As a courtesy to the user who sent this to me, I have anonymized it. I suspect that you can all guess who it is anyway.

I suppose if Matthias Schindler is an "old leader of STASI" who "took over the leadership" I suppose he should admit it now. ;-)

(For the record, I of course find the accusation preposterous. I met Matthias in Berlin, and he was one of my absolute favorites, politically Green I believe, and a tad on the young side to have been a major figure in the East German security appraratus, ha ha.)

Still, of course, if my correspondent has legitimate concerns about the neutrality of some articles, we should of course engage in a process of self-examination to see how we might improve.

--Jimbo

----- Forwarded message from <> -----

From: <> Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 16:32:37 -0400 To: jwales@bomis.com Subject: Problem at Wikipedia in Germany

jwales@bomis.com

Dear Mr. Wales,

I am a German Physicist and new at Wikipedia. I find your idea brilliant and very useful. I see the chance that - one time in the future - quasi the entire knowledge of mankind will be collected in Wikipedia and from everybody on this planet access able.

In the German part exist a growing problem and I was ask by several Germans to speak about it with you. I do this, because I want help and prevent that it become a public problem in Germany.

You know that there was a divided Germany with extremely different views of things which fight with each other - now in Wikipedia with growing intensity that the system is overstretched and a "meltdown" is on the horizon. Articles over the former secret police etc are under constant attack, normal discussions are not more possible. There are too many erasers at work.. The administrators s are quasi all on the site of the secret police - the STASI, all others are intimidated, what is the reason that a self regulation doesn't work any more.

I want not criticize but help to solve this problem. If you interested You can count on my cooperation.

Perhaps there could help a change in the software that not everybody can erase new articles in seconds that nobody can even see them - and in addition block his victim. Victims of the secret police have - in this way - no excess to Wikipedia.

The software may work in a free country, but Germany is not a free country.

Sincerely

<name omitted>

7/31/04

Dear Mr. Wales,

I am still concerned about an upcoming scandal in German newspapers about the German Wikipedia, which is now in the firm grip of the STASI.

You could still avoid it by making the right decisions right now.

In Germany it is common procedure to scan every official of his Stasi connections. You could do the same thing and ask the BStU in Berlin or directly the CIA, who has also the names.

Rumor has it that the Admin Mr. *Mathias Schindler* is an old member of the STASI and took over the leadership. He introduced a strong Communist Censorship.

He answers complains with an immediate banning of the complaining party.

You should really do something about it. I don't want that Wikipedia will com in a bad light in public. I know that it is an unpleasant thing, but it will get worse, if you wait.

Sincerely

<name omitted>