On 9/2/07, Marc Riddell <michaeldavid86(a)comcast.net> wrote:
Folks,
I have just spent some time reviewing the List's archives for the past
several months, and it is clear something is changing and not for the
good. The dialogues have become more combative, argumentative and downright
mean. The individual contributions have become more aggressive, intolerant,
patronizing, bullying, insulting, and downright mean. There has been a
steady decline in fairness, civility and just plain listening.
It has gotten to the point where a person needs to dress in helmet and full
padding before submitting a post. How many persons, who would otherwise
contribute to the List, simply choose not to - feeling it's not worth the
hassle?
What's going on?
Marc Riddell
I've been a member for a while now, and I don't necessarily think that
it has gotten much worse lately. This list has always been contentious
as hell and I doubt that will ever change. This isn't just another
random discussion-board on the internet, all of us here are
passionately devoted to the same cause. We don't just discuss because
we like discussing, we do it because we genuinely care about Wikipedia
and think that the work we are doing is important and have an impact.
And when you get that many really smart people in the same place, all
fervently advocating their point of view, contention happen.
I do agree with you though, the threads often get unnecessarily
hostile. But there is no quick fix for this, it is a social problem.
All we can do is ask people to tough it out, not take to much offence
and not go down the same path themselves.
Occasional reminders of this are good, though :)
--Oskar