[WikiEN-l] No Ethics, we do what we please, no warring, we always will win

[Thommandel at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/20/2006 2:01:33 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
jkelly at fas.harvard.edu writes:

While  we're engaging in this critique of Danny's response, it might make 
sense
to  ask whether or not Danny, and the other office people, are aware that  
there
exists some large segment of the admin population who regard it as  routine to
undo other admin actions without discussion because they were  "out of 
process",
or "obviously wrong", or  whatever. 


I am not a admin, or even a Wikipedian for that matter.  I am one of  those 
never mentioned "wikireaders"  who noticed error and inconsistency in  the 
plasma cosmology article. I have tried to edit the plasma cosmology page but  have 
run into an admin and his two partners who interestingly enough are big  bang 
supporters. In other words they support theory A, but also edit Theory B  
such that Theory B supports theory A. 
I asked this list about ethics.  The first reply was "Assuming he is a  good 
wikipedian, he can do what he damn well pleases." 
 
Personally, I believe that the comment on the front page stating that  anyone 
can edit wikipedia is false advertisement. I did not find that to be the  
case. What I found was that only copy that is approved by the admin and his  
helpers will remain in the article. 
 
There are no ethics in Wikiworld. Ethics to the Wikipedian is whatever we  
damn well please? 
 
Now I read about a Wikipedian who done as much as anyone but yet was  banned 
forever for reverting an action of a fellow admin.  In the real  world that 
would be called Guilty until proven innocent and is in violation of  every 
principle America was founded on. Indeed, we spend trillions of dollars  fighting 
those countries where the accused is guilty until he proves himself  innocent.  
 
Again I am not involved as an admin, I am a reader who cannot stand idly by  
while an article in the Wikipedia is obviously slanted toward the opposing  
view.  It is clear to me however, that my quest is futile, Wikipedia is not  
edited by the people, it is run by the admin, who take data given by the people  
and tell the story their way.  I see things going on that are illegal in  the 
real world.  The admins, I suppose, are run by the office, which can  take 
secret action without a hearing against anyone. 
 
If they can do that to a seasoned contributor, imagine what is going on  with 
people like me, who just want to add a few things. Not a chance.  I  don't 
have any suggestions for change, it is far too late for that.  But  Wikipedians 
really should step back and look at what they are really  doing.  "We, here in 
Wikiland, do not allow warring, therefore, when it  comes to that, take 
notice that we win, you lose, or else you will be banished  forever." 
 
It was, in principle, a good idea though...
 
tommy mandel