Jimmy Wales: Difference between revisions
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'''Jimmy Wales''' (born 1966; popularly known as 'Jimbo') is an entrepreneur best known for co-founding the free on-line encyclopedia [[Wikipedia]] with [[Larry Sanger]]; today, Wales is the ''de facto'' head of the website and is regularly described in the media as a highly influential figure. He is the co-founder of [[Wikia]], a web hosting service, and also started [[Nupedia]], a precursor to Wikipedia. | '''Jimmy Wales''' (born 1966; popularly known as 'Jimbo') is an entrepreneur best known for co-founding the free on-line encyclopedia [[Wikipedia]] with [[Larry Sanger]]; today, Wales is the ''de facto'' head of the website and is regularly described in the media as a highly influential figure. He is the co-founder of [[Wikia]], a web hosting service, and also started [[Nupedia]], a precursor to Wikipedia. | ||
Wales | Wales has argued that some features that distinguish Wikipedia from [[Citizendium]] - for example, the possibility of contributing to Wikipedia anonymously - will not lead to a better, more reliable encyclopedia. In August 2007 he was reported as saying "I think there's basically zero problems that can be solved by eliminating anonymity."<ref>''Sydney Morning Herald:'' '[http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/identification-not-required/2007/08/23/1187462441088.html Identification not required]'. August 24 2007.</ref> This was after the 'Essjay scandal', in which an anonymous contributor was found to have faked credentials on Wikipedia.<ref>''Slashdot'': '[http://slashdot.org/articles/07/03/01/1313251.shtml Academic Credentials and Wikiality]'. March 1 2007.</ref> Wales had initially defended 'Essjay' (Ryan Jordan) and supported Jordan's position as a salaried employee within Wikia, but withdrew support when he learned how Jordan had used false qualifications to further himself in disputes over article content.<ref>''WikiEN-l'': '[http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2007-March/064440.html EssJay situation]'. March 3 2007.</ref> Wales also argues against the idea of a central role for accredited experts within Wikipedia; when a hypothetical scenario of an adolescent changing the contribution of a professor of some 40 years' experience was put to him in 2008, Wales replied: "it often happens that the 17-year-old is right, and the professor is wrong." In 2003, Wales had declined to take up Sanger's recommendation that Wikipedia needed a role for experts.<ref>''VPRO.nl'': '[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMSinyx_Ab0 The Truth According to Wikipedia]'. YouTube video featuring Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, April 7 2008. English version of a Dutch television documentary available at '[http://www.vpro.nl/programma/tegenlicht/afleveringen/39405191 Wiki's Waarheid]'.</ref> | ||
Other controversies involving Jimmy Wales include his claim to be the sole founder of Wikipedia<ref>''Sydney Morning Herald:'' '[http://www.smh.com.au/news/Technology/Sanger-Says-He-CoStarted-Wikipedia/2007/03/26/1174761306210.html Citizendium founder Sanger says he co-started Wikipedia, but don't tell that to Jimmy Wales]'. March 26 2007.</ref> and the manner in which he is reported to have ended his relationship with conservative journalist [[Rachel Marsden]].<ref>''The Times'': '[http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3475722.ece Fury of a woman scorned – on Wikipedia]'. March 4 20008.</ref> | Other controversies involving Jimmy Wales include his claim to be the sole founder of Wikipedia<ref>''Sydney Morning Herald:'' '[http://www.smh.com.au/news/Technology/Sanger-Says-He-CoStarted-Wikipedia/2007/03/26/1174761306210.html Citizendium founder Sanger says he co-started Wikipedia, but don't tell that to Jimmy Wales]'. March 26 2007.</ref> and the manner in which he is reported to have ended his relationship with conservative journalist [[Rachel Marsden]].<ref>''The Times'': '[http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3475722.ece Fury of a woman scorned – on Wikipedia]'. March 4 20008.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 01:55, 9 April 2008
Jimmy Wales (born 1966; popularly known as 'Jimbo') is an entrepreneur best known for co-founding the free on-line encyclopedia Wikipedia with Larry Sanger; today, Wales is the de facto head of the website and is regularly described in the media as a highly influential figure. He is the co-founder of Wikia, a web hosting service, and also started Nupedia, a precursor to Wikipedia.
Wales has argued that some features that distinguish Wikipedia from Citizendium - for example, the possibility of contributing to Wikipedia anonymously - will not lead to a better, more reliable encyclopedia. In August 2007 he was reported as saying "I think there's basically zero problems that can be solved by eliminating anonymity."[1] This was after the 'Essjay scandal', in which an anonymous contributor was found to have faked credentials on Wikipedia.[2] Wales had initially defended 'Essjay' (Ryan Jordan) and supported Jordan's position as a salaried employee within Wikia, but withdrew support when he learned how Jordan had used false qualifications to further himself in disputes over article content.[3] Wales also argues against the idea of a central role for accredited experts within Wikipedia; when a hypothetical scenario of an adolescent changing the contribution of a professor of some 40 years' experience was put to him in 2008, Wales replied: "it often happens that the 17-year-old is right, and the professor is wrong." In 2003, Wales had declined to take up Sanger's recommendation that Wikipedia needed a role for experts.[4]
Other controversies involving Jimmy Wales include his claim to be the sole founder of Wikipedia[5] and the manner in which he is reported to have ended his relationship with conservative journalist Rachel Marsden.[6]
Footnotes
- ↑ Sydney Morning Herald: 'Identification not required'. August 24 2007.
- ↑ Slashdot: 'Academic Credentials and Wikiality'. March 1 2007.
- ↑ WikiEN-l: 'EssJay situation'. March 3 2007.
- ↑ VPRO.nl: 'The Truth According to Wikipedia'. YouTube video featuring Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, April 7 2008. English version of a Dutch television documentary available at 'Wiki's Waarheid'.
- ↑ Sydney Morning Herald: 'Citizendium founder Sanger says he co-started Wikipedia, but don't tell that to Jimmy Wales'. March 26 2007.
- ↑ The Times: 'Fury of a woman scorned – on Wikipedia'. March 4 20008.