Wikipedia television mention makes news
Following Wikipedia's mention on United States television series, The Office, this article, published by the Associated Press, mentioned the edits made, and the semi-protection of the article. It also referenced previous vandalism to Stephen Colbert and John Seigenthaler Sr.
On the 5 April, 2007 episode of the United States television series The Office, entitled "The Negotiation," Wikipedia ("the best thing ever") was extensively used by Michael Scott, who printed out a list of raise negotiations during salary negotiations. He explained his reasoning for using the article, stating "anybody in the world can write anything they want, about any subject, so you know you are getting the best possible information." This was the second time that The Office has mentioned Wikipedia (see archived story), and the third time it has been mentioned on an NBC sitcom.
After the article was mentioned on the show, Negotiation (process) was semi-protected multiple times due to the vandalism it received in the thirty minutes following the mention -- immediately after the mention, 50 edits were recorded in a little over a half hour, from 9 anonymous and 2 newly-registered users.
Briefly
The Arbitration Committee opened one case this week, and closed two cases.
Closed cases
- Billy Ego-Sandstein: A case, that opened and closed in just ten days, involving the actions of Billy Ego and administrator Sandstein. Billy Ego alleged that Sandstein misused his administrator powers by removing disputed material from Billy Ego's userpage and blocking him when it was restored. Much of the evidence presented, however, has focused on Billy Ego's own behavior. As a result of the case, Billy Ego was banned for one year.
- Armenia-Azerbaijan: A case, brought by ex-arbitrator Dmcdevit, regarding a dispute between Armenian and Azerbaijani editors on a large number of articles. The following remedies were enacted: Banned for one year, users AdilBaguirov (talk), Artaxiad (talk), and Fadix (talk). Placed on revert parole for one year, users Aivazovsky (talk), Atabek (talk), Azerbaijani (talk), Dacy69 (talk), Eupator (talk), Fedayee (talk), Grandmaster (talk), TigranTheGreat (talk), and Elsanaturk (talk). Placed on revert parole and civility parole, ROOB323 (talk).
New case
- Certified.Gangsta-Ideogram: A case involving the actions of Certified.Gangsta and Ideogram, both of whom Durova and others allege to have been involved in edit-warring on Taiwan-related articles. Ideogram, who has also been accused of improper behaviour on the community noticeboard, denies the allegations. Certified.Gangsta presented evidence, in which he alleges that Ideogram has engaged in canvassing, wikistalking, and orchestrating an anti-Certified.Gangsta campaign. He also denies Durova's allegiations.
Evidence phase
- E104421-Tajik: A case involving the actions of E104421 and Tajik. The case was opened, but a motion to suspend the case pending a referral to community-based mediation has the support of five arbitrators.
- Betacommand: A case involving the actions of Betacommand. Some of Betacommand's blocks have been questioned, and his bot-related actions have led to his removal from the bot approvals group. Betacommand has noted that he makes numerous username-related blocks, and that most of his blocks were appropriate. Whether Betacommand used his administrative account for bot-related activity, whether he is unique in doing so, and whether such an action should be allowed or not, have also been questioned.
Voting phase
- Freedom skies: A case involving the actions of Freedom skies. JFD and others allege that he has edit warred to push his point of view. He denies the allegations. A remedy to place Freedom skies on revert parole has the support of three arbitrators.
- Falun Gong: A case regarding the conduct of various editors on the Falun Gong article. Olaf Stephanos and Asdfg12345 allege that Samuel Luo has edit-warred in removing pro-Falun Gong material from the article, while Luo, Tomananda and others allege that Stephanos, Asdfg and others have edit-warred (including page blanking) in removing anti-Falun Gong material. A remedy placing Falun Gong on article probation has the support of four arbitrators; a series of other remedies placing various users on revert parole and/or banning them from Falun Gong and related articles and talk pages have been proposed, but voting on them is split.