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598 points leotravis10 | 5 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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Aurornis ◴[] No.45129732[source]
In the past few years I've noticed more and more issues on Wikipedia. It has never been perfect, but in the past it seemed like anything without sufficient sources would quickly get flagged as "citation needed" or questionable statements would get a warning label slapped on them.

Now, I can visit pages for certain medical conditions that contain completely unsourced claims with no "citation needed" nor any warnings. When I try to search for it, I often trace it back to alternative medicine or pseudoscience influencers.

The sad part is that when I've tried to remove obviously flimsy information, someone will immediately come along and add it back. Unless you're ready to spend months in a Wikipedia edit war with someone who obsesses over a page, there's no point in even trying. These people know the rules and processes and will use every one of them against you. When that fails, they'll try to pull rank. If that fails, they'll just quietly continue editing and rewriting (possibly from alt accounts) until you get too tired to fight the battle any more.

replies(3): >>45129922 #>>45130409 #>>45135006 #
ars ◴[] No.45129922[source]
I've noticed this exact same thing. And I too just gave up. People have their pet causes and they force the article to match, and normal, non-obsessed people give up.

Any controversial topic should never be read on Wikipedia, it will not be accurate.

replies(2): >>45130104 #>>45130566 #
1. pessimizer ◴[] No.45130566[source]
> People have their pet causes

People are paid whole-ass salaries to edit Wikipedia (and to become mods on Reddit.) They masquerade as (a dozen different) obsessed weirdos, but they are just normal middle-class people who are being paid to lie.

replies(1): >>45131029 #
2. theteapot ◴[] No.45131029[source]
I'd love some examples of specific pages.
replies(2): >>45131767 #>>45132623 #
3. UncleSlacky ◴[] No.45131767[source]
The "Philip Cross" controversy is relevant here, I think:

https://wikipedia.fivefilters.org/banning/

replies(1): >>45132023 #
4. tjfnvlo ◴[] No.45132023{3}[source]
The ArbCom is the worst of the lot: they proclaim themselves to be a supreme court, but they are closer to riot cops or a drumhead trial.

See also Canceling Disputes: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/law-and-social-inqui...

5. ◴[] No.45132623[source]