User:Gekritzl/Deletion gestapo

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"Deletion Gestapo" and "Deletion Nazi" are terms used by frustrated contributors to Wiki-type websites and blogs, referring to any (allegedly) overly-exuberant contributor who is quick to delete Wiki articles or blog entries.

This article focuses on Wikis rather than blogs.

Contents

[edit] Origin of the Terms

The "Deletion Gestapo" and "Deletion Nazi" terms (and sometimes "Deletion Police" or "Deletion Mafia") came about largely due to repeated frustration by online encyclopedia and blog contributors who have their entries deleted or flagged for deletion.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Also known in more civil terms as "deletionists",[11] some related terms, "revert wars" and "edit wars" were coined referring to situations where contributors fight madly to change articles back and forth.[12][13]

Academic blogger and Vexi/XWT project originator Adam Megacz uses the term Deletion Gestapo to refer to people who delete "anything that can’t be validated using the first four hits from a one-word search on Google."[14] He continues: "Kinda sad. I stopped contributing [to Wikipedia] regularly a while ago because keeping up with deletions/alterations by the librarian types got to be too much effort. These people cause real problems for any sort of material that isn’t taught in high school." Many Wikipedia contributors feel the same frustration, and simply quit contributing.

[edit] Opposing Viewpoints

It has been postulated that psychological reasons for squabbling amongst Wikipedia contributors and recalcitrant viewpoints regarding edits or article "keep/delete" decisions revolve around the concept that "people love to get power and hate to give it up".[15] One group favoring deletionism[5] is the Association of Deletionist Wikipedians, whose goals are to "outpace rampant inclusionism," and to create "a quality encyclopedia containing as little junk as possible".[16] The association has been called "a cantankerous collective"[17], and a group that has "a bias towards deletion even in light of majority Keep votes".[18]

On the other side of this philosophy is the Association of Inclusionist Wikipedians[19] who want to focus on making articles as good as possible, and building the body of knowledge rather than focus on deleting.[20] Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales has publicly expressed the desire to encompass "the full body of human knowledge" made available to the entire world, and in hundreds of languages.[21] [22]

The use of the term "Gestapo", the official secret police of Nazi Germany, and "Nazi" as part of the term is considered problematic as it speaks to the adage cautioning against inflammatory rhetoric or exaggerated comparisons known as Godwin's Law that as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.[23] Godwin has argued[24] that overuse of Nazi and Hitler comparisons should be avoided, because it robs the valid comparisons of their impact.

[edit] Neutrality considered

Holding the middle-ground view is The Association of Mergist Wikipedians who believe "some information is notable and encyclopedic and therefore has a place on Wikipedia, much of it is not notable enough to warrant its own article and is therefore best merged".[25]

[edit] Reasons for Deletion

Roughly 4,000 articles are added to Wikipedia each day, and about half that number are deleted that same day.[2] There are many valid reasons for contributors to flag pages for deletion:

  • Advertising
  • Propaganda or advocacy
  • Violation of copyright
  • Content, especially negative content, that is not verifiable to a reliable source
  • Inappropriate for an encyclopaedia. From Wikipedia, "Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia. This means that lots of things that are useful are excluded because they don't belong in an encyclopaedia. A list of all the phone numbers in New York would be useful, but are not included because Wikipedia is not a directory (we have Yellowikis for that). A page defining the word useful would be useful but is not included because Wikipedia is not a dictionary (we have Wiktionary for that). A guide to the best restaurants in Paris would be useful but is not included because Wikipedia is not a travel guide (there is a Wikitravel for that)."
  • Minimum threshold of notability - contributors may flag such articles for deletion from a Wiki. For Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Notability.

[edit] Reasons for Inclusion

There are many "inclusionist" arguments from Deletion Gestapo "victims". Writers often speak of how powerfully liberating their first contribution felt.[27] Similarly, writers can feel frustrated, disempowered, and victimized after creating an article, only to see it disappear, even when sufficiently cited and notable according to official 'pedia policies.[28] Writers justify their position by quoting the various policies for inclusion and deletion:
For Wikipedia policies:

  • Decorum and politeness. Wikipedia urges any contributor to read the Wikipedia:Deletion policy before deleting or nominating an article for deletion. It says "When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page." (Discussing on the talk page before flagging for deletion is rarely done.)
  • Policies and guidelines. Wikipedia encourages contributors to "edit in good faith," show civility, seek consensus, and work towards the goal of creating a great encyclopedia[29].
  • Criteria for notability. Wikipedia policy on notability says that "notable" is defined as "worthy of being noted" or "attracting notice"; it is not synonymous with "fame" or "importance". This defense is given when the person flagging the deletion claims that an article is "minor" or "isn't needed". (There are no WP criteria for whether an article is "needed".) Notability criteria do not equate to personal or biased considerations, such as: "never heard of this," or "page does not meet the Wikipedia notability requirements" without explaining why.[30]
  • Wikipedia goal. Wikipedia's goal is stated as follows: "The goal of this project is to ensure that Wikipedia has a corresponding article for every article in every other general purpose encyclopedia available...".

