[WikiEN-l] WR's secret forum and list

[geni]

On 10/12/2007, Jimmy Wales <jwales at wikia.com> wrote:
> The cyberstalking list was not a secret list, but a private list.
>
Semi private perhaps. Doesn't appear to have been encrypted.

> Private lists, whether informal and ad hoc, or formalized, are generally
> a good thing.

Experience suggests otherwise. So far they have been proven to have
utility under a very limited set of conditions and actively damage the
project in other cases.

>They allow admins to discuss things openly without fear
> of the press or random trolls getting involved.  They can allow for
> thoughtfully coordinated action to deal with a problem.  They allow for
> the possibility of peer oversight.

If you can select the peers oversight is meaningless.

> It would be a shame if the response to this, culturally, would be a
> feeling that "you should not consult privately with your peers if you
> are not sure, out of fear of being labelled an evil secret cabal".

If you post to WP:AN/I asking for someone to review something you are
unlikely to be accused of cabalism.

> Consulting privately with your friends is a *good thing*.

Try editing an article where all the other editors are in semi private
communication. Makes collaboration tricky doesn't it?

-- 
geni