mediating the construction of knowledge @ wikipedia
DESCRIPTION
Mediating the Construction of Knowledge @ Wikipedia. Sebastian Helm http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:SebastianHelm [email protected]. Presentation for the Nonviolent Peaceforce, March 11, 2007. What is Wikipedia?. fast-moving, evolving encyclopedia mirror of the real world - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Mediating the Construction of Knowledge @ Wikipedia
Sebastian Helmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:[email protected]
Presentation for the Nonviolent Peaceforce, March 11, 2007
What is Wikipedia?
fast-moving, evolving encyclopedia mirror of the real world most popular reference site
(1.2 billion requests/day) accessible mouthpiece for everyone
Article
Wikipedia pages
ArticleArticle
TalkTalkTalk
UserUserUser
TalkTalkTalk
WPWPWP
TalkTalkTalk
Plus for each page: History, Diffs, Related Changes, What links here, …
for readers for editors
CatCatCateg.
TalkTalkTalk
Wikipedia Main Page
A Wikipedia article page
A Wikipedia category
A Wikipedia user page
A Wikipedia project page
Editing
A Wikipedia page history
A Wikipedia diff
Wikipedia rules Five pillars:
Wikipedia is an encyclopedia … Wikipedia has a neutral point of view … Wikipedia is free content that anyone may edit… Wikipedia has a code of conduct … Wikipedia does not have firm rules …
However, there are 44 pages of “Wikipedia official policy” and 300 pages of guidelines
Sri Lanka @ Wikipedia
400 articles 45,000 requests/day 150 edits and discussion contributions/day 50 involved editors
reach: 2.2 /million users - compare with: nonviolentpeaceforce.org: 0.15 defence.lk: 6.5 tamilnation.org: 21
Why mediate on Wikipedia?
very diverse users many people try to push their POV
(Point Of View) confrontation!
A Sinhalese POV pusher
When I first joined wiki, I wanted to make articles about [my other interests]..BUT after seeing the systematic rape of our country in wikipedia, I changed my mind..first, As a Sri Lankan its my duty to keep the good name of my country. Rest comes next.
A moderate Tamil
I am in it to give voice to all the dead people especially the Tamils because it is just luck that allowed me to be alive versus being dead like them.
LTTE is a willing partner in this (auto)genocide. By their futile resistance and lack of vision and compromise they have simply made us vulnerable as the polar bears, i.e. facing extinction.
Page that was under mediation
Edit war
In an incident in December 1995, members of the STF in the east commandeered a civilian bus to move quickly to an STF camp at Pudukudiirippu in Batticaloa district which was under attack by the LTTE. They forced the civilians to remain on board, resulting in several civilian deaths when the bus came under LTTE fire. <ref> http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/human/1995/southasia/sri_lanka.html </ref>
Edit war about funeral
Assume good faith
Techniques
mediation nonviolent communication deletion of personal attacks reversion of deletions tagging of unsourced statements temporary measures:
page protection user block
Wikipedia is a chance for peace
building up trust from the base transparency:
every action recorded built on links
one person can make a difference!
Wikipedia is a chance to train NP recruits
learn about the country practice nonviolent
communication coaching
Idea: Create a WikiProject for NP
utilize support base huge pool to tap:
99 applicants turned down for 1 position!
keep them involved visible portfolio for applicants
gives NP a presence on WP NP could endorse members
(learn from NCSLC)
A WikiProject is a collection of internal pages, maintained by an associated group of editors who coordinate a specific group of articles.
