[WikiEN-l] The Counter Vandalism Unit? Whaa?

Philip Welch wikipedia at philwelch.net
Fri Feb 3 20:36:09 UTC 2006


> On one end of the spectrum is the concept that any "non-authorized"
> edit is vandalism--that seems absurd for Wikipedia, but it's the
> standard at, say, Encyclopedia Britannica or a newspaper, the Nupedia
> project, etc.
>
> At the other end of the spectrum is that there is no such thing as
> vandalism, just edits that are less helpful than others.
>
> We should try to function as close to the latter end as possible.
>
> The very word "vandalism" I think is a somewhat false analogy, since
> there's no permanent damage in Wikipedia. It's just as easy, easier in
> fact, to remove unwanted edits than to add them. It's the exact
> reverse of, say, spraypainting a wall or scratching your name in a
> subway car window -- much easier to add than to remove.
>
> By creating the crime of vandalism we make people into criminals.
>
> By creating categories of good users we create categories of bad  
> users.
>
> By creating restrictions, rules, trials we create mechanisms for  
> conflict.

So what do you suggest we call it when someone blanks the featured  
article and overwrites it with "COCK COCK COCK COCK COCK FUCK ASS  
COCK GAY LOLWTFBBQ"?

-- 
Philip L. Welch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Philwelch






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