Incoming links revealed to me the existence of the Wikipediocracy site this weekend.
Our Mission: We exist to shine the light of scrutiny into the dark crevices of Wikipedia and its related projects; to examine the corruption there, along with the structural flaws; and to inoculate the unsuspecting public against the torrent of misinformation, defamation, and general nonsense that issues forth from one of the world’s most frequently visited websites, the “encyclopedia that anyone can edit.”
I wish them well. Wikipedia presents itself as the encyclopedia that anyone can edit. But a very large number of people have found themselves drawn into disputes with anonymous trolls there, and then found that Wikipedia’s processes are opaque, arbitary, unfair, administered by children and more trolls, and most of these ordinary people have been forced out or been left bruised and upset. It’s not a safe place. And it’s very hard to get past the puff to the reality, not least because Wikipedia policy is to hide information critical of Wikipedia.
Inevitably the forum contains a certain amount of complaining. People are likely to arrive here bleeding, after all. But I have already learned of various meta- and para-wikipedia organisations, chapters, mailing lists and so forth, the existence of which is probably known to a tiny handful. Most of those who contribute to Wikipedia will not realise that their fate will be decided, not openly, but by one of these backstairs methods.
Recommended.
Dear Mr Pearse
Having noted your interest and knowledge on Mithras, thought you might like to see a photo of a lead head only figurine thought to be of Mithras. Found in Scotland 2011, next to a river, and close to a Roman Fortlet. Cant say much more than that at the moment other than if Mithras, it may be a first in scotland? please forward an e-mail address for the photo.
Kind Regards
James