At 09:37 PM 10/2/2009, OrionWorks - Steven Vincent Johnson wrote:
First of all, I just want to be clear on the fact that I have been impressed by the amount of tireless work you have doing over in the Wiki thicket trying to improve the flow of accurate information. No doubt, it's a thankless job. I've enjoyed reading about your adventures on that battle front. ;-)
Thanks. I did what I could, and not more than that! I was not a cold fusion single-purpose-account, as was Pcarbonn, so, in theory, I was less vulnerable, and when my efforts to promote fair treatment on Wikipedia were about situations where I wasn't personally involved, I was largely successful. However, in pursuit of one of those cases, I came across cold fusion and was motivated to do the research, particularly since I had sufficient background to understand the issues. From a skeptical position, I became convinced that not only was cold fusion real, but that the scientific consensus was shifting and it was no longer accurate to say, baldly, that cold fusion was rejected by mainstream science. And I started working on the article, to move it toward compliance with Wikipedia guidelines (which are actually excellent, it's the actual practice which is the problem). Because I was now involved, and when "they" came after me, I was not so able to defend myself, and insufficient support mobilized, and I was subject to classic political hazards that I well understand. But understanding isn't always enough!
I've concluded that my work on Wikipedia is done, as far as what I might do on the site itself; I don't expect to return when my block expires; if I do anything with Wikipedia, it will be toward facilitating the organization of Wikipedia editors off-wiki, which is what is needed to fix the serious governance problems (that are actually widely recognized in the community, though most seem to be in despair about the possibility of fixing them). I announced, before I was blocked, that I was beginning a cold fusion project kit company, which makes me a conflict-of-interest editor in any case.
However, if anyone is interested in working on the Wikipedia article, I could offer advice, privately. I do understand how to accomplish what is needed, and was on my way to doing it. I wasn't exactly blocked, in the end, for cold fusion work, I was blocked because I challenged probably the most effective and powerful of the cabals that, to some degree, run Wikipedia the way they like it, and against true consensus; because of how they operate and the handful of administrators who are involved, including one who is very highly privileged, and by piling in to any discussion, they can make it look like they represent the community. But that's not stable and doesn't survive close scrutiny; nevertheless, they were able to mass sufficient support to result in appearances that led to my block.
However, the administrator who had originally banned me from the cold fusion article lost his tools over his insistence on his right to declare and enforce the ban, and the nature of the cabal and those I identified with it was largely exposed, and the positions that they vigorously argued in the case that led to my ban and the removal of administrative tools from that administrator are being explicitly rejected by the community. So in a certain sense, I was quite successful. I don't believe that I was originally banned from Cold fusion because of my specific work there; rather I was banned because of an intention to ban me that arose before I was ever involved with the article. I was a threat to their power, and had frustrated them a number of times by compiling and presenting evidence.
Regarding the latest installment of the Rothwell/Swartz's saga, if you think you can inspire others (including Mr. Rothwell) into embarking on such multi-headed editing project, more power to you.
Thanks. Rothwell's participation isn't required, though, of course, he will be, I'm sure, fully welcome and will decide how and to what degree he would cooperate. The last thing I'd want to do would be to create a burden for him that he doesn't willingly take on. So I won't.