For Wiktionary policies:

  • "All words" policy. "As an international dictionary, Wiktionary is intended to include 'all words in all languages'"[31]
  • "Multilingual". "Wiktionary is, above all, a multilingual dictionary".[32]

Wiktionary criteria for exclusion cites such things as vandalism, protologisms, "belongs in Wikisaurus", and Wiktionary is "not an encyclopedia", etc.[33]

The Wikirage website notes that this very (original WP) article was one that was receiving the most edits per unique editor over various periods of time[34], indicating the level of emotion from both sides of the deletionist argument.

[edit] Other deletionism

[edit] YouTube links

Many contributors delete YouTube links, (incorrectly) citing WP Youtube policy, which was only proposed - and rejected.[35]

[edit] Screenshots

The policy for Screenshots is clouded by legal issues of copyright. Screenshots and other art are often deleted from Wiki articles for copyright concerns. Wikipedia policy may be found at this link: [[6]

[edit] Neutrality

Maintaining a neutral point of view in articles can be difficult for any knowledgeable or passionate writer, but is essential. WP:NPOV policy requires views to be represented without bias. Types of bias include: Class, Commercial advertising, Ethnic or racial: racism, Geographical, Nationalistic, Gender, and Political.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Nelson, Thomas (2006). Understanding the Information Reformation That's Changing Your World, New Ed edition. ISBN 978-0785288046. 
  2. ^ a b Cohen, Noam. ""Word for Word: Wikipedia Wars"", New York Times, Oct 8, 2006., p. 4.7. ISSN 03624331. (English) 
  3. ^ Michel Bauwens, "Are the deletion Nazis taking over Wikipedia?".
  4. ^ Mediashift, "MySpace, Wikipedia Cope With Growing Pains" by Mark Glaser ["deletion gestapo"].
  5. ^ Wikipedia Founder Sees Serious Quality Problems ["...the 'vote for Deletion Nazis"].
  6. ^ August, John. Introducing jaWiki ["Deletion Nazis"].
  7. ^ [1] Pixelmutt, "Attention: Moron Alert" ["Deletion Police"]
  8. ^ [2] MVN Forum, "Piratical Parley and Politics," Thread: Wiki Stupidity ["deletion police"]
  9. ^ [3] Rubechat, "re: Challenge to the admins"
  10. ^ Live Journal, "Wikipedia: The Preschool Playground Of References" ("Webcomic Deletion Mafia").
  11. ^ [4] Wikipedia:Deletionist
  12. ^ Hafner, Katie. ""Growing Wikipedia Refines Its 'Anyone Can Edit' Policy"", New York Times, June 17, 2006. (English) 
  13. ^ LiveJournal, "Wikipedia: The Preschool Playground of References" ["Deletion Mafia"].
  14. ^ Mediashift, "MySpace, Wikipedia Cope With Growing Pains".
  15. ^ Raw Thought: "Who Runs Wikipedia?".
  16. ^ Wikimedia, "Association of Deletionist Wikipedians".
  17. ^ IF:Book, A Project of The Institute for the Future of the Book, "Ring entries tagged with wiki".
  18. ^ "Wikipedia:Deletion review/Log/2006 December".
  19. ^ Wikimedia, "Association of Inclusionist Wikipedians".
  20. ^ Rough Type, "Deletionists, inclusionists and delusionists," September 05, 2006.
  21. ^ Wales, Jimmy (2004-07-28). "Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales Replies". Slashdot. Retrieved on 2006-06-07.
  22. ^ [http://www.veen.com/jeff/archives/000880.html "Jimmy Wales: Steak Knives and Human Knowledge "].
  23. ^ Godwin, Mike (2004-10-01). Meme, Counter-meme. Wired http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.10/godwin.if.html
  24. ^ Godwin, Mike: Cyber Rights: Defending Free Speech in the Digital Age
  25. ^ Wikimedia, "The Association of Mergist Wikipedians".
  26. ^ Wikipedia Deletion policy
  27. ^ New York Times, "Growing Wikipedia Refines Its 'Anyone Can Edit' Policy," June 17, 2006.
  28. ^ Andrew Lih, "Unwanted: New articles in Wikipedia".
  29. ^ "Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines".
  30. ^ "Wikipedia:Notability".
  31. ^ "Criteria for inclusion".
  32. ^ "Wiktionary main page".
  33. ^ Wiktionary, "Exclusions".
  34. ^ Wikirage, "Deletion gestapo".
  35. ^ Wikipedia: "External links/YouTube".

[edit] References

  • [7] The Hops Community ["...deletion Nazi and needs to be put in check."]
  • [8] Deletionist at Wiktionary
  • [9] The Morgue Wants You.....to try and help me out with some requests ["deletion-Nazis"]
  • [10] Daily Telegraph (UK) blog article which suggests that over-enthusiastic deletionists are causing Wikipedia to stagnate.