Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Jimmy Wales Faces Allegations of Corruption

Posted by Zonk on from the he's-no-jimmy-james dept.

eldavojohn writes "The SFGate site has up an article noting that Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, is facing allegations from multiple quarters accusing him of abusing his power. Several people apparently claim he used the foundation to pay for personal expenses, including reimbursement for a $1,300 dinner for four at a Florida steakhouse. Accusations have also been made indicating that he edited the Wikipedia entry of political commentator Rachel Marsden, a woman he was seeing, at her request. In the case of that allegation, Wales replied that 'I acted completely consistently with Wikipedia policy. I did the right thing: I passed along my work to date for other editors to deal with, and I recused myself from the case.'"

4 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. The devious plot is out.. again by fictionpuss · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The most interesting thing about Wikipedia is that it could be founded by a hypocritical douche, but still remain a valuable repository of information. That in itself is enough to convince me that Web2.0 isn't just an empty phrase, not least because it is the legacy of Wikimedia and collaborative knowledge gathering which makes accounts of such douchiness hard to suppress.

    That, and the fact that the Wikipedia elite seem to be so inept in keeping secret their devious plots.

  2. An open community wins again by A+beautiful+mind · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This case with Jimmy shows how open initiatives win the day again. It doesn't matter if Jimmy Wales gets thrown into jail for murder, or if his character is undermined. It doesn't matter, because the only thing that matters is the positive contribution he made by founding Wikipedia and his later life or his personal details don't effect that.

    It is like science, it doesn't matter who comes up with the evidence or the theory to explain it. The only thing that matters whether it's correct or not.

    --
    It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
    Be yourself no matter what they say
  3. How is it different... by ShatteredArm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    from other nonprofits? Some CEOs of nonprofits get paid hundreds of thousands per year of donated money, and this guy can't treat three friends to a $325 meal? Not saying I approve of his conduct, but this isn't really that damning.

    Now the real problem is that he, the creator of wikipedia, hasn't been able to convince some private company to give him lots of money. You think that'd do pretty well on a resume.

  4. Re:Like Volkswagen by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    An angel taking a leak is more newsworthy than the devil strangling a kitten.

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear