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congressional staffers editing their bosses wikipedia entries

croxiscroxis I am the walrus
in Zocalo v2.0
[url]http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_3444567[/url]

Comments

  • ArethusaArethusa Universal Cathode
    Ignorance is strength.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Freedom is Slavery
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    Babies are good with BBQ sauce
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    As much as we may not like it, if Wikipedia is to be a true open source project, then a public official and/or their staff must have the same privilege to change content as any other individual. The real implication is that there will just need to be great vigilance by those who contribute to the Wiki.

    That said, the person who may be providing opinion rather than fact, such as the reference to cow dung, are doing just as large a disservice to the database as a public official may be.

    Jake
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    You have a point Freejack, but surely if wikipedia is to remain an acurate source of information, the selective editing described there mustn't be allowed. If not then the information is biased and at the very least not entirely truthful. Of course the problem arises of "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" Having an open source project is perhaps the only way to ensure an unreasonable level of bias doesnt creep in. Either way tho, I think what these aids are doing should be stopped.
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    The saving grace of a wiki is that it is self correcting over time. So while selective editing can and does happen, the wider public is at work as well to post their criticisms. Besides, now that this finding went public the rap of these crooks... er... elected officals will have another ding in it
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    from slashdot

    There has been quite a bit of recent reporting on the recent troubles between Wikipedia and certain Congressional staffers. In response, abdulzis mentions that "an RFC, Wikipedia's mediation method to deal with 'disharmonious users', has been opened to take action against US Congressional staffers who repeatedly blank content and engage in revert wars and slanderous or libelous behavior which violates Wikiepdia code. The IP ranges of US Congress have been currently blocked, but only for a week until the issue can be addressed more directly."
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    *sigh* its like children bickering with their parents.......and these children are supposed to help run the country.

    *shakes head*
  • TyvarTyvar Next best thing to a St. Bernard
    Frankly the reliance on congressional staffers to do stuff is one of the great weakenesses of modern american politics.

    Most "staffers" that we hear about in the news and in cases like this are actualy are interns who are in their 20's. They spend most of their time when not dealing with mail from constituents being involved in juvinile activities, including drunken debauchery.

    Frankly the Wikipedia team would do much good by banning access to modification of the wiki by IP's inside the beltway.
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    whats wrong with being drunk?
  • TyvarTyvar Next best thing to a St. Bernard
    like in the case of spiderman, with great power, comes great responsibilities.

    Working as a part of the branch of the american government with the most powers, in charge of governing the nation, demands a damn bit higher standard of behavior then is currently manifested.
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