Steve Bennett wrote:
On 3/12/07, Erik Moeller erik@wikimedia.org wrote:
Indeed, we should caution against a positive/negative system with visible metrics. What I propose is structured, positive-only social commentary that is not transaction-driven but relationship-driven and is not evaluated numerically.
What problem are we trying to solve exactly?
Problem: Magazine interviews Wikipedia editor and believes his falsely claimed credentials. Solution: Caution media to check any credentials claimed by Wikipedia editors.
Well, there is also the problem of a Wikipedia administrator writing to professors as a fellow professor. That was pretty bad in my mind, and could have also led to a public black eye even if the media had checked credentials.
For completeness, some also see using false credentials in an editing dispute as a problem. Personally, I haven't yet seen a case where it actually ended up harming the articles.
William