[WikiEN-l] BLPs--some ideas

[Ray Saintonge]

daniwo59 at aol.com wrote:

>Let's face it: BLPs pose a problem. I want to suggest a few ideas that  could 
>resolve some of the issues we face.  
>1. BLPs should be of sufficiently notable people that they appear in at  
>least one external encyclopedic source, preferably print. This would include  
>other encyclopedias, "Who's Who," or other biographical indices.  
>
The problem with these sources is that they are slow to react.

>2. In the event that the person attained fame because of sudden  
>circumstances, they must be covered in at least three distinct newspapers that  can be 
>cited. 
>
This can lead to big city bias.  A large city can very well have three 
newspapers all of which will send a reporter.  This is not the case with 
a one newspaper town.  Also city newspapers are likely to give greater 
coverage to what happens in the city itself than to similar events in 
the suburbs.

...

>5. All BLP articles will contain information, prominently displayed on  the 
>Talk Page (or perhaps even on the article itself), of how the person or her  
>representatives might express formal reservations to the WMF about the content.  
>This will be in the form of a banner with a link to a special OTRS email 
>address  created specifically for these types of problems. 
>6. All complainants will be encouraged to list their problems and suggest  
>means of correcting them.  
>
Yes.  I think that when the subject of an article differs about the 
contents, he needs to have a place to publicly put his side of the story 
without needing external sources.  It would be perfectly clear that the 
comments are from him.  He should still be prevented from saying 
anything that would disparage others.  He would be able to say "I didn't 
do it."  He would not be able to say, "George did it."  A lot of the 
people who complain about their articles might not complain as much if 
they could vent their side of the story in public.

>These are just some ideas. Feel free to consider some or all of them, as  you 
>see fit. Yes, BLPs are a problem, but there are ways that they can be  
>handled effectively and to the satisfaction of everyone. The first step is to  back 
>away from posturing and show a willingness to compromise. It will not solve  
>all the problems, but it will show our goodwill. 
>
Sure.

Ec