[Wikipedia-l] public service ads in Wikipedia?

[Ray Saintonge]

Tony Sidaway wrote:

>Ray Saintonge said:
>  
>
>>NSK wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>On Friday 11 February 2005 02:37, Mark Williamson wrote:
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Showing ads for, for example, anti-patent groups, gives the idea that
>>>>Wikipedia supports these groups.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>There are anti-smoking, education, science/math or anti-discrimination
>>>ads,  too. I think it would be safe to show these ads.
>>>      
>>>
>>Even in this "safe" group there could be difficulties.  Surely, there
>>must be some smokers in the membership.  Others may have problems with
>>the role of commercial enterprises in education.  The gay marriage
>>issue  has two sides that look at discrimination in very different
>>issues.
>>    
>>
>Wikipedia material is GFDL. Wikimedia Foundation can and should employ
>whatever fundraising methods it thinks are optimal.  Anybody who doesn't
>like the methods still gets to use the product on their own fork.  Free as
>in speech.
>
This kind of "my way or the highway" attitude misses the point 
entirely.  If these kinds of ads were shown as the necessary and best 
alternative they would no doubt have wide support.  The issue is not 
about the Foundation's right to do what it pleases.  It's about being 
sensitive to the opinions of a broad range of committed contributors.  
Your recognition of the right to free speech equates to telling people 
to go to the Speakers' Corner of Hyde Park where nobody will listen to 
them.  People stay when their opinions are respected, and not ignored.  
Respecting an opinion does not imply that it must be adopted as policy.

Ec