But they do help to form a sense of wikimedian community which is good for the wikimedia projects and helps further its goals.
Sorry, you may have noticed that I am arguing both sides of this issue. I'm not trolling, I just see the arguments of both sides and can't decide on a position. But then i'm like that on most issues.
paz, -rjs.
==Who/what gets mocked?==
Let's say we say go for it and allow the creation of spoof news on April 1.
I honestly cannot imagine the depth of the flame wars when someone attempts to spoof such news stories as Iraq, Bush, same-sex marriage, Christianity, Islam, the execution of Saddam Hussein, sex crimes, tsunamis, 9/11, fake obituaries, illegal immigration, female circumcision...
Of course the community would have to decide was is appropriate and was is inappropriate humor - and why..
I'd rather somersault blindfolded through mine fields while juggling hand live grenades than participate in any of those messes.
==Wiki-myopia==
In my near 2-decades as a professional journalist, one of the main problems news teams had was of being too myopic in that they forgot that they were creating product for use by others who didn't understand - or even disagreed with - the prevailing opinions and attitudes within the newsroom community.
I think we need to remind ourselves that as Wikinewsies and Wikipedians we are making something to be used by other people more so than by ourselves.
Are people really coming to Wiki* to read original fiction by amateur humorists? I wouldn't bet money on it.
==Building vs. unnecessary strife==
In addition, I am not sure that the end result will be community-building more than community harming inasmuch as "foolery" requires that there be intentional mockery, insult or disrespect to some established cultural norm.
In my experience with writing humor, unless *all* of the participants are of a similar culture/nationality or have similar socioeconomic/political experiences, there will be negative conflict and much in-fighting and fragmentation.
We've seen all-out wars among on high-profile entries when there is fact against opinion. Imagine the battles of opinion against opinion when we endorse the mockery of others.
-- David Speakman http://www.DavidSpeakman.com 501 Moorpark Way #83 Mountain View CA 94041