On May 27, 2006, at 9:06 AM, Raphael Wegmann wrote:
Rgulerdems main accusation has been to create sock-puppets to give the wrong impression, that his position is the position of the majority, respectively to circumvent the 3RR.
Now, if Rgulerdem did not create sock-puppets, but instead invited other editors, who happen to share his position, the accusations are null and void.
No. It's not. The question, when deciding on *Wikipedia policy* is the position of the majority *of established Wikipedians* - Not the position of the majority of anyone, previously involved with Wikipedia or not. Bringing in friends who have no previous association with Wikipedia to attempt to sway the outcome of a dispute is frowned upon, and a just reason for being escorted out the door.
While encouraging your friends to join Wikipedia is fine, and even encouraged, have the courtesy and sense to ask such friends to *contribute to Wikipedia* for a while *before* getting into policy (or for that matter, content) disputes that the person who told them about Wikipedia was already involved in. This is not too hard, this is not unfair. This is simple courtesy and respect for the community.
Jesse Weinstein