[WikiEN-l] Re: [Foundation-l] Most read US newpaper blasts Wikipedia

[sockmonk at gmail.com]

On 11/30/05, Keith Old <keithold at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> We should look again at allowing anonymous edits, This seems to have been
> the root of the problem.
>
> Blogs and webforums have more rigorous requirements to leave remarks than
> we
> do. I acknowledge that most anonymous editors contribute in good faith but
> many do not.
> Further, the cost of cleaning up after the ones who do not detracts from
> the
> main work of writing the encyclopedia. I am not calling for credentialism
> but registering as a user.
>
> It also means that many users are blocked for 24 hours as a result of
> sharing an IP with a vandal. I had to change my ISP last year because of
> vandalism from someone else. We also have had rogue registered users but
> at
> least we have procedures to deal with those.
>
> Further, the anonymous nature of the edits means that many edits are
> unfairly discounted because people can't be sure of the value of the
> edits.
> As a volunteer of the help desk, I am aware of at least two professors who
> have tried to edit but have had their edits removed. That may have been
> fair
> enough in one case but the point remains. A point made by Professor X
> carries much more weight than a point made by IP 123.xx.
>
> A similar problem occurs with copyvios. On a couple of occasions, people
> have uploaded material from their personal webpages which have been speedy
> deleted as copyvios. If they were identified, there would have been a
> greater chance that their right would have been recognised.
>
> We need to do a cost/benefit analysis showing what we gain from allowing
> anonymous edits compared to the losses of cleaning up vandalism from
> anonymous edits.
>
> Regards
>
>
> Keith Old
>
> Keith Old
> User:Capitalistroadster
>

I wholeheartedly agree. I think allowing anonymous edits causes more
problems than it solves. Registering is easy, and should not be a big
deterrent to anyone for any reason I can think of. While I'm sure there are
benefits, as Keith said they have to be seriously weighed against the
disadvantages.

--
User:Wesley