... there is no better source than Wikipedia. For today's dose, we examine Jossi Fresco, a Wikipedia admin and major architect of Wikipedia's conflict of interest policy. Jossi, according to our good friend Cade Metz over at the Register, is employed by an organization related to Prem Rawat, a cultish religious figure from India. He also assiduously polices the articles about Rawat, a clear and obvious conflict of interest. I'm not going to waste a lot of time repeating what Cade has already said (and if you want there's also a Wikipedia Review thread on the same topic which is quite interesting as well). That an admin who has spent so much time crafting the conflict of interest policy would, at the same time, flaunt it so obviously and, apparently, even seek to pretend that there is no conflict, is the sort of delicious irony that Wikipedia excels at creating.
Of course, our old friend SlimVirgin, herself no stranger to conflict of interest, seeing as how she wades knee-deep in them all the time, has also had quite a hand in both shaping and enforcing that policy (even commenting on how it should be interpreted and applied over at the Wikback). Those familiar with Wikipedia (and Wikimedia) politics are, I'm quite sure, familiar with other examples of overwhelming irony in Wikipedia over the past few months; I've touched on this issue here and here.
It seems obvious, therefore, that the primary purpose of Wikipedia is actually to create irony. This is actually a good thing; after all, we all heard after 9/11 that "irony is dead". Well, we have Wikipedia to thank for keeping irony alive. Good job; do keep up the good work. It's nice to know that Wikipedia can at least excel at something.
Of course, our old friend SlimVirgin, herself no stranger to conflict of interest, seeing as how she wades knee-deep in them all the time, has also had quite a hand in both shaping and enforcing that policy (even commenting on how it should be interpreted and applied over at the Wikback). Those familiar with Wikipedia (and Wikimedia) politics are, I'm quite sure, familiar with other examples of overwhelming irony in Wikipedia over the past few months; I've touched on this issue here and here.
It seems obvious, therefore, that the primary purpose of Wikipedia is actually to create irony. This is actually a good thing; after all, we all heard after 9/11 that "irony is dead". Well, we have Wikipedia to thank for keeping irony alive. Good job; do keep up the good work. It's nice to know that Wikipedia can at least excel at something.
Any comments on the Audit?
ReplyDeleteNo, I have no comment on the audit at this time.
ReplyDeleteThat Metz is an enemy of Wikipedia, and you call him "good friend"?
ReplyDeleteSee Jossi's response.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jossi/Response
Jossi's response supports Cade's argument. Jossi doesn't deny the operative facts in the article, and mainly attacks Cade and Cade's informants. After reading Jossi's response I'm even more convinced that Jossi is yet another one of those who are unquestionably a toxic influence on Wikipedia. He should be asked to leave, but (of course) will not be.
ReplyDeleteMeet the Metz, meet the Metz,
ReplyDeleteStep right up and greet the Metz.
Bring your kiddies, bring your wife,
Guaranteed to have the time of your life.
Because the Metz is really sockin' the ball,
Knockin' those home runs over the wall.
East side, West side, everybody's coming down,
To meet the M-E-T-Z Metz, of San Francisco town.
San Francisco? I thought the Metz played in Brooklyn.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Anonymous, Metz is as much of an enemy to Wikipedia as slavery is freedom.
The Mets (baseball) play in the borough of Queens, New York. However, Cade Metz (the reporter) is based in San Francisco.
ReplyDeleteflaut
ReplyDelete