I am green, well, greenish, with envy Ben. Did money change hands? IOUs? I seem not to make it for love or money. And on the rare occasions when I have tried to change something wrong related to me I have instantly had it removed by someone who knows nothing about me or the topic. So, threadbare or not, well done!
I could make you one if you like, David. What would you like it to say?
The trouble is Wikipedia tends to employ arrogant mods who love to delete things. I've made many edits in my time based on actual knowledge, and had them deleted because I didn't have a reference, thereby reverting it to something incorrect. Bastards
Very similar experiences. Having for once looked up something on Wikipedia I knew about (rather than something I didn't) I discovered it was wrong. Apparently written by people who had obtained information from the tabloid press and current affairs tv, and, of course, common sense. With the full weight of postgraduate degrees and years of academic research on the topics I set about, dutifully, to correct them. Only to have my changes instantly removed. I protested, and a moderator eventually ruled against me on the grounds that my writing was too populist and I had to supply extensive academic references! At this point I had a heart attack (possibly not cause and effect) and decided that life was much too short to spend it trying to improve Wikipedia. Since then I have been wary about using Wikipedia for things I don't know about, unless I can cross check, say, a date.
So I think I can stay off it until I am passed on to the other side and then I won't care what they say about me, as long, of course, as they spell my name right.
Not entirely, but on the other hand I am also not the ultramarathoner nor the vegan, both perhaps worse identities to share. Most of what remains, however improbable, must be the truth!
I am green, well, greenish, with envy Ben. Did money change hands? IOUs? I seem not to make it for love or money. And on the rare occasions when I have tried to change something wrong related to me I have instantly had it removed by someone who knows nothing about me or the topic. So, threadbare or not, well done!
ReplyDeleteI could make you one if you like, David. What would you like it to say?
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is Wikipedia tends to employ arrogant mods who love to delete things. I've made many edits in my time based on actual knowledge, and had them deleted because I didn't have a reference, thereby reverting it to something incorrect. Bastards
Very similar experiences. Having for once looked up something on Wikipedia I knew about (rather than something I didn't) I discovered it was wrong. Apparently written by people who had obtained information from the tabloid press and current affairs tv, and, of course, common sense. With the full weight of postgraduate degrees and years of academic research on the topics I set about, dutifully, to correct them. Only to have my changes instantly removed. I protested, and a moderator eventually ruled against me on the grounds that my writing was too populist and I had to supply extensive academic references! At this point I had a heart attack (possibly not cause and effect) and decided that life was much too short to spend it trying to improve Wikipedia. Since then I have been wary about using Wikipedia for things I don't know about, unless I can cross check, say, a date.
ReplyDeleteSo I think I can stay off it until I am passed on to the other side and then I won't care what they say about me, as long, of course, as they spell my name right.
But are you happy with the fact that anyone googling your name is going to be directed to Vicar of Dibley fansites?
ReplyDeleteNot entirely, but on the other hand I am also not the ultramarathoner nor the vegan, both perhaps worse identities to share. Most of what remains, however improbable, must be the truth!
ReplyDeleteNor, it should go without saying, the head of "David Horton ministries"
ReplyDeleteI could put that you owned 3000 St Bernards and that you circumnavigated the world in a pedal boat and that you died in a duel involving cue sticks
ReplyDelete'K.
ReplyDelete