[WikiEN-l] Re: alleged improper block of Tteexx

[Daniel P.B.Smith]

> Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2005 17:30:43 -0900
> From: Stewart Pederson <stewped at gmail.com>
> Subject: [WikiEN-l] Illegally Blocked user: Tteexx
>
> Dear Wikipedia Folks,
>
> I have been blocked for editing my article, and continuing to add
> information.  The article is currently a VfD candidate and the
> democratic process has been occuring until today.  The apparent reason
> for my block was that Neutrality assumes I am using multiple accounts?
>  Or is it that he thinks my article is a hoax?  He also mentions the
> use of self-made images.  These images are related to the article and
> it shouldn't matter that I created them.  The information being
> presented is brand new research and though it may be deemed that it
> does not deserve a place on Wikipedia, I feel its unfair to block me,
> remove all images, and attempt to discredit me before the democratic
> process has completed.
>
> Furthermore, the block policy states, "Use of blocks to gain advantage
> in a content dispute...", and since this is the only article that I
> have been editing, it would seem that this clearly is the case.  If
> you don't like the research, vote the delete it.  If you like it, vote
> to keep it.  Don't censor me from attempting to bring in other sources
> that help the article.
>
> I have e-mailed Neutrality about this situation, and have yet to see a
> reply.  I would appreciate a valid reason with proof instead of
> assuming that all keep votes were done by me.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Stewart Pederson

Those interested in this matter should make a point of reading the 
article itself, which for some reason this correspondent does not 
mention. The article is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yopu , and the 
VfD discussion is at 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Votes_for_deletion/Yopu .

The article, about an alleged Tibetan legend, says in part that "the 
royal family decreed that human excrement was no longer to be used for 
the fertilization of rice. This was done to ensure that no member of 
royalty ever had to eat peasant poo." This created dissatisfaction, and 
Yopu become the leader of the "Pu Rebellion."

Pressed to provide verifiable evidence that the legend exists, the 
contributor responded with a single citation:

Lewinski and Manes. "Legends of Rural Tibet." The Journal of 
Asian/Diasporic and Aboriginal Literature. 
http://www.kuixing.panopticonasia.com/fall04/yopu.html. Fall 2004.

The URL yields a "404 not found." The site and the 115 messages in the 
associated Yahoo group contain no references to Yopu, Lewinski, or 
Manes. Although one portion of the site does refer to a first issue 
being planned for "Spring 2004," another states that "The first of the 
twice-yearly issues of Kui Xing will be available, conditions 
permitting, in Spring 2005."

As I write this, if unsigned votes from anons are ignored, VfD is 
currently running about 16 deletes, one "keep," and one "weak Keep, 
until it is proven beyond doubt that it's a hoax." There are also about 
eight "keeps," all posted from IP addresses with no previous edits and 
all recognizably similar in style.

--
Daniel P. B. Smith, dpbsmith at verizon.net