may serve as an inspiration to the growing community of newer editors. I believe it is also important to grow a distinctive culture and tradition, which will help us achieve our noble mission. Rama's arrow 18:20, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Opinion

Dear Mister Wales,

As you can see in my user page, I've been making articles for a very long time in several wikipedias, and I wanted to inform some one of meta wikipedia about the vandalism of Spanish wikipedia administrators: they invent rules, they block people without warning, they brag about their power, they help one another in their nice behaviours and there is no way to throw them out or do something to control them. You can see my last events in Spanish wikipedia, and I’m not the only one, they have even erased the article I made about Laura Esquivel in April 2006 as you can see in the history of the article in English, without votes to do it.

You can see how fiery are my conversations in Catalan and Spanish wikipedia, not in others, although they have erased some articles I created in more wikipedias and I argued some things too.

I've been thinking about writing to you for a very long time, almost from the beginning, I really thought that project was a good idea, it's a pity there are so many people disposed to spoil it.

Yours sincerly,

Gaudio 00:07, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Hi Mr. Wales

Dear Jimmy:

How are you? Could you tell us the topic interested you? And we also wish to know the time and place for the interview in Japan. can we make an appointment to discuss the detail of this interview by phone? We also have something for you. Please give me some feedback.

Best wishes,

Business weekly magazine

Hung-ta Lin

future(s) market for wikipedia information currency... thanks for your work!

Hi Jim!

I've been working to create tradeable digital financial instruments with information as the underlying asset.

In the future(s) market for Wikipedia-associated financial instruments, I look forward to communicating my enormously positive perception of you and the systems you've helped to create! Thanks for your work!

JPatrickBedell 07:11, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia long! :-)

Controversy Sections ... + or -

Mr Wales:
I've seen this around on a lot of the talk pages on Wikipedia, and it seems like everyone can point to a policy that clearly supports their opinion - but I was wondering what your opinion on Controversy Sections is? Are they a NPOV guardian or violator? Thanks for your input!--Daniel()Folsom ^T|_C|^U 03:54, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Hey

Thread your userpage through Gizoogle. [4] Maxiepip 12:21, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

MWB

Gregory Kohs (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) may require your delicate touch. Hipocrite - «Talk» 19:17, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Wikias???

Mr.Wales, Do you think you may be able to help me create a new wikia for the Nintendo Wii called "Wiikipedia"? Thanks for even bothering to read this!--Furon 20:09, 1 February 2007 (UTC) Oh, and by the way, this was automatically put into chat. Please, if you wish, leave a message on my user page and not a chat message.

Breach of neutrality principle in British Isles naming dispute

Jimbo, (or one of your long suffering prawns)

Could you shuffle over on your splendid mammalian limbs, (or if you're not Jimbo, then scuttle over on your crustacean legs), and have a look at the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles_naming_dispute

Please note that this article is clearly taking one side of an ongoing debate.

There is also an interesting challenge to wiki editorial principles embodied in this debate. The principles I refer to are thee one of requiring "reliable sources only" and the one of "no original research".

In this article, definitions are employed to back up one side of the argument. The problem is that the definitions used are biased by their origins. The dictionaries derive from an English or US cultural tradition that has already adopted a position on the argument, namely that the term "British Isles" includes Ireland. The definition used to justify the argument is actually part of the pro-argument, if you follow my meaning.

There are also reasons why documents and maps used in Ireland refer to the Islands as the British Isles, chiefly to do with copyright and the ownership and licensing of Ordinance Survey maps, especially in school maps and atlases.

I am not asking for the article to reflect my position only. I am asking that the article be edited to present a fair reflection of the debate, rather than edited as it currently is. The current article more or less decides that Ireland is part of the British Isles, ignoring the opinion of about 86% of the population of Ireland, including the Irish Government.

So, if there is no place for original research, then biased published sources should also be excluded from the argument.

There, I've said it!

Great site, great invention, well done.

Thanks,

Cormac. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Cormac73 (talk • contribs) 20:46, 1 February 2007 (UTC).

Fanatic Hindus writing articles and Hindu Admins cooperating

HI Jimmy, If I would make you read these articles and these lines - would you think these are from an encyclopedia or from a fanatic hate site.

