On 4/23/06, Andre Engels andreengels@gmail.com wrote:
I personally would not object to advertisement, as long as it's not intrusive (popups, flashing, pushing a significant portion of the article away from first page, etc.) and editorial independence is safeguarded. However, I do know that there also exist Wikipedia editors who do fiercely oppose it, and we might simply lose some of them.
No one who isn't some profit all costs would want that. Look at mediawiki sites like wikia.com to see how advertising can be integrated into mediawiki without being obnoxious.
Having said that, I see some practical difficulty with your proposal. Would anonymous visitors and people who have not changed their settings see the advertisements? If yes (opt-out system), then I fear that the abovementioned people will still have the same strong objections. If no (opt-in system), then I doubt whether the amount of money generated by such advertising would be worth the trouble taken.
It isn't an opt in systems if anons get it by default. I'd propose a fully opt in system for two strong reasons:
1) We can be reasonably confident that an opt-in system will not have a substantial negative impact on the normal flow of donations. 2) It's the only solution which isn't likely to enrage some people.
There may be a place in the world for opt-out advertising, but it's a fundamentally different issue.
As said before, I personally think some simple advertisement would be a good way to raise some money, but I also know there is quite some resistance in the community about it. Or rather, there was such resistance a few years ago. Of course attitudes may have changed since then.
There is a lot of resistance, for some good reasons and for some bad reasons. The absolutely enormous income possible from advertising could have a tremendous impact, it could allow positive development unparalleled in the world of free content... but it could also create a shift away from our most honorable goals. I think people are right to fear it.
But just because site wide, always on, reader impacting, advertisements carry risks we find unacceptable, that doesn't mean we must avoid minor things like opt-ins advertising for editors.
It's like the cafepress shop... doesn't bring in much money, but it doesn't hurt either.. an no one seems to be leaving over it.