[kwlug disc.] Microsoft in trouble for wanting Wikipedia edits

[Unsolicited]

Chris wrote:
 > and ruled that the original articles didn't have an obvious 
bias.

I didn't get that out of the original link. Only that the whole 
thing was verboten. Nothing about bias or lack of it that I saw.

Sy wrote:
 > They want the information presented, especially the technical
 > information, to be as accurate as possible.  They care enough that
 > they're willing to pay people to take the time to keep articles
 > up-to-date, write well, cite sources and contribute to the 
Wikipedia.
 > More companies should take this route.

I don't agree, at least not strictly. The rules for vendors not 
posting / protection for bias seem to me to be there for good 
reason. Especially to remove to as great extent as possible any 
'spin'ning.

Mind you, MS was beat before it started - past FUD makes everyone 
suspect MS of everything and anything. And, I suspect, rightly so 
more often than not, and probably more often than I think in a 
worst case scenario.

However, having to put out white papers that link from Wikipedia 
to counteract 'mistakes' does seem awkward. Don't know how MS 
accomplishes their goals in an acceptable manner here.

Another problem would be once the 'wrong' information is in 
there, even if successfully later corrected by MS, that 
information was still out there and presumably seen by multiple 
people. How does MS go correct the 'misinformation' already seen?

Which, in the end, may well be why the white paper route makes 
the most sense.


Sy Ali wrote, On 1/24/2007 5:44 PM:
> On 1/24/07, Rick <rickm at golden.net> wrote:
>> Can't tell if Microsoft is really the bad guy in this situation.
>> Anyway, is good to know people are keeping vigil.
>>
>> Microsoft catches heat over offer to pay for Wikipedia edit
>> http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/01/23/tech-microsoftwikipedia-20070123.html 
>>
> 
> They're not the bad guy.  They're just being more open about it and
> people are biased.  =)
> 
> They want the information presented, especially the technical
> information, to be as accurate as possible.  They care enough that
> they're willing to pay people to take the time to keep articles
> up-to-date, write well, cite sources and contribute to the Wikipedia.
> More companies should take this route.
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