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.

I am just adding a note here so werdnabot can archive this section. :) --Jimbo Wales 16:28, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

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!

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)

I wasn't laughing at your idea Retiono, I was laughing at Dan's. Your idea is pretty neat. RyGuy Sign Here! My Journal 17:18, 12 February 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)

Will the wikipedia online country take it upon itself to conduct murders of dissenters? I certainly hope not! By properly addressing historical crimes, such as the murder of Colonel James Sabow, it will be possible to create an environment where wikitruth, wikijustice, and wikilove may prevail. Unfortunately, the article is up for deletion a second time, with numerous voices speaking for deletion. However great the Wikipedia power is, the people affilitated with real world nation-states have their own memory holes for troublesome ideas, information, and people that they seek to translate to online practice here and elsewhere. JPatrickBedell 20:25, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Hi Jimbo

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

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

NO CABAL

2. Newcomers are always to be welcomed. There must be no cabal, there must be no elites, there must be no hierarchy or structure which gets in the way of this openness to newcomers. - ^{from Jimbo Wales User page.}

A cabal does exist! Can anything be done about this? I will not name Users, unless I am asked to. At that point I may still not name Users. Wikipedia should have something in place, so an editor can focus on Wikipedia article pages, and not fending off a cabal. --ⅮⅭⅭⅬⅩⅩⅤⅠⅠ 18:36, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Some claim that most cabal members have names that are synomnyms for Wikipedia. SakotGrimshine 23:03, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

And some think that there is no cabal, but there are basic rules and new editors should accept advice on how to act and not act to kweep the overall atmosphere pleasant to work in, SqueakBox 23:26, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

I was making a pun on how I dislike people who make names like the OP that are so unoriginal that they come close to violating a username policy (I'm not saying they do, just close). SakotGrimshine 23:54, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

I created Category:Eguor admins to counteract inadvertent cabalism (if it exists). Contact me by e-mail if you prefer to discuss the situation privately. Supply details and evidence in the form of page diffs. Connect all the dots. Expect me to investigate both sides. Respectfully, Durova^Charge! 19:57, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

Not sure the opposition should be admins, indeed there perhaps a eugor category for users would be better. Until recently User:Adam Carr claimed to be leader of the opposition on the basis that he was a high level contributor who wasnt an admin and I think any effort to limit the wikipedia opposition only to admins is not an idea that is likely to be taken seriously, and certainly should be strongly opposed, SqueakBox 20:30, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

There are a couple of cabals that are welcoming to newcomers, though! :-) --Kim Bruning 21:14, 6 February 2007 (UTC) You know that bureaucracy is really going overboard, when the cabal is more welcoming to newcomers than the open wiki.

Possibly our best former welcomer was User:Sam Spade, definitely not a part of the cabal, SqueakBox 21:37, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

<suppresses a snicker> --Kim Bruning 21:47, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

iA Cthulhu? --Silverhand^Talk 22:07, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Where is Zoe?

Zoe is LEAVING!!!--Crabby 22:43, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

Who is Zoe? Wooyi 22:46, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

Zoe is a user (and, by the look of their talk page, an admin) here at Wikipedia. Apperantly Zoe and Jimbo had a little arguement over someone named Mr. Pierce (whoever that is) and she's decided to leave. // PoeticDecay 22:50, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

User:Zoe has been one of the busier admins over the last few months. Another one bites the dust, SqueakBox 22:54, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

And this is what apparently made her leave, SqueakBox 22:55, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

After a Professor Tim Pierce apparently set his students to vandalise wikipedia as homework. Hmm, SqueakBox 22:57, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

Reminds me of RickK. The Sky May Be 02:45, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

His final hours here was definitely one of the sadder moments for wikipedia, and so unnecessary. Lets hope Zoe does feel she can come back, SqueakBox 03:11, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

We'll let her take a break, all right? That will be good for her, even if she doesn't want to come back.--Crabby 21:48, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Rick left because he was blocked in an alleged 3RR violation that had nothing to do with Jimbo, this case is actually very different. I am sure the community would be happy to see Zoe return and so, it appears, would Jimbo (from his comments), SqueakBox 21:51, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Cyrus Farivar revisited

