User:Ramaksoud2000
This is a complete copy of User:Scott MacDonald. I am in full sympathy of his protest and will cease editing Wikipedia for an indefinite basis. I do realize that this comes a little late after the blackout, however, it needs to be done. For discussion, and to list support, please go to User:Scott MacDonald. Ramaksoud2000 (Did I make a mistake?) 16:54, 3 March 2012 (UTC)
Wikipedia should remain ideology-free
Protesting the death of a neutral community
The blackout of the English Wikipedia destroys forever the concept of its political and geographic neutrality. It means rather than an open group of international contributors, uniting solely around their commitment to writing an encyclopedia, with nothing else implied, Wikipedia is, through what can only be described as an Internet moral panic, now associated with a particular political position in a particular nation. While many, possibly most, Wikipedians may happen to hold this political position in common, it ought to have been irrelevant to editing here. Now it is not; a precedent has been set and something important has died.
Some will say, "but the Stop Online Piracy Act is so important, and it affects us, so we must do something". But here is my problem. Do I agree with opposing SOPA? Or, do I have a different opinion that makes me wish to disassociate myself from the action that is being taken in the name of the community? Either way, my opinion on a political issue is now pertinent to my association with this community. You asked me a question that ought to have been irrelevant to editing here. That is new. That is wrong. Wikipedians came here united around five pillars - and five pillars only. I was not asked, and do not wish, to negotiate a sixth. Yes I know that, even were I to vocally support SOPA, I would still be welcome here. But that I am even asked the question changes everything. For the first time, Jimbo Wales has asked, and the community has agreed, that we no longer leave our own ideologies at the door.
In protest at this action, and mourning the day that the five pillars ceased to be the sole ideology of Wikipedia, I will cease contributing on an indefinite basis.
See also:
- Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point - Yes, even a point you think is righteous.
...instead encourage people to adopt an attitude of 'Here we are Wikipedians, out there we are advocates'. The point is, we don't act in Wikipedia as a Democrat, a Republican, a pro-Lifer, a pro-Choicer, or whatever. Here we are Wikipedians, which means: thoughtful, loving, neutral" Jimbo Wales 19:58, 29 December 2005 - a different age?
- Wikipedia is not here to tell the world about your noble cause - Yes, even the cause a consensus of Wikipedians believes to be noble.
