On 7/12/06, Andrew Gray shimgray@gmail.com wrote:
On 12/07/06, Jimmy Wales jwales@wikia.com wrote:
Andrew Gray wrote:
There are times that I think adopting the rule jp.wiki has on biographies would be a damn good idea...
AH!!!!! Please tell us! I love cross-cultural wikipedia differences.
[[en:Japanese Wikipedia]]
Basically, if you're not a "public figure" (which seems to be defined quite narrowly - perhaps in a similar way to the Western defamation definition?), *you don't get named* at all, much less have an article on you. I'm not a public figure. Angela's not a public figure. Daniel Brandt's not a public figure. You probably are, and so's Xeni, but there's the cutoff, I guess.
I'd say Wikipedia definitely shouldn't have an article on a person who isn't a public figure, or at least a "limited public figure". But then again, I'd think (though IANAL) that Angela does qualify as at least a limited public figure in the context of her work on Wikimedia, a public charity. By voluntarily choosing to become a board member, Angela put herself into the public spotlight. Her resignation doesn't negate that, at least not for the story of Angela which takes place up until her resignation is effective.
Of course, maybe I just have no clue what it means to be a "public figure". I'd welcome any correction on this matter, either in the form of citations of legal decisions or in the form of expert opinions.
Anthony