Hello Mr. Wales,

Recently the article Cyrus Farivar was voted for deletion, as a consensus was reached that Farivar did not meet our current notability guidelines. However, it was immediately undeleted by Phil Sandifer, due to your comment on the previous AfD from a year and a half ago: "Even if VfD _did_ produce a consensus that this article should be deleted, then VfD is broken and should be ignored." To avoid muddying up the debate further by debating the context and interpretation of your words, I would like to humbly request if you could add your opinion on the current matter. Krimpet 04:09, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Which is currently being discussed at Wikipedia:Deletion review/Log/2007 February 7#Cyrus Farivar, since it has gone AFD closed as delete, undelete, speedy deletion under G4 by a third admin, undelete. GRBerry 04:13, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Might be interesting

The Foreign Ministry of Israel’s Government has ordered trainee diplomats to track websites and chatrooms so that networks of US and European groups with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can place supportive messages. [1]24.7.97.104 09:57, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

You owe Zoe an apology

Those harsh words were uncalled for to a tireless vandal fighter. She had no way of knowing that you had resolved the issue, so she did the best she could. >Radiant< 10:57, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

To be fair, Jimbo did apologize here, very shortly before she left. That being said, with the amount of crap Zoe had to put up with on a regular basis, why would she come back? She rarely felt appreciated, people rarely thanked her, and she ran into this mess. If wikibreaking helps, good. If she feels personally hurt, and Jimbo's (somewhat terse) apology didn't fix that, we should, sadly, let it go. --Elaragirl^Talk|Count 11:10, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

I agree with Elaragirl: Jimbo already softened his initial statement. There's a lesson for all of us at WP:AN in this: that thread got way too "hot" without enough responders reading through the whole thing to cool it down. I've expressed that in more detail on Zoe's talk page. We need to watch out and guard against that dynamic - it can burn out good people. Durova^Charge! 21:47, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Well, Jimbo said sorry for how his original statement might have sounded. I think Zoe probably pursued the situation a bit too aggressively (in good faith) and WP:OFFICE intervention was needed for all sides of the issue, but I think the suggestions that her behaviour was "wildly inappropriate" and represented "random hostility" (my italics) were substantially off the mark. Bwithh 22:29, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Ban or Block Request

Hello Mr. Wales,

I am asking that you take a look at the Stephanie Adams page to block or ban User Sean D Martin from editing the article. If you follow his talks and contributions, you will see that he has repeatedly made personal attacks to other users and even made several personal attacks to the woman the article is about (Adams).

There really isn't much written about this playmate, but the user seems to enjoy distorting facts provided on your site and even removes what little is written there to begin with. This user is committing what Wikipedia refers to as "sneaky vandalism" and has a direct "conflict of interest" with the person in the article because she (Adams) is suing someone he knows. (Please refer to the comments.)

Several others posted concerns about this user in the history page of the artcle. Please help us. Thank you. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Cle0patr4 (talk • contribs) 20:41, 7 February 2007 (UTC).

Sorry, I forgot to sign it. Cle0patr4 20:45, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

By all means, please do take a look at the Stephanie Adams article. You will see that my edits have been to change a few words so that the info presented accurately reflects said in the references attached to the article. I have distorted no facts. Quite the contrary as you would see.

In the meantime, Cle0patr4, Ladysekhmet and various anonymous folks (all strongly suspected sock puppets of Ms Adams herself (for a fuller listing) continue to post various lies as if repetition would make them true. (I have done no "sneaky vandalism". Ms Adams is not suing anyone I know personally.) Taking a look at the discussion associated with her article would show I am not the first person to be so targeted. --Sean Martin 05:40, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

Jimbo in your opinion

Sexuality of Abraham Lincoln is this article a NPOV? --ⅮⅭⅭⅬⅩⅩⅤⅠⅠ 20:44, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

No, it seems extremely biased to me. It looks like a legitimate topic, but as written now, it's a bit horrible.--Jimbo Wales 06:12, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

User:Durova/Community enforced mediation

Three members of the arbitration committee have supported this proposal so far. Responses have been unanimous support to this point and I'd appreciate your input.

This would be an experimental mediation format where established editors could impose arbitration-like remedies on themselves with community support. Piotrus and Ghirlandajo tried the idea tentatively about six weeks ago. So far Wikipedia hasn't had any alternative to arbitration for content disputes that have some user conduct elements. I'd like to create a more dignified and streamlined alternative.

If this succeeds it could help reduce burnout among our most productive editors. Your comments would be highly valued. Durova^Charge! 22:20, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

It sounds valuable and interesting to me. What I like about it is the voluntary nature of it.--Jimbo Wales 06:14, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Thank you very much. Durova^Charge! 22:23, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Disturbed User

I am disturbed by the Ockenbock sockpuppet craze from this IP. This is a school, and people like me want to edit positively without being blocked Sincereley, Catholic male

Mr. Wales, please help with the Stephanie Adams article.

