[Campaigns-l] Going down the wrong path?

[Artie]

Stephen Abbott wrote:

>
>Since this is my first participation on the List, I want to say this is an
>awesome concept, and I hope it isn't ruined in its execution. I agree that
>FAIRNESS should be the goal, if not outright neutrality, though I must say I
>do understand the need for netural descriptions in many cases.
>
>Thanks, Jimbo, for starting this project!
>  
>
Let me echo Stephen's thanks and his concerns. This concept is an 
ambitious one, but without a firm, diligent editorial hand, I can't see 
how to avoid the inevitable partisan "editing wars."

The topics of neutrality and civility in political discourse are 
starting to make it into the MSM. Just the other night, George 
Stephanopolis had a show on ABC? about the divisive nature of American 
politics. There's the ongoing blogosphere handwringing about Ann 
Coulter, "Faux" News, Limbaugh, Weekly Standard, et al. Why should we 
expect the Mediawiki format to foster a more neutral, balanced or civil 
political discussion?

I don't want to appear as a critic of Wikipedia, because I genuinely 
like Wikipedia and the open, egalitarian ideals it promotes. Wikipedia 
admirable qualities are the very things that make it the most vulnerable 
to exploitation by partisan boors. The Seigenthaler episode is the 
perfect example. Right now, I see no way to avoid this kind of 
exploitation without some sort of constant editorial presense, and the 
editor(s) would face inevitable charges of partisan behavior.

Is there any way to avoid this?

Artie

>- Stephen A.
>User:Nhprman
>
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