On 2/12/06, Gordon Joly gordon.joly@pobox.com wrote:
I have started a few wikis (using Mediawiki, and kept up to date) and I have found that we are being spammed, about once every ten days. Usually links to drug (pharmaceuticals) sales sites in hidden text. These wikis are very low traffic but are linked from Metawiki at:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Sites_using_MediaWiki
I have also noticed a wiki that has been set up and the WikiSysop has no idea how to actually build content in the site. So, what does he get? Spam! No content, nothing. Just spam.
It would seem WikiSysops should be made aware of their responsibilities, when Mediawiki software is installed. Should theyt have to pass a test? It is great that installation is so easy, but that lowers the threshold of a potential WikiSysop admin to be verging on the almost clueless.
This is like saying that before a person is allowed to install vBulletin on their site, they need to take a test to make sure they know which kinds of users should be banned and what kind of forums should be made. You can't force people to take a test to use software, they can use it however they see fit, whether they have a clue or not.
-- Jay Converse I'm not stupid, just selectively ignorant.