Why does one person who only have a few sentences about her receive so much animosity from two (apparently bitter) users/haters? And why are there so many references to the page on her when other pages don't require any?

Take a look at the history of the edits on the Stephanie Adams page and you will see that User Sean D Martin and now User LexiLynn are making personal attacks against other editors and even the person the article is about.

If they feel so horribly about someone they do not even know, then perhaps they should refrain from editing her page, removing important information added to the already small article.

If they cannot write objectively and if they cannot refrain from bad etiquette on Wikipedia, then maybe you should block or ban them from editing.

Please note that User Sean D Martin is involved in a smaller lawsuit Stephanie Adams filed against his friend, making him have a direct conflict of interest and should not be editing the article on her.

71.167.230.171 07:51, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

P.S. From what I did manage to read, it sounds like you spoke to her (or someone who knows her) once before. I doubt this lady is a bad person and it's a shame others seem to be so jealous/hateful of her.

71.167.230.171 is a CONFIRMED sock puppet of stephanie adams 65.184.20.38 23:23, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Yes, please do take a look at the history of edits on the Stephanie Adams article. You will see evidence of minor edits which make the article more accurate get quickly reverted by anonymous users strongly suggested to be sock puppets of Ms Adams herself for some analysis. You'll see these anonymous editors claim there are personal vendettas and prejudice when all they have done is ask that Wikipedia standards be maintained. You will see lies repeated as if doing so will make them true. (I'm not involved in any lawsuit filed by Ms Adams, she has filed no lawsuits against any friends of mine.) --Sean Martin 05:58, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

Sean D Martin, stop lying about Stephanie Adams. Nothing you can say will ruin her good name and no form of media or press will ever take your lies seriously. You're only proving that you have a conflict of interest with the article.

This is just plain silly. I'm sure Jim agrees that this is a big waste of time and energy. Sean D Martin, if you are really taking this that seriously, then I feel sorry for you. So much anger and so many personal attacks are just proof that the world is filled with celebrity haters. Mr. Wales, do us all a favor and just ban user Sean D Martin. And while you're at it, have another word with Hoary, Isotrope and their new friend LexiLynn, who makes personal attacks to Stephanie Adams even though she is the subject of the article. Fighting over a few small sentences and hating the person you write about (who you don't even know) should not be what Wikipedia is about. ~Cle0patr4

Stephanie Adams, stop lying about me. Name just one specific edit I have made to the article the presents false information. Just one place where I changed the text to say something that wasn't supported by the references provided. Just one place where I removed text that was appropriately supported. Just one actual example instead of the constant flow of false accusations.

I am not sure what Jim agrees to or not. I don't feel it appropriate or necessary to speak for him. I encourage him, or anyone who should he wish to look into it, to check for himself. I'm sure he doesn't need you to speak for him. --Sean Martin 09:33, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

• Part of what makes Wikipedia so valuable and successful is that thousands of people "waste" their time and energy on removing repeated vandalism, and "waste" their time and energy ensuring that data complies to Wikipedia policies. It is unfortunate that so many others truly waste significant time and energy by vandalizing, warring, and flaming. I haven't seen any comments here from someone claiming to be Stephanie Adams. If she really needs Jim's help (which IMHO would be a complete waste of his time and energy), she'll show up here and sign her name appropriately and not hide behind sock puppets. Enough, already! Find another article to edit, "Cle0patr4". -- Richard D. LeCour ^{(talk/contribs)} 19:14, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

The article has been protected and the active editors have been referred to dispute resolution. Durova^Charge! 23:46, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

stalker

He's the person who created the turboface page. Please send me an email about it educationalreplies@yahoo.com , I can provide police references. They have been activley seeking this person for the last year for multiple warrants. Send me a talk page. He's using his wikipedia account to create search engine spidered links to improve his link popularity on google. This account he create4d is for personal attacks.I can provide MORE then enough evidence. His old username on here was CUMBERBUND , search that user's history alkso,, you'll see it was also an attack account 65.184.20.38 16:05, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Hi jimbo i love u very much i love knowledge it is the only thing that make my whole life have meaning so when i know abou wiki and I start to fall in love with them but when i realize how to make article the people share the time talk about comment i realize that not easy to make encyclopedia and realize in the power of Homo sapiens s. i love you bye 203.170.226.253 10:59, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Wii article debate getting out of hand

All right, let's settle this. Mr. Wales, should urine jokes be mentioned on the Wii article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii)? Despite the seeming trivial nature of this information, there have been serious debates over it on the talk page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wii), and you have the power to end these debates once and for all. The Legend of Miyamoto 19:28, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Nobody cares?

