Changes

Another level of error and bias comes from Wikipedia's reliance on poorly-trained volunteers instead of paid professionals.  For example, someone proposed that a copyrighted photo of Joseph Stalin taken by [[Margaret Bourke-White]] be deleted in 2009.<ref>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Deletion_requests/File:Joseph_Stalin.jpg</ref> It was kept because someone with a gmail account sent permission claiming to be her son.  She died without children<ref>http://womenshistory.about.com/od/margaretbourkewhite/a/Margaret-Bourke-White.htm</ref> and the photo's copyrighted actually belonged to Time, Inc. but the mistake was not detected until 2012.

Another level of error and bias comes from Wikipedia's reliance on poorly-trained volunteers instead of paid professionals.  For example, someone proposed that a copyrighted photo of Joseph Stalin taken by [[Margaret Bourke-White]] be deleted in 2009.<ref>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Deletion_requests/File:Joseph_Stalin.jpg</ref> It was kept because someone with a gmail account sent permission claiming to be her son.  She died without children<ref>http://womenshistory.about.com/od/margaretbourkewhite/a/Margaret-Bourke-White.htm</ref> and the photo's copyrighted actually belonged to Time, Inc. but the mistake was not detected until 2012.

Wikipedia relies upon volunteer administrators to control the content of the website.  The number of administrators continues to shrink.  In January 2008, there were 1,011 administrators, but the number dropped to 661 in November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_administrators/stat_table|title=Wikipedia:List of administrators/stat table|accessdate=Feburary 7, 2013}}</ref> The number drops because the process of selecting new administrators subjects each candidate to extensive abuse.  If the action of Wikipedia administrators appear very odd, perhaps it is because the actions are the product of anonymous, very young people or, in some cases, of mentally ill people.  For example, sysop Altenmann was  desysopped and community-banned in April 2010 for sockpuppeting and improper closure of deletion discussions over a period of several years.  He admitted mental illness and has been unbanned.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk:Arbitration_Committee/Noticeboard&oldid=491693521</ref>

Wikipedia relies upon volunteer administrators to maintain the accountability of the website and enforce its rules.  The number of administrators continues to shrink.  In January 2008, there were 1,011 administrators, but the number dropped to 661 in November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_administrators/stat_table|title=Wikipedia:List of administrators/stat table|accessdate=Feburary 7, 2013}}</ref> The number drops because the process of selecting new administrators subjects each candidate to extensive abuse.  If the action of Wikipedia administrators appear very odd, perhaps it is because the actions are the product of anonymous, very young people or, in some cases, of mentally ill people.  For example, sysop Altenmann was  desysopped and community-banned in April 2010 for sockpuppeting and improper closure of deletion discussions over a period of several years.  He admitted mental illness and has been unbanned.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk:Arbitration_Committee/Noticeboard&oldid=491693521</ref>

 

== Humorous quotes relating to bias and Wikipedia ==

== Humorous quotes relating to bias and Wikipedia ==