" [Hindus have been historically persecuted during the Islamic rule in the Indian subcontinent and the Portuguese rule in Goa. In modern times, Hindus in Kashmir, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda and Fiji have suffered persecution. Persecution of Hindus during Islamic rule was conducted by massive "ethnic cleansing", forced religious conversion, enslavement, desecration and demolition of Hindu temples and ashrams, and mass-rapes of Hindu women and sexual abuse of Hindu children. Christian persecution of Hindus in Goa, during the Portuguese rule, included defamation of Hinduism through forced conversions, burnings, lootings and other violent means. Persecution also extend to the confiscation or destruction of private Hindu property, or incitement to violence though propaganda."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Hindus] with all the percieved problems of hindus thrust on Muslim rulers.On these articles whenever a Muslim editor makes changes a cabal of Hindu Fanatic editors and their protector Admins deny the others make changes citing filmsy reasons.87.74.3.1 22:32, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Jimmy, Will ignore this 87.74.3.1 22:51, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

Look This Is Our Viewpoint

We don't see global warming as a major problem. It is a hoax and we do think that Wikipedia is pushing the limits on government censorship especially on articles pertaining on global warming. We think in order to comply with federal standards, anything that is on global warming should be edited and reviewed. We feel that some articles on global warming should not say stuff that is quite damaging to the American population. This a friendly notice from the federal government. 72.69.213.21, February 2, 2006 1:56 (UTC)

If anyone is wondering what this is about, see this user's contribs and the history of IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. Misplaced humor, I think. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 03:09, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

This is no laughing matter. If you continue to have these topics on global warming without editing them to comply with federal standards, we will do full searches of Wikipedia servers in the United States without any warrants. This is another friendly reminder from the federal government. 72.69.213.21, February 2, 2006 2:17 (UTC)

Which part of the United States Constitution permits the government to establish "federal standards" for what an encyclopedia may write about? *Dan T.* 04:04, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

None. The anon was joking, pretending to be a representative of the U.S. Government, and riffing on the fact that the Bush Administration's standard response to scientific findings on global warming is that it "needs more study". The real Bush Administration knows what information outlets they can control and which ones they can't. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 04:28, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

Dissapointment

I'm not actually expecting a comment from Jimbo. This page is the most public place on Wikipedia in which I feel I can find an answer here. I feel that I am having a problem with an unreasonable Wikipedian who is making a private political stance a Wikipedia issue on Talk:Ejaculation. I have not be able to find (though I am certain it is here, somewhere) the proper procedure to bring in mediation.

I'm disappointed that Wikipedia's policies are not as easy to search for as its articles. This has lead to much running around on my part trying to find the proper citations and authorities. I am also disappointed as I feel Wikipedia is too tolerant of extremes of behavior that often hurt both the quality and the culture of Wikipedia. The problem I am having affects both. Please see Talk:Ejaculation and then feel free to delete this if necessary. -- jsa 16:00, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

image removed --cesarb 15:36, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

This is the kind of image Wikipedia wants displayed on its pages?

If so, just continue to ignore me. I will just go away. -- jsa 14:29, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Note: I am posting this under the assumption that it is acceptable and allowable by Wikipedia guidelines as have been repeadtedly stated to me on Talk:Ejaculation. Please do not undo unless you have read this page first. -- jsa 15:31, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Death threats recieved off-site by Wikipedia admin

Jimbo I think you should be made aware of this very serious situation. Apparently an admin has recieved death threats related to his activities on Wikipedia. This has occured by phone at work. Your input to if nothing else close the matter would be much appreciated. Cheers, MartinDK 20:07, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

Suspected violation of the Neutral Point of View Policy

Dear Mr Wales and Wikipedia community, I am a user from the Arabic Wikipedia (23 000 articles, 48 000 users and 14 administrators). I suspect that a certain behavior shown in the Arabic Wikipedia violates the Neutral Point of View policy but this policy is a global policy that should be followed in all editions of Wikipedia. I understand that there are some differences between different editions of Wikipedia but not the Neutral Point of View Policy because without this policy Wikipedia would be transformed into a blog website containing personal opinions. I addressed 2 of the local administrators there and left a note at the Village pump of the Arabic Wikipedia. The administrators said that this kind of behavior is optional but (in my opinion) this behavior should not be permitted. There are more details of course. I would like to do the following:

