[WikiEN-l] Bio and BLP opt-out thoughts; "BLP People"

[Gregory Kohs]

Joe, regarding your BLP opt-out proposal...

If I am passed over for a promotion by my employer, or a prospective hirer
tells me they're "going to go in another direction" -- but their
unspoken reason was a defamatory, poorly-researched, or vandalized Wikipedia
article about myself, how do I "prove" that I was harmed by the article?
[SIDENOTE: One can be harmed without even knowing it -- like radon in your
basement, tumor-inducing radiation from cell phones, or having a severe
allergy to tree nuts.  Those who survive or find themselves to be immune
rarely stop to consider the harm; but those who suffer life-threatening
consequences rather pointedly seek out the culprit and make life-changing
decisions to minimize the harm.  It might boil down to this philosophy --
would you serve pecan pie to a guest party of 30 people, if you knew that
one of them has a severe allergy?  Most likely not.  You can find other
desserts that will equally satisfy ALL of your guests.  But, what if there
was a 1% chance that one of your guests might unknowingly have an allergy
that might put them in the hospital if they eat your pecan pie?  Do you
serve pecan pie because it's still your favorite dessert?  These are the
trade-offs that BLP must face.]

Furthermore, speaking of vandalism, fate might have it that my boss or my
prospective hiring decision-maker looks at an article about myself on
Wikipedia for the 4 minutes immediately after it's been vandalized, but
prior to its being fixed.  What then?  Will my complaint about having a
briefly devastating but otherwise exemplary article on Wikipedia have any
merit or basis for action?  [SIDENOTE: I know, the answer is going to come
back -- "stable versions".  But, until then?]

The sooner everyone recognizes that Wikipedia is a fluid, publically-edited
blog, and not a professionally-reviewed static encyclopedia, the sooner you
might see how Living Persons might not even want a glowing article about
themselves on Wikipedia, because the potential periodic risk might outweigh
the latent long-term benefit.

-- 
Gregory Kohs
Cell: 302.463.1354