When recruiting for youth groups, I remember being told very explicitly to avoid speaking negatively about competing groups during presentations, given the risk that potential members (or their parents) would find the attitude off-putting. I think a similar concept might apply to encyclopedias -- as a reader, I'm in it for the entries, not the chest pounding.
I think we'd do well to bear that in mind, when it comes to public image and especially with regard to the presentation of content.
That's not to say I think we do a bad job of it. Just prattling on.
-Luna