[Foundation-l] Pedophilia and the Non discrimination policy

[Dan Rosenthal]

In addition to Brad's very good points, I'd like to point out, if it hasn't been already, that any discussion on this topic also inevitably generates external criticism of "Why does XXX editor protect pedophiles"? (or even substitute Wikipedia for XXX editor). 

Nothing good can come of this conversation; much like nothing good came out of it the last time we had it.

-Dan

On Nov 28, 2009, at 8:09 PM, Newyorkbrad (Wikipedia) wrote:

> Let me make a few basic points here.
> 
> 1. Obviously, we usually have no way of knowing what an editor's personal
> beliefs or even activities are, unless he or she voluntarily discloses them.
> 
> 2. At least on English Wikipedia, and I assume on other projects where the
> issue has come up, there has been a policy (somewhat de facto, but with
> high-level support) for several years of blocking self-declared
> pedophiles and especially pedophile activists from editing.  The
> justifications for the policy include those mentioned previously in this
> thread.  There is also the fact that many users who go out of their way to
> describe themselves as pedophiles may or may not actually be such at all,
> but are simply trolling for reactions or to create controversy over whether
> they should be blocked or not.
> 
> 3. I have never seen a serious argument made that self-declared pedophiles
> are protected by the Foundation's non-discrimination policy, and I certainly
> have never seen any suggestion that the Foundation would overrule a block or
> ban made by local project administrators on this basis, much less has this
> actually happened or is there any likelihood it would ever happen.  The
> question that opened this thread, about the wording of the policy, is at
> best a purely theoretical one.
> 
> 4. It is entirely 100% predictable from experience (cf the En-Wiki userbox
> wheel war case from early 2006) that this thread will quickly degenerate, if
> it hasn't already, into extreme rhetoric and name-calling without producing
> much, if any, usual output.  I suggest in the strongest terms that this not
> happen.
> 
> Newyorkbrad
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