[Textbook-l] Problem with NPOV

[Andrew Whitworth]

I'm not saying that I want Jimbo to mandate a definition to us, but I also 
don't want him making generalized statements of what "does and does not 
belong" on wikibooks if there is no formal policy to back such statements 
up. If he wants the world to know that material on wikibooks must follow 
such and such criteria, then that criteria should be laid out unambiguously 
in policy. There currently is no policy, ergo we cannot be expected to know 
unambiguously what does and does not belong on our project. We do need to 
"pick through" such matters, and the outcome might not always be what Jimbo 
or the foundation wants.

--Andrew Whitwort


>From: "Brianna Laugher" <brianna.laugher at gmail.com>
>Reply-To: Wikimedia textbook discussion <textbook-l at wikimedia.org>
>To: "Wikimedia textbook discussion" <textbook-l at wikimedia.org>
>Subject: Re: [Textbook-l] Problem with NPOV
>Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 15:23:48 +1000
>
>On 11/09/06, Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Jimbo: If you want us to use a specific defintion of "textbook" and
> > "accredited institution", then you are going to have to mandate such
> > definitions to us. At the moment we are picking our way through such
> > matters, with varying degrees of success.
>
>It is my observation that TPTB is very reluctant to offer such
>definitions or mandates, even when requested. "Picking our way through
>such matters with varying degrees of success" -- it seems to be the
>wiki way. Try just making your own definitions (as a project), and I
>guess you'll find out if you've been too WP:BOLD if you notice some
>personal interventions after that. :)
>
>It doesn't seem ideal, but I guess I can understand why they're
>reluctant to define such things. Then the criticism of such things
>also falls to them. The people who are actually running the project
>should take control of its direction at some stage... although
>mandates would make life so easy.
>
>cheers
>Brianna
>user:pfctdayelise
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