Of course we have a responsibility to the web. we are writing an
encyclopedia for use. Though I know this may come as a foreign idea to
some wikipedians, we're not a computer game, but a practical project.
Our users are broadly defined as anyone commercial or non commercial
who wants a ready reference source of general information in the web
context.
The web context we work in is aware of other browsers and other web
services. We arent making a new system from scratch, we work in that
environment, and we need to pay attention to how we are used and we
need to have respect for those who depend upon us. No large
information system on the web can operate in isolation from google.
why this is so, and whether this should be so are separate questions,
but as it is we operate as part of the present system. Wherever WP is
situated conceptually or practically, it's not on an ivory tower.
--
David Goodman, Ph.D, M.L.S.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:DGG