[WikiEN-l] It all makes so much sense now!

[Marc Riddell]

> On 24/02/2008, Chris Howie <cdhowie at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 9:33 AM, geni <geniice at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On 24/02/2008, Chris Howie <cdhowie at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>>>> I love how Jimbo's absolute control over Wikipedia is brought up time
>>>> after time in the same paragraph.  Uhm, he founded the thing and
>>>> chairs the organization that is responsible for it.  Duh.
> 
>>> Chair of the Board is currently Florence Nibart-Devouard,
> 
>> That's what I get for not doing my research.  I take it he is still in
>> some pretty prominent position, though.
> 
on 2/24/08 9:45 AM, David Gerard at dgerard at gmail.com wrote:
> 
> He's on the board, though not in any particular job. He has social and
> reputational status as the founder, and a large part of his work for
> Wikipedia is doing tons of press, which he does a great job at (just
> as well really) - for press purposes he is Mr Wikipedia, never mind
> the day to day realities.
> 
> He also has, separately from his Board role, the final smackdown on
> en:wp, which he almost never uses (it's delegated to the Arbitration
> Committee because Jimbo doesn't scale) and which causes great
> arguments every time he does.
> 
> I find myself amazed at how outsiders think Jimbo has absolute power
> at Wikipedia, when if he said the sky was blue lots of people would
> disagree almost by reflex ... and then it's down to his powers of
> persuasion, same as if any of us want to convince people of something.
> I suppose he has a lot more ears listening to him.
> 
> 
David,

Is it possible for you to stop constantly speaking for Jimmy Wales as though
you were his press agent? I believe he has a voice of his own, and the
ability to type.

Marc Riddell