Dear Jimbo. I wonder if you missed my enquiry or decided to pass it by? I still think this issue is vital for the entire Fundation, and the future of this project - but few others care. Your support could get this moving - I honestly don't see what else can. I know your time is limited, but I'd greatly appreciate your comment on this (even 'no, it's not important, drop it').-- _{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk}  23:27, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Five Pillars --> One more pillar, the Consensus

I've proposed one more pillar, the Consensus, here.

Since the five pillars and also the Consensus are the core of Wikipedia, I think you're the one who should comment it ;-)

Happy Editing by Snowolf^(talk)_C on 00:11, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

biographies and notability?

gruezi voll!!! hi there...while writing a few things on the colleen shipman page as to why she would be notable...(and im not really objecting strongly yet to her page still protected...my thoughts being a valid argument stating the page could be subject to heavy vandalism, the highly unusual nature, & a just breaking story involving a criminal case of which she is the alleged victim)...yet in defending her as being notable i got to thinking...it seems as time goes on the biographies sections ultimately will expand to a vast level of all the subjects on wikipedia...and im concerned they are weighted towards politicians and actors...it seems to me anyone with a masters degree should also be automatically regarded as allowed in a wikipedia bio if someone wants to take the time to add it...isnt that notable???...(i even tend to think anyone with a bachelors or pursueing a masters is worth documenting is someone wishes...to state their field of study and interests at least)...yet then i got to thinking as to ethical questions...and thought itd be great to have some sort of sister site...where anyone the world over can log in their picture and a bio if they wished...(currently its governments that document all of us...what about the people themselves)...some great documentation of the people of the planet...i dont know...just what truly makes a person notable???...and after 1000 years of wikipedia what will???...what after a million years of wikipedia???...wikipedias audience is the current one yes...yet also that of the future...Benjiwolf 10:59, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

Clarification please

People are now deleting categories for child users "per Jimbo Wales". Did you actually say any such thing? -Amarkov moo! 15:04, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

Question

Hi Jimmy! I had a little conversation with you by email about a week ago(it was something about the reverse naming - hope you remember). Is it possible to refer to your opinion(in the way of spirit, not a decree) in case of argument? Sasha l 02:13, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

Leaving:

I wished to inform you that I'm leaving Wikipedia. I have been a faithful member for over 1 year now, & have contributed a lot of my time & effort into this project. However before I go I'd like to give my thoughts about a few things. Although I probably deserved a fair bit of it, a lot of hurtful messages have been flung my way today. Funnily, all by administrators. I have the deepest respect for you & would appreciate if you could return that by at least glimpsing through my post here. The head of the situation today started when I learned that another editor ousted me for co-nominating another user. Depsite only being the starting fire, I had made abundantly clear that I was nominating & soon the whole thing went south. Pretty pathetic huh? I tried to talk it over with the admin who had done it, & I was very civil. However, this admin continued to call me irrational & emotional. Soon everyone was passing off my posts as that & yes, eventually emotion & uncivility entered into it on my behalf. But the way it was handled by the admins was uncalled for. It was just the little passive aggressive jibes that got to me. "...Spawn Man has blown this completely out of proportion and made it into a big drama. While that's not exactly a new thing for Spawn...", "...If Spawn was a true friend, instead of wallowing in his self-constructed well of misery and trying to suck everyone else involved in your RfA nomination into it with him, he would have supported your nomination and been happy for you...", "...Everything is about you, isn't it? You go on and on (without actually going) and it's all about you—who didn't do this for you or say that to you and how terrible we all must be because of what poor Spawn Man didn't get and we must all hate him so. You have your outbursts, making hurtful comments about others, yet it's all about you. Everyone is supposed to tiptoe around you and you can be irrational, spiteful, and self-centered and then we're all supposed to come by and say "Oh please don't go!" Your comment up above mocking Riana's situation with her dad makes me sick. Grow up..." are just some of the passive aggressive & completely wrong posts left here & there. Although you didn't pick them, these admins reflect on you in a way & I could never see the Jimbo Wales leaving hurtful posts like this. I never asked for any "Oh please don't go" comments & I never mocked her father's situation. I only said that why should she get everyone's sympathy when my mother was nearly dead in hospital & nobody said anything to me. That is hardly mocking her situation. The main reason is who's popular & who's not. I have contributed 3 FAs to your Project, 1 FL, 2 GA's & created many more. I've helped out with collaborations & wikiprojects, but someone who has no GA's even can get through RfA & still make WP:100 or WP:200. That is hardly fair. I'm just very upset how the whole issue was handled & I don't really want to leave. But I guess I have no choice now as I didn't act accordingly towards the end & now I guess I have to sort of fall on my sword. Despite my uncivil behaviour, not all of this was my fault & the original problem wasn't anything to do with what really is making me leave. I love what you've done with this site & everything, but I don't think it is a very nice place to be sometimes & human nature creeps in far too often without any punishment. I know you've probabbly got a family of your own & probably don't care that another emotionally unstable editor is leaving, but I just thought you should know what your beautiful idea is becoming.... Thanks Jimbo if you've read this far... Spawn Man 09:24, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

