[WikiEN-l] BADSITES ArbCom case about to close

[charles.r.matthews at ntlworld.com]

"Daniel R. Tobias" wrote

> That, in fact, is how I got dragged into the whole BADSITES issue in 
> the first place, since I was one of those who liked to make fun of 
> the silly stuff that got said in those sites, with links, and I also 
> at one point was featured in both Brandt's Hivemind and Merkey's 
> MerkeyLaw, and proudly linked to them on my user page for it.  I 
> resented a policy that told me I couldn't do what I regarded as 
> harmless diversion.

Well, we collectively might have to grow up a bit, and not descend to the level of those who mock (and worse).

> In the greater scheme of things, this is probably a "minor price to 
> pay" as noted above, but in terms of the harm done to the general 
> culture of Wikipedia (by not only BADSITES itself, but by the entire 
> mindset behind it and all its other manifestations), where the entire 
> field of discussion gets riddled with landmines, tripwires, and 
> political third rails that one must avoid, the harm is more than 
> minor in my opinion.  It's similar to the pernicious harm to academia 
> caused by the Political Correctness movement, where students and 
> faculty are afraid to speak freely for fear of offending some 
> minority group.

Right. There is some danger that this thread might fizzle out, since the case is closed. Why not batten on an off-topic discussion of PC? I'm sure we'll all be illuminated.

Charles

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