On Mon, 5 Nov 2001, Jimmy Wales wrote:
I think it is not co-operative of you to suggest that he's "unwilling to admit". :-) Let's assume that I did it, by sheer accident, and let's accept my apology for any pain that I have caused, and let's all move on. I will help to restore the pages.
I agree with this analysis of the situation.
I'll compose a (publicly-editable, of course) page about what basic policies we will follow in deleting pages permanently.
Frankly, the last two weeks have been unusually unpleasant for me, and this situation must stop. My continuing to add, indeed, detailed replies does nothing but continue the unpleasantness, so I'm going to issue the following blanket apology:
I'm *truly* sorry for any unjustified contribution I have made to the flame-ridden atmosphere of Wikipedia in recent weeks, and I fully acknowledge that there are a number of issues that I could have handled more diplomatically, tactfully, and with greater friendliness and good will.
In the future I will try to do better in all respects; being a fallible human, however, I can guarantee that I will make mistakes.
Larry Sanger