--- On Mon, 7/2/11, Fred Bauder <fredbaud(a)fairpoint.net> wrote:
I doubt he will leave, but he was certainly in need of
some
feedback.
You were right there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Timneu22&diff=prev&…
I did think the incident would have left less of an impression on *him*. ;)
Feedback mechanisms are essential to the functioning
of any
complex system.
Feedback mechanisms only work if feedback is actually received; there is often
little evidence of that.
On a different, but not completely unrelated issue, how do women editors feel
about illustrations like those used here (Warning - not safe for viewing at work):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogtie_bondage
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukkake
In my experience, any attempt to argue for editorial restraint in illustrating
pages like this (e.g., using just *one* image, and leaving the rest to a Commons
link) runs into a [[WP:NOTCENSORED]] brickwall. Female editors (with one
exception I believe, who has run into this brickwall repeatedly to no effect,
and at some cost to herself) are rarely participants in such discussions.
I am fairly certain that a demographically balanced pool of editors would
come to a very different consensus than the one presently supported at these
and similar pages.
Now one might argue that the majority of women readers and contributors are
unlikely to visit these pages, and that therefore their look will not adversely
affect their willingness to participate in Wikipedia. On the other hand, if viewed
as an expression of prevailing Wikipedia demographics and community norms, they may
also be seen as a reflection of an entrenched male-dominated culture that is
confident in its ability to nullify and discount any challenge to its standards
as illegitimate, and in conflict with project goals.
I think women editors need to do more to challenge this culture. Such an effort
in itself, leading by example, might bring more female editors on board, and also
get some male editors to reflect on their own assumptions. Perhaps a WikiProject
or work group would be in order. Feminist action was necessary to effect change
in society, to get people to stop and think, and I believe we need a little of
that in Wikipedia as well. Males will not drop it by themselves, and it is
not actually good for them to remain unchallenged on such issues.
Thoughts?
Andreas