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Jimmy Wales Faces Allegations of Corruption

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.'"

13 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. Jimbo Hilton by inflamed · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, internet celebrities are just as scandalous and shocking as television celebrities. It's like beer for your computer screen.

  3. that's funny by ILuvRamen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey that's funny, it doesn't talk about any of that on Jimmy Wales' wikipedia page...hmmm

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  4. 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.

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  5. 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.

  6. That's something by techpawn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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
    So basically, he's saying that yes you can write anything and it's up to the editors to catch it and make sure you're true. If my boss says "write us a shinny burb on Wikipedia!" I can say I was going with their policy because the editors should of caught my writing?
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  7. Not a peach by DrWho520 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Besides being a (former) talking head on Fox's Red Eye, Rachel Mardsen has been accused of harassment in the past. You might also note from the same article that she has falsely accused a man of sexual harassment. Ms. Mardsen target in the sexual harassment case claimed she sent him sexual e-mails and photographs.

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    1. Re:Not a peach by cperciva · · Score: 5, Informative

      Rachel Mardsen has been accused of harassment in the past.

      Not just accused, but found guilty of harassment.

  8. Re:Hitler by KevinKnSC · · Score: 5, Funny

    [Citation Needed]

  9. Dates and dinners are not the issue by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 5, Informative
    Clinton didn't get into trouble for getting a blowjob and vandalising a cigar. No he got into trouble for lying. Jimmy Wales is getting scorched because he made a bunch of rules and flagrantly ignores them when it suits his needs. The real bad thing here is that it undermines the whole supposed democratic nature of wikipedia. Jimmy Wales might have started Wikipedia (arguably by editing Sanger out of the Wikipedia history himself), but Wikipedia is now bigger than Jimmy.

    If you read the post above properly, you'll see that it does not say Wales == Hitler or use a Hitler reference to slur Wales, it just uses Hitler as an extreme case to say don't equate the product with the person.

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  10. Re:More to the story? by vux984 · · Score: 5, Informative

    That Marsden chick is nuts. I went to high school with her, and I was attending university at SFU at the same time her 'sex harrassment scandal' and got to see that unfold up close. We weren't in the same circle, but . "Nuts" doesn't really begin to cover it. Vindictive, manipulative, self-centered, detached from reality, borderline sociopathic ... I could go on.

    I hadn't realized she'd become something of a minor celebrity since then. I'd had her pegged as ending up a bitter cat-person writing angry columns. I guess she managed to make a career out of that. Wikipedia mentions she ended up with Bill O'Reilly on Fox for a number of years... Figures. Crazy attracts crazy. And even THEY fired her.

    If Jimmy Wales was keeping company with her... well... no wonder the breakup was bizarre enough to become newsworthy. As to charges of corruption... well.. you can learn something about a person by the company they keep. My assessment of Wales credibility is pretty low right now.

  11. Re:Hitler by Gloy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Godwin would have, too. Since Godwin is employed by the Wikimedia Foundation, he probably already has.
  12. Re:Like Volkswagen by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

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