Sunday, June 28, 2020

@Wikipedia and freedom of speech

When you disagree on Wikipedia with current practices, you have to use stilted language to prevent administrators taking offence and blocking your account. 

At this time many articles of black female scientists have been marked for deletion. It is an organised effort because there are lists subdividing these articles on criteria. For the record, for many of these fine scientists I added content on Wikidata, added all kinds of information including awards.

When I learned that the article for Ayana Jordan was marked for deletion, I added the following protest: "Keep I want to stress that those !@##$ who make these proposals should be ashamed. Thanks, GerardM (talk) 05:10, 27 June 2020 (UTC)". The response came quick: "@GerardM: unlike some others here, yours is not a new account. So you should need no reminding that personal attacks and assumptions of bad faith are forbidden here. —" I replied with: " I did not use any swear words, I did express my opinion of the people who are so detrimental to what Wikipedia should stand for. That is not bad faith that is not a personal attack that is expressing revulsion. Thanks, GerardM (talk) 06:01, 27 June 2020 (UTC)". The conversation was taken elsewhere, I was blocked for a day.

For a Wikipedia administrator, it should be no news that these people who are repressive of what is not their cup of tea are widely resented. Marking articles for deletion is a form of harassment. I do not care who proposed the deletion, I do not know the person who marked Avana's article for deletion and I do not care to know him and his ilk. We have a situation where harassment is allowed and calling out such travesties is considered a personal attack and an assumption of bad faith. 

So I have been blocked for a day. I am proud to stand up against such bullies. I consider the process of deletion as rigged. These !@##$ are free to do as they wish because "we should assume good faith". Hell no.
Thanks,
     GerardM

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