1. Ask whether this behavior really violates the Neutral Point of View policy or not?
2. Make an official complain?

Could anyone here please give me the exact links (links to pages) in Meta where I can ask and complain? Note: I am not sure yet, so, I want to ask first before making an official complain. Thank you very much. --196.202.92.134 05:09, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Newsweek article

• "Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales discusses encyclopedias, Microsoft and the next big thing(s) on the Internet". Newsweek. 2007-02-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Headphonos 14:00, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Nice piece of work there. I bet Bill won't be so happy when he sees that pic of Jimbo holding a Mac, though... =) Tony Fox (arf!) 00:22, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

curious question

Mr. Jimbo, I saw an interview on internet that quoted you saying you were an adherent of Ayn Rand. However, what I heard is that she advocated that all people should be selfish and only be concerned with the well-being and interests of themselves. Wikipedia is a good thing that benefit all people around the world, which is not a selfish project, would u think that Ayn Rand's view contradict with Wikipedia? Wooyi 23:13, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo keeps his personal philosophical beliefs and Wikipedia separate. If you look closely enough you can spot hints of his philosophy here and there but, for the most part, he has created an internet resource that is good purely for the sake of creating something good and useful on the internet. He has a sincere desire to better humanity because he believes it's in his best interest to better humanity. 71.207.250.151 01:35, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Talk page help.

Dear Jimbo,

how do I make a link for leaving a new message? particularly for this:

The thing I need to work on is

{{Click|link=User talk<This Part!>|image=Crystal Clear app email.png|width=30px|height=30px|title=Leave me a message}}

Thanks for any response. --'•Tbone55•^{(Talk) (Contribs) (UBX) (autographbook)} 23:26, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

BLPs

I am convinced that Wikipedia's days without lawsuits are numbered unless it creates a special role, Biography of Living Persons Administrators, who are empowered to enforce binding decisions on content disputes contrary to "consensus" on BLP articles. CyberAnth 01:13, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Do you think you could go away permanently to Citizendium as you think it's so marvellous? You're wrecking the mostly harmless work of many hundreds of editors, and that is far worse for the project than the occasional dodgy edit which is most cases is removed within hours anyway. As you have virtually nothing positive to say about Wikipedia, why continue to edit and get on everybody's nerves? Dev920 (Have a nice day!) 01:24, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

You must be referring to "harmless" work like unsourced assertions that people's parent were crack addicts; that they take this or that potentially controversial position; that they are a child molestor; gay or bisexual; that they were arrested here or there; that their children's names and ages are such and such; tabloids used as sources; apparent original research; the subject's views expressed from the perspective of his or her critics only, and so forth. CyberAnth 01:46, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Why are you trying to find a back door to adminship? If you want to become an administrator just apply through RfA and let the community decide. --Steve _(Slf67) ^talk 02:55, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Not doing that...I fail to see how admins really do what I described. CyberAnth 06:11, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Your recent removals of information was everything without a source, including birth dates and profession! I fail to see how that is somehow defamatory. Have you ever tried adding something potentially controversial to an article without a source? Because back in my newbie days, whenever I put potentially controversial stuff in without sources, I was reverted within minutes. Hell, I put in that Jake Gyllenhaal appeared on SNL and sang a song from Dreamgirls in a dress, which actually happened, and was reverted because I didn't have an RS, even when I provided the video from Youtube which showed him at it. Since the Seigenthaler controversy, stuff like that does not happen anymore, so your attempt to gain power (and your evident ignorance of what administrators are empowered to do) is silly and unnecessary. Dev920 (Have a nice day!) 10:00, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

False. On a few I stubbed the entire article. Because they contained not one source. Also, I do not claim knowledge of what admins can do, so forgive my naiveties in the matter if they exist. However, I can claim some knowledge of what some admins do not do based upon their visiting of pages prior my evaluating them - pages that contained content that they let stand in clear violation of WP:BLP. Further, despite your attempted divination of my motives, my point here is that the Foundation might consider further protections of themselves. I deeply care about this project and its success and longevity. CyberAnth 10:33, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Admins are editors, not policemen. And it is most likely your interpretation of WP:BLP that is at fault. WP:BLP says "Editors should remove any controversial material about living persons that is either unsourced, relies upon sources that do not meet standards specified in Wikipedia:Reliable sources, or is a conjectural interpretation of a source." Removing allegations that someone is gay, or takes drugs, is fine. Removing utterly harmless information pisses off the editor that put it there. Attrition through low morale is far, far more damaging to Wikipedia than a celebrity complaining on CNN. If you want to go enforce rules like that and cut our base in half, go to Citizendium and become an author. But stop acting like Wikipedia's constable. Dev920 (Have a nice day!) 10:47, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

