[WikiEN-l] Searchability of non-mainspace pages

[Will]

2008/4/28 Newyorkbrad (Wikipedia) <newyorkbrad at gmail.com>:

> My attention has repeatedly been drawn to serious negative effects created
> by the ability of Google and other searches to search and display pages
> outside the mainspace, including pages such as XfD's, DRV's, AN/I
> discussions, and the like.  Some of these discussions have taken place
> on-wiki and others, I am advised, on discussion of OTRS tickets posted by
> affected persons.
>
> Given the visibility of Wikipedia results on Google and other searches,
> and
> consistent with the overall intent of [[WP:BLP]] on En-Wiki (and what I
> hope
> is its equivalent on other projects), we have a serious responsibility to
> ensure that the overall effect of Wikipedia content is a responsible one.
> This includes eliminating the likelihood that the first hit on the Google
> search for a living person is not (for example) a deletion discussion on
> how
> insignificant and non-notable that individual is, or a page discussing the
> ban of that individual (who might be a minor, for example) who chose to
> edit
> Wikipedia under his or her real name and made some mistakes in doing so
> and
> was criticized or even banned as a result.
>
> There has been discussion from time to time about implementing a technical
> modification such that only mainspace pages (or such other pages as the
> community might consciously choose) would be visible to searches.  In view
> of the number of concerns raised about the current situation where
> everything is searchable, it seems to me that the necessary changes should
> be developed and implemented quickly.
>
> The main argument in opposition to this change that I have seen is that
> the
> internal Wikipedia search capability is not as strong as the external
> search
> engines, so that it is desirable that the ability to conduct a complete
> external search be maintained.  I know that I have sometimes found it
> useful
> to be able to search all spaces within the site in, for example, looking
> for
> precedent cases while drafting EnWiki arbitration decisions.  It therefore
> would probably be desirable to upgrade our internal search capability.
> However, in view of the number of third parties affected by the current
> practice, I do not believe that implementation of the non-search
> capability
> should await this development.
>
> As a matter of disclosure, although I have raised this concern in passing
> on
> prior occasions, my attention has been focused (this is something of an
> understatement) on it again by an ongoing and extremely unpleasant thread
> concerning me on the Wikipedia Review site.  I understand that my concerns
> in this matter might be discounted for that reason.  Nonetheless, they are
> sincere, of long standing, and I urge that they receive priority
> attention.
>
> Newyorkbrad
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I was wondering this myself, especially during the Jon Awbrey (sp) incident
- very messy and no real reason to appear on Google.
-- 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Sceptre
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/User:Sceptre