[Foundation-l] Has Wikipedia changed since 2005?

[Omer Admani]

Yes, surely, this makes sense.

On Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 4:32 PM, Andreas Kolbe <jayen466 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> > This suggests the problem is: how do you *get across to*
> > someone that
> > they're just ignorant, in a manner that is duplicable
> > across the wiki,
> > and do that without breaking our spectacular successes so
> > far?
>
>
> Well, one way is to make clear to our editors that we expect them to make a
> bit of an effort to research the existing scholarly literature. (And that
> they should do so first before arguing with people who have completed that
> step already.)
>
> However, that idea does encounter resistance. I am reminded that I proposed
> as much once, a good few years ago. I started a talk page discussion, and we
> made some changes and additions (some of which are still in the guideline
> today).
>
> One change which didn't make it was the addition of this sentence:
>
> "A review of the existing scholarly literature should be the first step in
> starting work on an article."
>
> The way the sentence was edit-warred out of the guideline is quite funny,
> in hindsight. It was removed a day later, with the edit summary:
>
> "Rm sentence that runs counter to policy."
>
> Another editor put it back in, slightly changed, so it now said:
>
> "A review of the existing scholarly literature *is recommended before*
> starting work on an article."
>
> Half an hour later, that was taken out as well, edit summary:
>
> "Asking the general public to become familiar with scholarly literature
> (which does not exist for all subjects) prior to editing places an
> unrealistic burden upon would-be editors. Where’s the policy?"
>
> I added it one more time, and it was taken out again and described as
> "nonsense".
>
> You get what you pay for.
>
> Andreas
>
>
>
>
>
>
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