I continue to find your divinations of my motives amusing. The problem is what is or is not "utterly harmless" is subjective. Somehow, I think Wikipedia editors' unsourced claims are not the best source for what is or is not controversial. The subject him or herself may vastly differ. Hence, WP:V. CyberAnth 10:51, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

" The threshold for inclusion in Wikipedia is verifiability, not truth. "Verifiable" in this context means that any reader should be able to check that material added to Wikipedia has already been published by a reliable source. Editors should provide a reliable source for material that is challenged or likely to be challenged, or it may be removed." Verifiable, not verified. The information does not necessarily have to be footnoted as long as it can be verified. Are you even reading these policies that you keep quoting at me? Dev920 (Have a nice day!) 10:55, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

I am. Verifiable does not mean that the WP reader, with widely variant results, must have to dig up twice or thrice the research that the WP editor did in filling in the article. If that is your (weak) standard as as an admin, you might find a better context for your content additions at Internet message boards/forums. "The burden of evidence lies with the editor who adds or restores material. Any material that is challenged or likely to be challenged needs a reliable source, which should be cited in the article." It is not likely to be challenged that Bill Clinton got a blowjob in the Whitehouse, since it was widely reported internationally. But whether Mr. Joe Relatively Obscure, hopeful seeker of major fame, did such and such potentially controversial thing is another matter entirely. It does not matter if you as a WP editor are convinced of the truth of certain claims. I think if you actually read in-depth the Foundations concerns over WP's BLPs, as I have, you will find my concerns here only mesh with theirs. Also, I hope you will realize, as I have, that actually listening to WP's critics can be a very wise measure in improving WP. CyberAnth 11:10, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

I've been edit conflicted by you eight times today because you keep adding bits to your reply. There is a preview button on your screen, please, for the love of god, use it. I'm not going to reply anymore because I am fed up with you doing this. Dev920 (Have a nice day!) 11:31, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

I apologize for the edit conflicts. I will try to remember to use preview. But I think you have well exhibited here better than any of my arguments my concerns over admins' lackluster enforcement of WP:BLP. CyberAnth 11:33, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Not being an admin, I doubt it. Dev920 (Have a nice day!) 11:44, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Point still remains. CyberAnth 11:57, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Anything that Jimbo-page watchers needed edification regarding has no doubt already been stated. I'd suggest you both keep cool, and go to WT:BLP where this is more appropriate. Marskell 11:49, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Okay. Point well taken. CyberAnth 11:57, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Happy Valentines Day!

I wish you and your family have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Kamope · talk · contributions 02:44, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Brian Peppers

Just a reminder that your Office Protection on the aforementioned page "expires" on February 21. He seems to have resurfaced again, see WP:ANI#They_have_not_forgotten. You may wish to extend this expiry date if you so choose. MER-C 03:36, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Hope you enjoy it, personally i'm gonna be watching just for the commercials -- feb^talk 10:45, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo became a steward during last year's Super Bowl, unfortunately not under the best of circumstances. NoSeptember 14:01, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

How so? Did he have a wardrobe malfunction? *Dan T.* 03:51, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

An arbitration decision

The case Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/Nathanrdotcom was decided privately due to sensitive informations, which is understandable. However, the committee did not even disclose what kind of case it is, and what incidents happened, it seems like would cause people to be curious and question its legitimacy. Wooyi 04:06, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

ArbCom reviewed a community ban to see if it should be overturned. They upheld the community ban based on evidence that was kept private because it was private information. --Tbeatty 04:10, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Underage girl got scared. Adult male acted very stupid. We don't want to be in the middle. Let it go. WAS 4.250 05:12, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Now I know and sorry for bring something disturbing up again, I was not aware of this when I posted my statement, Sorry. Wooyi 05:17, 5 February 2007 (UTC)