| I started contributing to Wikipedia nearly three years ago, attracted by the idea of helping to create a free encyclopedia. The project has grown considerably, and changed considerably, since then.
One could argue that the task of creating an encyclopedia can never be completed: this is convenient for certain editors, as it hides the fact that Wikipedia has become its own justification. It exists to perpetuate itself, a never-ending Process, the largest MMORPG in history. "Defending" the project from its "enemies" has become the stated goal of much activity. The encyclopedia merely provides the backdrop. It is hardly surprising in such an atmosphere that the traditional values of civil discussion and consensus decision-making have a hard time subsisting. In their place has come ochlocracy, the rule of who-shouts-loudest. The mob wants Action, and it wants it Now. The mob, of course, cares little for rules, unless they can be used for repression. Inconvenient rules must be changed, or ignored. They know nothing of the role of the rule of law in any kind of "community". Yet without a fairly stable set of rules, there can be no community. No individual has any interest in investing time and effort in a community if the "rules" can be changed arbitrarily at any time. Most people learn this first in the school playground, even if they don't realise it at the time! Wikipedia has been perverted from its original principles: the trolls are setting the agenda and that means that the trolls have been allowed to win. There is little point in me investing further time and effort in this "community". I certainly couldn't recommend to others to get involved. While I shall endeavour to complete the projects which I've already started with users who retain my respect, I shall not be taking on any new projects for Wikipedia. None of these collaborations require sysop tools, and so I ask that by +sysop bit be flipped. While there are many administrators who still have my respect and esteem, there are too many with whom I no longer wish to be associated. Physchim62 (talk) 14:05, 13 December 2007 (UTC) |