“All he has done is try to start a right-wing/conservative pressure group within Wikipedia.”

Larry Sanger, one of Wikipedia’s cofounders, was banned from editing the site indefinitely after other editors determined he was canvassing, or in other words, calling on his followers off platform in order to influence Wikipedia’s content.

Sanger has spent more than a decade criticizing Wikipedia for what he claims is an ideological, left-wing bias on a variety of topics, and on X has framed this recent ban as further proof of everything that’s wrong with Wikipedia. The New York Post took that bait and last night published an article with the headline “Left-leaning Wikipedia blocked founder from editing site—after he campaigned to make it more balanced.”

Wikipedia editors obviously reject that framing and say that Sanger was banned for wielding his followers to sway discussion and decision making on Wikipedia. The discussion that led to the decision to ban Sanger concluded with what an editor called a “clear consensus” to ban Sanger.

  • nialv7@lemmy.worldEnglish
    393·
    13 days ago

    The thing is Wikipedia isn’t even left-wing. User survey shows the editors holds left-wing and right-wing beliefs about equally. And Jimmy Wales, the founder, is an Ayn Rand reading “objectivist” for crying out loud.

      • Bazoogle@lemmy.worldEnglish
        18·
        13 days ago

        If you base something on facts, it will be left leaning. Right leaning has a higher value in loyalty, authority, respect, and spirituality. They will deny facts if they have to in order to prioritize their other values. Right leaning people tend to be more likely to be on time, have cleaner desks, and speak more formally to someone they deem a “superior”. Left leaning often could give a rats ass about authority, and respect is only given once it’s earned.

        All that to say, facts and reality are more left leaning by nature. Given many religious folks will deny nature’s history for their spiritual beliefs.

      • Captain_Patchy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        112·
        13 days ago

        reality has a well known left-wing bias

        No, it’s just that the right-wing has become accustomed to lying it’s ass off to get what it wants.

        • Tollana1234567@lemmy.todayEnglish
          2·
          13 days ago

          also verifiable facts, and sciences contradicts right wing beliefs. plus having the dirty laundry of every prominent right winger as well. trump has a HORDe info about him, as did other R president.

    • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
      71·
      13 days ago

      problem is the use has a large ultra right and centerist groups but the actual left is small but growing in recent days.

      • tocopherol@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        4·
        13 days ago

        If you asked 1000 randomly picked Americans “should the wealthy elite own your surplus labor value?” you’d find a lot more agreement with leftist views than you’d think. The ultra-right is a big chunk but it’s not the majority, the dedicated core is just well organized and most westerners are ignorant about what they are actually voting for so it appears more popular.

        • Aatube@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          31·
          13 days ago

          I would expect them to be confused and suspicious of the term “surplus labor value”. If not, then education has a problem.

    • Tollana1234567@lemmy.todayEnglish
      2·
      13 days ago

      where is that survey source you got, i seriously doubt it, almost every right winger criticizes the site as not being right wing enough.

    • Aatube@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      33·
      13 days ago

      editors hold left-wing and right-wing beliefs about equally

      source? i’d doubt that unless you’re defining liberals as right-wing here