Wikipedia To Unlock Frequently Vandalized Pages 244
netbuzz writes "In an effort to encourage greater participation, Wikipedia, the self-described 'online encyclopedia that anyone can edit,' is turning to tighter editorial control as a substitute for simply 'locking' those entries that frequently attract mischief makers and ideologues. The new system, which will apply to a maximum of 2,000 most-vulnerable pages, is sure to create controversies of its own."
Re:Hypocrisy (Score:4, Interesting)
One can only make an honest attempt. For most topics, it should be possible to find an impartial editor. There may be some fringe topics where an impartial POV is impossible, but those topics aren't terribly important in the grand scheme of things.
I think it's a terrible idea. (Score:3, Interesting)
Even leaving aside the obvious entries on religion, abortion, evolution, etc... We also have to deal with viral marketing firms who, for example, kept editing the entry for the faux-dokumentary "The Fourth Kind" trying to make it seem real.
There are simply more people willing to discredit Wikipedia, not just the small percentage of the population who indulge in trolling behaviour for shits and giggles.
Re:Tools have improved for vandalism, screening wo (Score:3, Interesting)
The WikiProject model has a peer-review process. Just create a WikiProject for frequently-vandalized pages.
ironically, I just made a joke post [slashdot.org] to that effect, but now I realize it's the best course of action.
Oh really? Then... (Score:3, Interesting)
...which is the correct "neutral fact" regarding the recent Taliban act which took the life of a 7 year old boy for spying? They say they "punished" him, we say they "murdered" him. Who is correct?
How about a warning? (Score:5, Interesting)
Everybody knows Wikipedia is often very helpful, but occasionally can't be trusted. The problem is, Wikipedia doesn't seem to give feedback about *when* vandalism, non-neutrality, and other problems are likely. Of course it can happen anywhere, but for some pages, vandalism is an epidemic.
How about if the Wikipedia engine automatically identified pages with very high rates of reverted page edits, "vandalism" and other similar terms appearing in the history, rapidly growing Talk:: sections, and other signs of trouble, and came right out and said in a top-of-page banner: this page is rapidly changing, and may be unreliable.
This can be done mechanically, without having possibly biased editors to flag or protect pages, or to approve or disapprove changes. As a reader, if I know that the page I'm reading has been modified 20 times in the past week, with edits affecting 50% of the total text, most of which were reverted, I can form my own conclusion about its current reliability.
Whoa sparky, back up a little (Score:1, Interesting)
(note: not talking to you personally, just want to rant a little here)
Forget in the USA, this subject is Afghanistan, where the "death penalty", applied in public, videotaped, then to be enjoyed later by all the corporate and military snuff film freaks, is a daily occurrence to a lot of people, many of them innocent, and a lot of them killed by US and assorted other allied "heroes". Including children. Hideously ripped apart by expensive US corporate profits war machine materiel. Hey, it is enhancing shareholder value!
Dumbass brainwashed raggyhead with a rope killing a kid because his "superior" says to do it, or some videogamer complete psycho asshole with hands on joystick trigger "go ahead wounded guy with guts shot out, reach for something I can claim is a weapon" "Oh, he made a furtive gesture ratatatat HAHAHAHA! Got that sucker! Hahahaha! Oh look, some random car pulled up, trying to pick up wounded "terrorists", they must be terrorists, too, RATATATAT HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, some kids in there, well they shouldn't be kid terrorists then, too bad!"
Fucking double speak hypocrisy abounds here
Both sides suck the same near as I can tell, nutcase suicide bombers in some square, nutcase drone bomber video death freaks elsewhere, doesn't matter a bit really. Both sides are comprised of random and completely insane and dangerous psychotic murderers armed with whatever technology they can get their hands on, and fueled with similar "we are the good guys, the others are the bad guys, kill them painfully, and no matter if anyone "innocent" is closeby" brainwashing. Fucking idiot cultists, doesn't matter if they wear turbans or kevlar beanies, psychotic murdering cultist assholes who take orders from some alleged "superior", and if that means kids die, it happens, daily, and it is not rare at all. So who cares about geographical location, public executions are being "enjoyed" all the time still.
And just remember, these are the same psychos who come back and are now becoming all the newest "community policemen", because being a combat veteran mercenary puts you at the top of the list.
And I have no idea how to break this cycle other than whatever culture/nation you are in, STOP supporting the psycho killers, stop "following orders" to murder people, refuse to participate, and don't get brainwashed by your cult leaders, whether his name is muhammad, schlomo, johnson or whocares. Quit being a murdering tool.
Everyone should read "War is a Racket" by General Smedley Butler. Nails it, short and to the point. It completely exposes this blood cult profits at any cost nonsense. And that goes for any other folks as well, your "leaders" are lying jerks as well, stop being a tool for them, just say no. No, anyone "you" aren't the "chosen people" or the "master race" or "the good guys" and everyone else is inferior or the enemy or some infidel, that's complete bullshit that the world's various elite, your superiors, your elected politicians, your business leaders, your church leaders or other idealogical leaders brainwash you into believing and then following through on, including killing children for some reason, or with some excuse like "collateral damage" crap.
I believe in self defense. Most wars are 99.999% bullshit and have nothing to do with self defense, they are staged and run for profit of various kinds by the world's elite nutcases, so if you "follow" those idiots, sign up for their nutcase "cause", that just makes you a cheap expendable nutcase lackey, nothing more, and never a "hero". You aren't promoting any "peaceful religion" or "freedom" or "democracy" or "religious government" or anything else, just killing for someone else's profit and goals after they feed you some utter rubbish they get you to "believe in". Like I said, stop being a cult member.
WW2? A few hundred tops globally big corporate execs, politicians and bankers and assorted other cult leaders started it. Everyone else got to suffer for a few hundred complete assholes. Millions "followed th
Re:Hypocrisy (Score:3, Interesting)
Talk to an OB sometime. People are all talk - when presented with an abnormal fetus, it's an odd few who will opt not to abort.
And I have absolutely no data, but a strong suspicion that a typical pro-lifer would have a really strong temptation to take that morning after pill offered by rape counselors.
I file it all under the human tendency to tell others what to do, while exempting oneself from said edict. Reality is one cold mo-fo.