On 12/7/05, Jimmy Wales jwales@wikia.com wrote:
The Cunctator wrote:
What annoys me particularly is pretending that this is an experiment. It's not. It's a permanent policy change.
Who's willing to bet that I'm wrong?
I bet it is a permanent policy change because (a) it seems to be working quite well and (b) it is consistent with our commitment to remain open.
Okay, I'm trying really hard not to be very annoyed. As the person running the "experiment" Jimbo is not supposed to make prejudgements on the results while we're collecting data. But then, if we were all willing to admit it's not an experiment, I'd be much happier.
As for point (b), Jimbo also wrote:
That's rather a bit over the top, isn't it? Wikipedia is still completely open to everyone who is attempting to make a legitimate contribution.
"Completely open" means without *any* restrictions. Compelled registration is not "completely open". All of those newspaper websites that force you to register (for free) to read their articles are not "completely open".
Wikipedia has not been completely open for a long time -- the ability to move and delete articles has been pretty much always restricted.
I'm not saying this is necessarily bad (though I do have my opinions about it) but that it is untrue that Wikipedia is completely open.
Let me make a practical example: say I, a longtime user, want to create a new article but I'm not at my home computer. To do so I have to log in again; I have absolutely no memory of my password. Before Monday, I could still easily create the password. Now I have to have the system send me a new password, open up my email, enter the new password, and remember to change my settings at home with the new password. These are new hurdles that I may not want to go through, so no new article.