[Foundation-l] Answers.com and Wikimedia Foundation to Form New Partnership

[Jimmy Wales]

Dori wrote:
> Let's not get angry over this. I trust Mav and I think he's being
> doing a great job, and I'm certainly appreciative of his efforts. I
> just don't think we should go the advertising route as once you come
> to rely on it you're screwed.  I'd hate to see Wikipedia (and to tell
> the truth I don't think the rest of the projects are going to get
> anywhere anytime soon) degenerate into ads just to stay alive. I'd
> much rather see it become read-only most of the time, and only allow
> editing like a random hour each day if necessary.

My view is the exact opposite.  I have set for myself a single pure and
simple goal in life: to distribute a free encyclopedia to every single
person on the planet.  I think this requires a very very thoughtful and
careful approach, but I will not see the project destroyed on the
grounds of anti-commercialism.

This is _not_ to say that we will go down any path towards advertising
on the site.  I have always said, and continue to say, that decision
will come from the community, not from me.

I think people need to have a little bit of a reality check.  We already
have a tools page.  On that page, we will put a link to this particular
tool.  This particular tool will earn revenue for the foundation.
Spinning this as come kind of horrible commercialization is just...
well, a bit baffling to be honest.

--Jimbo