[WikiEN-l] Analysis of the politics of "Brandt unblocked by Jimbo"

[Brock Weller]

Oh please. Jimbo's always been rather forthright in his comments about
things like trolling and people being dumb in general. This is par for the
course, why-we-love-him Jimbo, no nerve struck. The clue-by-four was used
for some smacking, thats all.

On 4/21/07, gjzilla at gmail.com <gjzilla at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On 4/21/07, Jimmy Wales <jwales at wikia.com> wrote:
> > Seth, please stop trolling.  You have not the least clue what you are
> > talking about, and you are simply making an ass of yourself.
> >
> > --Jimbo
> >
> > Seth Finkelstein wrote:
> > >       Let me disclaim that I'm not a lawyer, I have no insider
> > > information, and I could simply be talking through my beard. So take
> the
> > > following for what it's worth. That being said, here's my analysis:
> > >
> > >       Don't stress over it! This is what's called "going through the
> > > motions", or recently, "Kabuki". Both sides want to appear willing to
> > > compromise, and to portray the other as intransigent. Here is what I
> > > conjecture will happen - something along these lines: Brandt will make
> > > edits to his bio that some Wikipedians will find objectionable. Flame
> > > war ensues. Brandt will collect evidence to support a claim that
> > > Wikipedians are a bunch of anonymous harassers. Admins will collect
> > > evidence to support a claim that Brandt is an unreasonable
> unclean-hands
> > > vexatious litigant. The next move is that after this has gone on for a
> > > while, Jimbo will *PERSONALLY* REBLOCK Brandt, positioning his
> > > ultra-popular, media-connected, well-supported, many lawyer-friends,
> > > self as the primary personal defendant for any lawsuit. This is
> > > amenable to Brandt, since he wants to sue Jimbo personally, not some
> > > front-man. Then stay tuned ...
> > >
> > >       I'm not saying this has been worked out in advance in a
> > > collusive fashion. But rather that each side knows what the other
> > > wants, and they've reached a game-theoretic "consensus" over it. So
> sit
> > > back for the movie, and don't waste your energy over feeling betrayed
> > > by the politics of it (you haven't really been betrayed anyway). See
> > > if I'm right.
> > >
> > >       The situation is now out of the hands of anyone but the
> > > top players (Sadly, Wikipedia is *not* yours - whatever locutions
> > > are employed, to a first approximation, it *belongs* to Jimbo and Co.)
> > >
> > >       Let me pre-emptively try to deal with Attack Of The Strawmen:
> > >
> > > 1) Does Jimbo want Brandt to sue?
> > >
> > >       No, of course not - "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner
> > > that repenteth ...". Nothing would make him (Jimbo) happier here for
> > > Brandt to see the glorious light of the Wikipedia-way and join in free
> > > labor harmony for the greaterment of all Wikiality. But it's not going
> > > to happen, and that's bloody obvious.
> > >
> > > 2) Are you claiming there's a backroom deal? I assure you not!
> > >
> > >       See above point about each side understanding the other.
> > >
> > > 3) But Brandt has been such a bad guy, how can Jimbo be so nice now?
> > >
> > >       The only thing that Jimbo will say in the near future is peace
> > > and love, grace and forgiveness, let the prodigal be enfolded in the
> > > bosom of the community ... BECAUSE IT'S THE RUN-UP TO A LAWSUIT. The
> > > next act is when he'll say something along the lines of "With a heavy
> > > heart, I have re-blocked Brandt. I gave him every chance, but it was
> > > not to be ..."
> > >
> > > 4) Wikipedia is immune to all lawsuits by "Section 230"!
> > >
> > >          Well, let's say there's a good case for that proposition,
> > > but it's still not a universally held belief.
> > >
> > > [Disclosure: I may write a column on this eventually, so I'm taking
> notes,
> > > but that would be weeks in the future if it even happens.]
> > >
> >
> >
>
> Mr. Wales: What? I don't really consider this trolling. You're making
> it sound like he hit a nerve...
>
> ~~~~
>
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-- 
-Brock