On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 2:05 PM, Erik Moeller erik@wikimedia.org wrote:
2009/1/11 Anthony wikimail@inbox.org:
That may have been the intention of the author of the GFDL (though you haven't proven this). But the simple fact of the matter is that the
history
section *does* provide credit to *all* the authors.
It does so, in the context of Wikipedia.org, because change tracking and attribution are served by the same software function. That a listing of all authors would always be included directly (as opposed to by reference) with any copy of a Wikipedia article is not a reasonable inference from this fact, especially given that the language in GFDL which clearly exists for purpose of giving credit includes reasonable limitations (principal authors).
I fail to see how you can follow the GFDL without crediting all authors.
After all, even
you yourself agree that including the full change history with each copy is overkill.
I don't think you understand what I meant by that. I don't think the GFDL should require including a full change history, but I do think it should require every author to be credited directly in the document, and it should ensure that these authors are credited in a way that they are not considered responsible for modifications made by others.
Hence, we are having a practical debate about what is and isn't
reasonable. I base my argument on the language of the GFDL when it comes to author credit, which includes limitations, as well as established guidelines and practices on Wikipedia.
Why?
Your argument, on the other hand, appears to be pulled out of thin air.
I assure you that the concept of the right to attribution is not something I pulled out of thin air.
It is neither a
direct requirement of the GFDL, nor an established practice, nor a reasonable expectation of a volunteer contributor. I can only conclude that it is your personal preference.
It most certainly is a requirement of the GFDL (not sure what your weasel-word of "direct" is supposed to mean). It most certainly is an established practice (it's part of the Berne Convention, though it's a part which the United States has failed to implement). And it most certainly is a reasonable expectation of a volunteer contribution (plagiarism is a violation of a natural right which even a five-year old would recognize).