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Anyone can go on the Internet and claim they are Graham McCann without providing any proof I read through a lot of the conversation between Mr McCann and one o

Anyone can go on the Internet and claim they are Graham McCann without providing any proof I read through a lot of the conversation between Mr McCann and one of the Wiki editors. I have a lot of empathy for the former. It is the case that the editor doubted the identity of the man he was conversing with, but Wikipedia should have simple, clear protocols for people to prove their identity for such cases. It's not Mr McCann's fault that they don't. Instead the editor sneered, and was generally rude and unpleasant to him. If I phoned up my bank to discuss my account and couldn't prove I was who I said I was, I would nevertheless expect courtesy, politeness, and professionalism. Wiki is a non profit, and the editors are not professionals, but it is one of the most visited websites on the internet. I actually suspect that the basic premise of a universal encyclopaedia staffed by volunteers and run on a non profit basis may be fundamentally flawed.

pwdisswordfish 10y ago
I've never worked in a call centre, but from what I heard about that job, it can be some very emotionally draining work where you have to deal with all sorts of inane and entitled people, and you can easily lose your temper and/or faith in humanity. (Teachers have it worse: they also have to deal with their children.) And Wikipedia can be even worse, with all its perverse incentives and selective enforcement. I'm not surprised that Wikipedians don't bother with politeness. Especially in situations like this, where trolls abound. > I actually suspect that the basic premise of a universal encyclopaedia staffed by volunteers and run on a non profit basis may be fundamentally flawed. I agree, but I doubt a change is going to happen. It's just too convenient an arrangement for the WMF and Jimbo Wales: they sit on loads of money they get for basically little more than keeping the servers powered, and he can just present himself as a Philantropist™ by going to conferences and cashing speaking fees, without taking any actual responsibility for the project he ostensibly runs.

pwdisswordfish 10y ago

I've never worked in a call centre, but from what I heard about that job, it can be some very emotionally draining work where you have to deal with all sorts of inane and entitled people, and you can easily lose your temper and/or faith in humanity. (Teachers have it worse: they also have to deal with their children.) And Wikipedia can be even worse, with all its perverse incentives and selective enforcement. I'm not surprised that Wikipedians don't bother with politeness. Especially in situations like this, where trolls abound. > I actually suspect that the basic premise of a universal encyclopaedia staffed by volunteers and run on a non profit basis may be fundamentally flawed. I agree, but I doubt a change is going to happen. It's just too convenient an arrangement for the WMF and Jimbo Wales: they sit on loads of money they get for basically little more than keeping the servers powered, and he can just present himself as a Philantropist™ by going to conferences and cashing speaking fees, without taking any actual responsibility for the project he ostensibly runs.