[Wikipedia-l] Re: In a massive, and often anonymous context, how do we know each other?

[Ray Saintonge]

Anthere wrote:

> Joseph Reagle a écrit:
>
>> Hello, I have a question about your article that appeared in Wired. 
>> One of my difficulties within the Wikipedia community, or, say for 
>> example, this e-mail list, is the large number of people one is 
>> likely to come across. It can be difficult to keep track of everyone, 
>> particularly in the context of editing a diverse set of web pages So, 
>> I was wondering how do people come to know of each other? In 
>> particular, for your article, how did you select the folks you did? 
>> Asked Jimbo? Looked at the top contributors?
>> Thanks!
>
> At least for me, I come to know the others in watching what they say 
> and do. When I notice someone put a wise or funny or creative comment 
> a couple of times in a row, I go to his user page. I try to decipher 
> the person a little bit. Then I go to his contributors list. Try again 
> to see what could make him tick. Then I store the information 
> somewhere. And go on noting what he writes. Usually, one day come 
> where I think "oh, but X would be the perfect person for this". And I 
> go ask the person :-) Hence meet him a bit more :-)

Excellent.  An interesting rule might be one requiring people who 
complain about something being wrong with one article, must match that 
comment with one that is just as strongly favorable about another 
article.  Failing to make positive comments about anybody could be 
grounds for de-sysopping.

Ec