I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
washingtonexaminer.com
I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
1–10 of 22 posts
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#2Yep, this has long been an issue. Wikipedia articles on even slightly political topics are very one-sided. The rules that govern Wikipedia reinforce a certain set of views, and those who hold power in that community also share certain sets of views. Larry Sanger has talked about this trend for many years, but I am not sure there’s a way to stop the increasing bias in Wikipedia. The activists running it have too much time.
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#3Archive/avoid trackers:https://megalodon.jp/2026-0709-1615-43/https://www.washingto...
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#4He technically co-founded but left the project in 2002. he hasn’t been involved with Wikipedia for the vast majority of the project life. He’s actively using his cofounder title to push his anti-vaccine, pro-maga agenda.
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#5Wikipedia is just some kind of tertiary aggregator of source information. It's true that it's got a blue tribe slant to many articles where it's not relevant, but that's sort of regional. Indian articles have their own very-different flavour and all that. Anyway, here's the WP that canvassing for got him banned for: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Larry_Sanger/WikiProject_...
I don't see it now but I could have sworn he said that the climate change article should have more information on how it is contested. Personally, I don't think that's reasonable because it wouldn't accurately summarize the state of knowledge and reputable sources around the subject.
I chafe as much as anyone about overly propagandist texts in Wikipedia (and I've deleted or edited a fair few) but the climate change article seems overall fine. It's not slanted or anything. I'm sure one could interpret "intellectual diversity" to include outright nonsense but I don't think there's much point to it. In any case, considering he has the Citizendium project and has only sporadically contributed to Wikipedia over the last two decades, I don't get why he's back here.
For some reason, back in 2025 he decided to archive his previous user page describing his resignation in 2002[1] and start this Wikiproject and do not much else.
I don't know, man. At some point, one no longer retains any authority as founder. The whole thing just seems like some kind of culture war nonsense.
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Larry_Sanger...
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#6Yep, this has long been an issue. Wikipedia articles on even slightly political topics are very one-sided. The rules that govern Wikipedia reinforce a certain set of views, and those who hold power in that community also share certain sets of views. Larry Sanger has talked about this trend for many years, but I am not sure there’s a way to stop the increasing bias in Wikipedia. The activists running it have too much…
Facts aren't views.
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#7The thing that rubs me the wrong way about WP (and one of the core issues in this controversy) is "taxation without representation".
Wikipedia is perfectly happy to promote the grand narrative that they are the thankless sacred keepers of humanity's knowledge. They'll take your edits. And they are perfectly happy to take your money for this divine goal. Just take a look at the marketing they plaster onto every page during the fundraising drive.
But the second that someone commits the grave sin of "canvassing" outside of Wikipedia to bring attention to an issue they care about, they get banned, and the discussion is ended. There's just a total lack of accountability for anything unless you play by the thick codex of online governance rules they made up.
It's why I haven't ever donated anything to Wikipedia.
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#8Yep, this has long been an issue. Wikipedia articles on even slightly political topics are very one-sided. The rules that govern Wikipedia reinforce a certain set of views, and those who hold power in that community also share certain sets of views. Larry Sanger has talked about this trend for many years, but I am not sure there’s a way to stop the increasing bias in Wikipedia. The activists running it have too much…
Any example articles to look at that demonstrate your point?
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#9The thing that rubs me the wrong way about WP (and one of the core issues in this controversy) is "taxation without representation". Wikipedia is perfectly happy to promote the grand narrative that they are the thankless sacred keepers of humanity's knowledge. They'll take your edits. And they are perfectly happy to take your money for this divine goal. Just take a look at the marketing they plaster onto every page d…
[deleted]
Re: I co-founded Wikipedia, but an anonymous mob runs the show – and now I'm banned
#10Wikipedia has become a toxic place, at least for most political/partisan topics.
But if it really wants to be a community build site, it makes sense that a Co-Founder doesn't have any special rights. ("The irony is that not even a co-founder can edit it if he is attempting to implement his program of reform.")