The world's most democratic encyclopedia in theory falls rather short of that in practice, as the case of Rupert's Wikipedia page abundantly illustrates. It's been a battleground for years, where Guerrilla skeptics and other dogmatic activists dominate the content, preventing others from changing the text, even to correct errors, by automatically reversing their edits, banning people who continue to try, and other unsavory tactics.
Rupert's is one of many pages they've taken over. In Wikipedia Under Threat Rupert describes the broader problem in depth. He spoke on the topic at Hollyhock and on BBC World Update. Author Craig Weiler was inspired enough to write a book about the problem, and Rome Viharo produced an extensive case study documenting the edit war from the trenches, finally discovering the identities of some of the annonymous guerrilla skeptics causing so much grief.
All this and more below.
Audios
- The Wikipedia Problem, Hollyhock, July 2014 22 min
- Rupert on BBC World Service November 1, 2013 5 min
Essays by Rupert
Wikipedia Under Threat
Wikipedia is a wonderful invention. But precisely because it's so trusted and convenient, people with their own agendas keep trying to take it over. Editing wars are common. According to researchers at Oxford University, the most controversial subjects worldwide include Israel and God.
A Case Study on Editing Rupert's Wikipedia Page
Wikipedia We Have a Problem
by Rome Viharo.
In 2020 the domain name for this critical website was hijacked. Thankfully archive.org has the original content.
A Book on the TED and Wikipedia Controversies
Psi Wars: TED, Wikipedia and the Battle for the Internet
by Craig Weiler
"First rate exposé of an Orwellian reality in plain sight."
– Dean Radin
Craig also blogged about the wikipedia battle for Rupert Sheldrake's biography.
From SkepticalAboutSkeptics.org
Reasons to Walk Away from Wickedpedia
Wikipedia Editors: A Psychological Profile
Wikipedia’s Hate Campaign Against Ayurveda
Wikipedia: The Internet’s Devil’s Island
Wikipedia Embraces the Dark Side
Can We Trust Wikipedia and Its Medical Skepticism?
Rampant Harassment on Wikipedia
Stephen Barrett: Wikipedia’s Agent Provacateur Against Natural Medicine
Wikipedia, a tool for the ruling elite
Wikipedia: Our New Technological McCarthyism, Part One
Wikipedia: Our New Technological McCarthyism, Part Two
Wikipedia: Rotten to the Core?
More...
The "Talk" page for Rupert's Wikipedia Entry
Here you can read the detailed history of exchanges between skeptics and those seeking a more neutral viewpoint yourself.
Topics That Spark Wikipedia 'Edit Wars' Revealed
BBC News, 18 July 2013