Inappropriate picture

Hello Mr. Jimbo Wales. Before I begin, let me say that Wikipedia's absolutely amazing. It's a system where anyone can talk to the founder, Jimbo Wales, on his talk page! So, I have an issue that maybe you could give your opinion about. The discussion is about whether or not putting a real-life picture of a private human part would be appropriate in Wikipedia. I personally think that it should not because Wikipedia is for everyone. Yes, there can be articles about inappropriate contents, and even kids could read & learn about them, but there is no necessity for us Wikipedians to go any further than providing the objective knowledge. There are plenty of illustrations; there is no need to go any further than that. Don't you think so too?

Also I've seen users post "useful pictures" under galleries that they create & some of them were complete porn pics. When I suggested deletion (I forgot when & which pic), there was this huge backlash by several users with hopelessly & obviously stupid reasonings on how Wikipedia's this & how that's permitted.

This is the problem. Wikipedia's driven by the masses, and, although the Wikipedia policies are maintained vaguely so that it would not become too bureaucratic & limiting, people are shaping them to justify illegitimate acts. What do you think, Mr. Jimbo Wales? Happy editing! (Wikimachine 17:20, 10 February 2007 (UTC))

Financing of Wikipedia--are we at risk?

I just saw this:

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/11376

What is happening? Please let us know. - Denny 01:32, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

I highly doubt it. Wiki did a fundraiser not too long ago, and if they were seriously in trouble, I have to imagine they would just do another one. -- feb^talk 06:07, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

Fair enough, but it would be probably good for WMF to make a statement given this news story... - Denny 18:04, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

Your IMMEDIATE response is suggested

Recently a number of semi-news-reports were published online. According to them, the Chairwoman of Wikimedia's Board of Trustees, has leaked the news of an upcoming financial crisis of Wikimedia, which may lead to the closure of Wikipedia within 3 to 4 months:

• Wikipedia Could shut within 3-4 months: Wikimedia

• Wikipedia running out of cash this 2007?

• Wikipedia: Next on the Auction block?

• Wikipedia: On the brink? Or crying wolf?

• Wikipedia's Cash Crunch

These news and reports are spreading everywhere. This is rapidly growing into a worldwide fear, despite Wikipedia repeatedly stated that it will not be commercialised, and has just raised over $1m in the recent fund drive. I have turned the Wikimedia Foundation and Wikipedia's possible news channels upside-down but I am yet to find any official response related to this.

Being the "God-King" widely respected in the Wikipedia community, please consider making an official statement on the front page of Wikipedia / Wikimedia Foundation website, so that Wikipedians worldwide will understand what is actually happening and what is the true future of Wikipedia (and other Wikimedia projects) in your mind.

We are left completely in the dark, despite Wikipedia is supposingly to be a community which trust and transparency are crucial. The faith of every wikipedian is at risk as the fundamentals of Wikipedia is shaking. Is this what you want to sit back and watch it happen? --Computor 18:31, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

The traditional media is, as usual, completely on psychotic drugs. Florence made a perfectly sensible statement which was not interpreted by anyone in the room at that time as being alarmist at all. Wikipedia is not closing in 3 to 4 months, there is no "cash crunch". Her point was perfectly valid: if we do not continue to be creative in our fundraising efforts, and find new ways of getting the ever-larger sums of money it takes to run such a major operation, it is "not impossible" that Wikipedia could someday close. Well, of course. This is true in all cases.

There is no immediate crisis. Nothing is on the auction block. The board is not currently contemplating IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM any changes to the funding model for Wikipedia. We are all busting our asses to find the resources to keep this amazing thing going. And if I have anything to do with it, to my dying breath, we will. We will.--Jimbo Wales 03:20, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Question 2

Jimbo, as the founder of Wikipedia, you're here from the start. This means you've witnessed some important -in the pejorative sense, too- events, I suppose. So, I was doing the Wikipediholic test the other day and stumbled upon a question which decreased the score by a billion million points or so if the user was Willy on Wheels. I need to know, as I've been a user for two months or so, what did this vandal do and his page is deleted? I'd be grateful if you could answer me. --Orthologist 20:18, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

He did have a page, but it was deleted a few months ago after discussion on the administrator's noticeboard that it conflicted with WP:DENY. Essentially, he was a pagemove vandal who added 'ON WHEELS!!!' (or similar) to the end of pages. Hut 8.5 20:52, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

Here is Wikitruth's vandalism page that has some information on Willy on Wheels if you're interested. An editor has also written a Wikipedia Newgate Calendar that you might find helpful. Click here. At this point WoW is really just an inside joke anymore. — MichaelLinnear 22:01, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

When you say his page, I assume you mean his user page. It's not uncommon to delete banned users pages after a while there is no sensible reason to keep them. As above these days it's pretty much a generic term for any pagemove vandal. --pgk 16:15, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

I meant his Long term abuse page (Wikipedia:Long term abuse/Willy on Wheels) - it was actually deleted as a result of this MfD. Hut 8.5 16:46, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

About the motto...

Since you are the leader of the Wikimedia Foundation, I need to ask you about the motto.

“ Welcome to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. ”

There is a blocking policy, so this is the biggest load of crock I have ever seen (no offense). You need to change the motto. HyperSonicBoom 00:11, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Editing Wikipedia is a privilege, not a right. If the privilege is abused, it's taken away. Anyone can edit a page, as long as they aren't vandalizing it. PTO 00:47, 12 February 2007 (UTC) PTO 00:45, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

We could change it to "Welcome to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit at least once, and can continue to edit unless they prove themselves to be nincompoops"... but that is a little unwieldy. I think we should keep it as it is. -FisherQueen (Talk) 00:48, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

When compared to other resources like Britannica or Worldbook, yeah, we're very much the free encyclopedia that pretty much anybody can edit. That's the goal, the point, and pretty much always has been, as far as I can tell. This is almost like writing a letter to Folger's complaining that you do not, in fact, consider their coffee the best part of waking up, every morning. – Luna Santin (talk) 09:07, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

You can also interpret free as no cost to read the articles, something which is not present in many other online encyclopedias. Gizza^{Chat ©} 09:22, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

From Acalamari.

Dear Mr. Wales, I am Acalamari. I am posting this message here due to a "situation" that I am dealing with. I understand completely that I should contact other administrators, but I believe that I am better off telling you about my issue.

A user, Richardrushfield, says he is from the Los Angeles Times, and has provided information to prove it. He has been contacting users about a press inquiry. I believe he wishes to interview users about how what happens on Wikipedia when a celebrity dies, as he showed up when several other users and I were busy editing and removing vandalism from the Anna Nicole Smith article. He also wants to talk about how users protected (the protection, of course, was done by an administrator, but he doesn't seem to know that) and maintained the page directly after hearing the news of her death.

It's due to the fact that this situation involves the press that I decided to come to you, as you have dealt with the media. I have told this user to stop contacting other users about press inquiries for the moment, as I am unsure if his actions are legal on Wikipedia. I thought it was best to tell him that in order to avoid trouble.

I do hope I have not misused your talk page, sir. As I said, I came to you because I believed that you have the most experience at handling these situations. I respect your time, and I will be patient. Acalamari 17:56, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Sir, at an administrator's request, I posted this issue to AN/I. Here is the link for you to follow. Acalamari 18:27, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

• My apologies, sir, about this. I was unsure regarding your views or any policies you had against users dealing with the press. Since you have no problem with this issue, I will apologize to Richard Rushfield. I am also sorry to you for this inconvenience. Acalamari 19:02, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Fair-use replaceability guidelines

Could you look at WP:REFU and tell me what you think? We need "replaceability" to be defined as something other than "whatever an admin says it is". Another editor who was very much opposed to them because he thinks we should can all fair-use images just unilaterally declared it a rejected proposal; I was simply unsure how one went about getting it accepted as a guideline as I didn't think it was my place to just go and say it had achieved such status. The consensus on the talk page was generally favorable; however there hasn't been much discussion for the last month, which I assumed meant some sort of consensus had been reached. Daniel Case 03:48, 13 February 2007 (UTC)