On 8/22/06, Kelly Martin <kelly.lynn.martin(a)gmail.com> wrote:
I'd just as soon block the PR firms entirely.
Maybe once they get some
semblance of a clue, but for now virtually every edit I've seen come
from a PR firm has been crap.
Of course... That takes us back to the "then they well just operate in
secret" argument.
I guess my counter is: We already have PR firms operating in secret.
If we can't deal with secret POV pushing PR firms who can afford to
learn the processes schmmoze our editors, then we've already lost.
If we can deal with them acting in secret, then there is no reason for
us to pretend that you are welcome.
I should bring up that when people come back in secret to edit after
we have forbidden them from editing they are committing a crime. Are
we honestly discussing how best to accommodate criminals here?
If we are not able to instill in the hearts and minds of the public
that vandalizing Wikipedia is no more savory than spray painting the
side of your local library, or using Wikipedia to advertise is no more
acceptable than sticking ads in the libraries books then we will
continue to find ourselves the victims of the worst aspects of human
nature.
I believe our experience has shown that people today do behave
respectfully with Wikipedia. Average folks are no more likely to
vandalize wikipedia then they are likely to key a strangers car. But
that respect starts with us respecting ourselves... few people would
feel too bad about peeing on a heap of garbage.
So we must always take a public stand to protect Wikipedias integrity
even when we know our measures are ineffective against a real bad-guy.
Saying NO to the misuse of Wikipedia as a tool to distribute
advertising and other biased information is an important part of that
stand.
Like many things our rules in this regard should represent a constant
effort to work towards a goal. Just as all the Wikipedias contain
copyright violations although we forbid them, all will contain some
advertising. Our current inability to achieve perfection is no
excuse to discontinue fighting the good fight.