On 24/02/2008, Chris Howie cdhowie@gmail.com wrote:
On Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 9:33 AM, geni geniice@gmail.com wrote:
On 24/02/2008, Chris Howie cdhowie@gmail.com wrote:
I love how Jimbo's absolute control over Wikipedia is brought up time after time in the same paragraph. Uhm, he founded the thing and chairs the organization that is responsible for it. Duh.
Chair of the Board is currently Florence Nibart-Devouard,
That's what I get for not doing my research. I take it he is still in some pretty prominent position, though.
on 2/24/08 9:45 AM, David Gerard at dgerard@gmail.com wrote:
He's on the board, though not in any particular job. He has social and reputational status as the founder, and a large part of his work for Wikipedia is doing tons of press, which he does a great job at (just as well really) - for press purposes he is Mr Wikipedia, never mind the day to day realities.
He also has, separately from his Board role, the final smackdown on en:wp, which he almost never uses (it's delegated to the Arbitration Committee because Jimbo doesn't scale) and which causes great arguments every time he does.
I find myself amazed at how outsiders think Jimbo has absolute power at Wikipedia, when if he said the sky was blue lots of people would disagree almost by reflex ... and then it's down to his powers of persuasion, same as if any of us want to convince people of something. I suppose he has a lot more ears listening to him.
David,
Is it possible for you to stop constantly speaking for Jimmy Wales as though you were his press agent? I believe he has a voice of his own, and the ability to type.
Marc Riddell