User:Hadi/UniFR

Wikipedia: an introduction

Wikipedia: live!

Website: http://listen.hatnote.com

(in case of network limitation: recorded video)

The problem with Wikipedia is that it only works in practice. In theory, it can never work.

Miikka Ryokas, quoted in the NY Times, 23.4.2007

Importance of Wikipedia

One of the websites with most traffic: worldwide and in Switzerland on rank seven (2022; link).

Graphic: Comparison of number of the world population - readers - editors

Different types of decision-making within Wikipedia

Wikimedia's present power structure is a mix of anarchic, democratic, meritocratic, technocratic and other elements.

Wikipedia is a volunteer community and does not require the Wikipedians to give any more time and effort than they wish. Editors are free to take a break or leave Wikipedia at any time.

Different decision types include:

1. Changing the rules
2. Election of administrators
3. Deletion of a Wikipedia article
4. Decisions on how an article is to be formulated

1. Changing the rules

Requests for comment (RfC) is a process for requesting input concerning disputes, policies, or guidelines. After often very long talks, someone lists the conclusions (if there are any).

2. Elections of administrators

Tasks of an Administrator

Administrators have tasks comparable to sports arbitrators.

Administrators, commonly known as "admins" are editors who have been trusted with access to technical features. For example, administrators can protect and delete pages, and block other editors. (The English Wikipedia has about 1000 administrators.)

Admins are elected differently according to the Wikipedia language version:

– English version, the candidate must demonstrate that they are publicly supported by at least 75 percent of the editors involved during the seven-day community review period. Example: link

– German version, elections (at least 66% votes in favour are needed)

3. Deletion of a Wikipedia article

The Wikipedia deletion policy describes how pages that do not meet the relevant criteria for content of the encyclopedia are identified and removed from Wikipedia.

If there is doubt as to whether there is consensus to delete a page, administrators will normally not delete it. Consensus on Wikipedia does not mean unanimity, neither is it the result of a vote.

4. Decisions as to how an article text is to be formulated

Wikimedia pages can be edited collaboratively by anyone, including IP users. Some people call this anarchy. Others call it meritocracy because editors with more merits (performance, achievements) have more to say. And those with more endurance have more influence on how an article is formulated.