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Difference between revisions of "Jimmy Wales"
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==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
| − | ===Editing own biography in | + | ===Editing own biography in Wikipedia=== |
On October 28, 2005, Wales edited his own biography article on Wikipedia. In this regard, American blogger, computer book author and web publisher Rogers Cadenhead drew attention to logs showing that Wales had <span class="plainlinks">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Wales&diff=26702273&oldid=26658959 removed phrases]</span> describing former Wikipedia employee Larry Sanger as a co-founder of the site.<ref name=cadenhead>[http://www.cadenhead.org/workbench/news/2828/wikipedia-founder-looks-out-number-1 Wikipedia Founder Looks Out for Number 1] ''Cadenhead.org''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Wales&diff=29849184&oldid=29772366 |title=Wikipedia diff showing modification by Jimmy Wales}}</ref> Sanger said that "having seen edits like this, it does seem that Jimmy is attempting to rewrite history. But this is a futile process because in our brave new world of transparent activity and maximum communication, the truth will be out".<ref name=WiredWFEOB/><ref name=cadenhead/><ref name=TTWFEH>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article774973.ece Wikipedia founder edits himself] ''The Times''</ref> | On October 28, 2005, Wales edited his own biography article on Wikipedia. In this regard, American blogger, computer book author and web publisher Rogers Cadenhead drew attention to logs showing that Wales had <span class="plainlinks">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Wales&diff=26702273&oldid=26658959 removed phrases]</span> describing former Wikipedia employee Larry Sanger as a co-founder of the site.<ref name=cadenhead>[http://www.cadenhead.org/workbench/news/2828/wikipedia-founder-looks-out-number-1 Wikipedia Founder Looks Out for Number 1] ''Cadenhead.org''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Wales&diff=29849184&oldid=29772366 |title=Wikipedia diff showing modification by Jimmy Wales}}</ref> Sanger said that "having seen edits like this, it does seem that Jimmy is attempting to rewrite history. But this is a futile process because in our brave new world of transparent activity and maximum communication, the truth will be out".<ref name=WiredWFEOB/><ref name=cadenhead/><ref name=TTWFEH>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article774973.ece Wikipedia founder edits himself] ''The Times''</ref> | ||
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| + | ===Inserting inaccurate information about Bomis=== | ||
| + | Wales was also observed to have modified references to Bomis in a way that was characterized as downplaying the sexual nature of some of his company's products. Cadenhead said that Bomis Babes was described as "soft-core pornography" by other Wikipedia editors, but Wales changed it to "adult content section" on Sept. 4, and later twice removed references to pornography, instead describing it as "Bomis Babes blog based on Slashcode."<ref name=WiredWFEOB/> An article in the July 31, 2006, issue of ''The New Yorker'' magazine reported on this topic, stating that Wales was "sensitive about references to the porn traffic on his Web portal".<ref name="Knowitall">[http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060731fa_fact Know It All] ''The New Yorker''</ref> | ||
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| + | In these both cases, Wales argued that his modifications were solely intended to improve the accuracy of the content. He apologized for editing his own biography, a practice generally frowned upon at Wikipedia. Wales said in the ''Wired'' interview, "People should not do it, including me. I wish I had not done it".<ref name=WiredWFEOB/> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 03:43, 15 July 2008
Jimmy Wales is an American Internet pornography entrepreneur and former options trader[1] who along with philosophy professor Larry Sanger founded the open-source online encyclopedia Wikipedia in 2001. He openly acknowledges of being an Objectivist,[2] which is a form of capitalism. Wales became a millionaire by trading commodity options. Before founding Wikipedia, he along with Tim Shell founded the online pornography portal Bomis in 1996.[3] Besides founding Wikipedia, which is officially a non-profit entity, Jimmy Wales also founded the for-profit Wikia, a web hosting service. Wales is the de facto head of Wikipedia.
Contents
Controversies
Editing own biography in Wikipedia
On October 28, 2005, Wales edited his own biography article on Wikipedia. In this regard, American blogger, computer book author and web publisher Rogers Cadenhead drew attention to logs showing that Wales had removed phrases describing former Wikipedia employee Larry Sanger as a co-founder of the site.[4][5] Sanger said that "having seen edits like this, it does seem that Jimmy is attempting to rewrite history. But this is a futile process because in our brave new world of transparent activity and maximum communication, the truth will be out".[3][4][6]
Inserting inaccurate information about Bomis
Wales was also observed to have modified references to Bomis in a way that was characterized as downplaying the sexual nature of some of his company's products. Cadenhead said that Bomis Babes was described as "soft-core pornography" by other Wikipedia editors, but Wales changed it to "adult content section" on Sept. 4, and later twice removed references to pornography, instead describing it as "Bomis Babes blog based on Slashcode."[3] An article in the July 31, 2006, issue of The New Yorker magazine reported on this topic, stating that Wales was "sensitive about references to the porn traffic on his Web portal".[7]
In these both cases, Wales argued that his modifications were solely intended to improve the accuracy of the content. He apologized for editing his own biography, a practice generally frowned upon at Wikipedia. Wales said in the Wired interview, "People should not do it, including me. I wish I had not done it".[3]
References
- ↑ Chip Berlet, SlimVirgin, and Wikipedia Geocities.com
- ↑ Who's Who In America: Diamond Edition - Publisher: Marquis Who's Who; 60th edition (12 October, 2005) ISBN 978-0837969909.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Wikipedia Founder Edits Own Bio Wired News
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wikipedia Founder Looks Out for Number 1 Cadenhead.org
- ↑ Wikipedia diff showing modification by Jimmy Wales.
- ↑ Wikipedia founder edits himself The Times
- ↑ Know It All The New Yorker
