On Feb 9, 2008 10:47 PM, Prasad J <prasad59(a)gmail.com> wrote:
1) Wikipedia is not the sole custodian of "free
speech", and indeed a
bunch of computer geeks posting (allegedly) inflammatory pictures on
the internet is going to do very little to establish a Utopian
e-Paradise replete with such lofty ideals as "free speech, liberty and
equality", the benefits of which would be apparent to anyone (Muslim
or otherwise) who has passed middle school history.
We are not the sole custodians, but our goal is to write a free
content encyclopedia. Therefore we will be exercising free speech to
achieve that end.
I don't think any Wikipedian involved in this dispute thinks they are
the last hope for free speech. But that doesn't mean we are going to
cave in to demands that we stop using free speech to do what we're
trying to do. To us, free speech is a tool, not an end in itself.
2) I very serious doubt whether even the most
fanatical Muslim would
go through the trouble and expense of organising and executing a
real-life attack on said bunch of computer geeks. Indeed the most
realistic fallout of your newfound love for speech would be a beating
to Wikipedia's credibility.
How would Wikipedia's credibility be called into question by refusing
to remove relevant, sourced images because of the demands of a
religious group? Maybe our *sensitivity* would be called into
question by the more liberal media, but since when are encyclopedias
supposed to be sensitive?
Also, you seem to be using "computer geeks" in a derogatory manner.
May I remind you that these "computer geeks" are the only reason
Wikipedia even exists in the first place?
3) In conclusion I would very sincerely suggest that
you delete the
said image and encourage the press to run a story on page 19 about
autofellatio.jpg, Tentacle_rape and God_Hates_Fags to enlighten the
world to how sincerely you value WP:NOCENSOR, WP:NPOV and WP:ETC ETC.
All of the cited images are perfectly legitimate within the context of
their respective articles -- they would be deleted otherwise. If
you're looking up autofellatio, don't be surprised to find an
illustration.
If the popular media has a problem with explicit images on articles
about explicit topics... I mean come on. The press may be foolish at
times, but they're not *that* stupid.
--
Chris Howie
http://www.chrishowie.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Crazycomputers