On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 13:32:27 -0500, Mark Pellegrini mapellegrini@comcast.net wrote:
After seeing what some people have said WRT other major media orgainzations doing April Fools hoaxes (the NYT and BBC) I've softened my position a bit. I'll go along with it if Mav does -- I'm still wary of putting a hoax article up, but as long as it is subtly marked as such, I'm OK with it (someone suggested putting it up as 'Today's featured [[nihilartikle]]")
Seems the consensus on Talk:FAC is to have the European Toilet Paper Holder be the April 1 article. Personally, the idea of planned disinformation in Wikipedia gives me the creeps (I'm with Mav and Raul), but if it's time limited, it could be tolerated.
HOWEVER, I would beg folks not to make it "subtly marked" but rather *obviously marked* at the end.
An April Fools joke is only fun when you can blame the reader for missing an obvious doozie that gives it away. Right now, it does not have such a kicker or punchline to let people in on the secret. If we do not, it would amount to devious and malicious intent, which would do a disservice to Wikipedia's reputation.
As an aside, the EPTH article takes way too long to get to the joke.
{{spoiler}} Other media outlets do partake of this tradition. Scientific American did a piece this year for April 2005, and at the end they made it very clear at the end of the piece by saying they'll start something "April 1." If you want to see it: http://tinyurl.com/3kf3e. Otherwise, don't.
-Andrew (User:Fuzheado)
PS: /me goes to add the obligatory, "But of course, the Chinese invented it first" line to the EPTH article, regardless of whether I believe it being a FA
I'd also like to hear Jimbo weigh in on this.
--Mark
WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l