Does the Hierarchical Nature of Self-Governance at Wikipedia Foster a Culture of Elitism?
The premise of the question is mistaken, as Wikipedia does not follow a hierarchical structure with admins acting as supervisors. Instead, admins are more like janitors, cleaning up messes without having any supervisory powers. It's important to understand that Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, is just another editor. His opinion, if considered valuable, is based on the reasoning of his arguments, not his identity.
However, there are some claims about elitism and the disproportionate number of new articles being tagged for deletion. This misconception stems from a misunderstanding of the hierarchical structure and the actual reasons behind the tagging process. Let’s delve into this topic further.
The Misconception of Hierarchical Governance
Some people believe that Wikipedia has a hierarchical structure, with admins as supervisors. In reality, this is far from the truth. Admins on Wikipedia are more akin to janitors, tasked with maintaining the quality and cleanliness of the site. They have no supervisory powers and are not responsible for content disputes.
Even Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, abides by the same rules and standards as any other editor. His input carries weight based on the strength of his arguments, not his position or identity. This ensures that the decision-making process remains transparent and fair for all editors.
Proportion of New Articles Being Tagged for Deletion
A significant number of new articles are indeed tagged for deletion, but this is due to structural reasons rather than elitism. Most new articles are either on unsuitable subjects or poorly written, and these issues often prevent them from being salvaged. Here are some key points contributing to this:
Reasons Behind Article Deletions
1. Insufficient Subject Matter: With over 5 million articles, the English Wikipedia already covers most significant topics. New articles often fail to meet this bar, making them unsuitable for inclusion.
2. Spam and Promotion: Some users and companies attempt to sneak in articles to promote their favorite products, friends, or creative works. These attempts are easily identifiable by experienced editors due to their obvious promotional nature.
3. Poor Quality: New editors often rush to create content without proper practice. Consequently, the quality of new articles is generally lower, leading to a higher rate of deletion.
4. Content Disputes: Editors need to be skilled to avoid content disputes. New editors who are inexperienced tend to create articles that are prone to deletion. Also, editors should not use their admin privileges to resolve content disputes directly as it could lead to conflict of interest.
The Role of Anonymity and Editor Behavior
Wikipedia places a strong emphasis on maintaining an anonymous community, where editors are not linked to real-world identities. This promotes impartiality and discourages elitism based on personal backgrounds. Contributions are judged solely on their merit.
Despite the structured process, there are conflicting opinions within the community regarding inclusionist and deletionist views. Inclusionists believe that every topic should have a page, while deletionists prioritize quality and only include meaningful subjects that can be maintained adequately.
The Role of Patrolling and Training
New articles are subject to rigorous scrutiny. A system of patrolling is in place to ensure that new articles either meet quality standards or are tagged for deletion. This process includes:
New Article Patrol: Trained editors check new articles as part of their training. Articles that pass the initial check are saved, while those that fail are tagged for deletion. Article Rescue Squadron: A smaller group of experienced editors works on rescuing articles that can be improved and saved.This system ensures that only articles with potential are given a chance. The high false positive rate of tagging legitimate articles for deletion is a result of the rigorous scrutiny process.
Conclusion
The focus on structural elements, such as the comprehensive coverage of topics and the rigorous review process, largely contributes to the disproportionate number of new articles being tagged for deletion. The absence of a hierarchical structure, with seasoned and new editors alike facing the same standards, ensures a level playing field rather than fostering an elitist culture.
Understanding these factors clarifies the actual reasons behind the deletion process and addresses misconceptions about elitism in the Wikipedia community.