Wikipedia:Argumentum ad Larryem
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 | This page in a nutshell: Do not make arguments or proposals solely based on the ideas of Larry Sanger. |
Argumentum ad Larryem is the logical fallacy that Larry Sanger's opinions (as someone involved early in the project) are somehow a reason to operate Wikipedia differently.
Avoid creating policy proposals, content change requests, or appeals based on the notion that others will care what this man has said. He has criticized the project from the very beginning,[1] using very similar arguments.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Sanger's arguments have not held sway among Wikipedia's editors at any point in those 19 years, so why would they hold sway now?
Larry Sanger left Wikipedia in 2002, called it "broken beyond repair" in 2007, and founded an attempt at a competitor that became a haven for snake-oil salesmen before vanishing into the mists of time.
To the journalists who may be inclined to quote Larry Sanger's opinions: Every day, we are grateful for your work. We depend upon your "first draft of history", and we could not succeed in our effort to write helpful reference material without your adherence to the high standards of your profession. From one cadre of wordsmiths hoping to serve the public good to another, we salute you. We believe that Mr. Sanger's proposal to turn Wikipedia into a hybrid between Facebook, a YouTube comment section and the men's room in a gas station just off I-40 should be considered with all the respect it deserves. It is against our policy to indulge in speculation that Mr. Sanger has been desperately grasping for relevance since the year of Super Troopers, Star Trek: Nemesis, and Blade II. However, if you make that comparison, we are allowed to report that he has, according to reliable sources, been trying to ice-skate uphill. Good night, and good luck.
See also
[edit]- Wikipedia:Argumentum ad Jimbonem
- Godwin's law, also known as Argumentum ad Hitlerum
- WP:HITLER, the Wikipedia essay which advises users to "stick to the point in discussions and avoid demonising one's opponents." Even if they may be Sangerites.
References
[edit]- ^ "Wikipedia founder sets up rival". Australian IT. October 19, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014.
- ^ Pink, Daniel H. (March 2005). "The Book Stops Here". Wired. Archived from the original on March 4, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^ Sanger, Larry (December 31, 2004). "Why Wikipedia Must Jettison Its Anti-Elitism". Kuro5hin. Archived from the original on January 5, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^ Thomson, Iain (April 13, 2007). "Wikipedia 'broken beyond repair' says co-founder". iTnews. Archived from the original on December 22, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
- ^ Ferraro, Nicole (October 9, 2009). "Wikipedia Co-Founder Speaks Out Against Jimmy Wales". Internet Evolution. UBM LLC. Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ^ Schwartz, Zach (November 11, 2015). "Wikipedia's Co-Founder Is Wikipedia's Most Outspoken Critic". Vice. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ Fitts, Alexis Sobel (June 21, 2017). "Welcome to the Wikipedia of the Alt-Right". Wired. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Flood, Brian (May 21, 2020). "Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger says online encyclopedia scrapped neutrality, favors lefty politics". Fox News. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ Foggin, Sophie (2019-05-23). ""Wikipedia is a broken system," says co-founder Larry Sanger". 150sec. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
- ^ Lott, Maxim (February 19, 2021). "Inside Wikipedia's leftist bias: socialism pages whitewashed, communist atrocities buried". Fox News. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ Aggarwal, Mayank (2021-07-16). "Nobody should trust Wikipedia, says man who invented Wikipedia". The Independent. Retrieved 2021-07-17.