What should we do about Wikipedia’s p*rn problem?

[DadDude]

I want to start a conversation (or several).

I. Problem? What problem?

So, you didn’t know that Wikipedia has a p*rn problem?

Let me say what I do not mean by “Wikipedia’s p*rn problem.” I do not mean simply that Wikipedia has a lot of p*rn. That’s part of the problem, but it’s not even the main problem. I’m 100% OK with p*rn sites. I defend the right of people to host and view p*rn online. I don’t even especially mind that Wikipedia has p*rn. There could be legitimate reasons why an encyclopedia might want to have some “adult content.”

No, the real problem begins when Wikipedia features some of the most disgusting sorts of p*rn you can imagine, while being heavily used by children. But it’s even more complicated than that, as I’ll explain.

(Note, the following was co-written by me and several other people. I particularly needed their help finding the links.)

Here is the short version:

Wikipedia and other websites of the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) host a great deal of p*rnographic content, as well as other content not appropriate for children. Yet, the Wikimedia Foundation encourages children to use these resources. Google, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and many other high-profile sites have installed optional filters to block adult content from view. I believe the WMF sites should at a minimum install an optional, opt-in filter, as the WMF Board agreed to do in 2011. I understand that the WMF has recently stopped work on the filter and, after a period of community reaction, some Board members have made it clear that they do not expect this filter to be finished and installed. Wikipedians, both managers and rank-and-file, apparently do not have enough internal motivation to do the responsible thing for their broad readership.

But even that is too brief. If you really want to appreciate Wikipedia’s p*rn problem, I’m afraid you’re going to have to read the following.

Further in my blog post

[baz]

Mommies!! Lets help stir up a storm on this issue!

Daddude, if you noticed, I've tweetbombed a lot of people! Everyone should do the same. 
You should start a hashtag (e.g. #wikipornproblem)! That way if it becomes a 'trending' issue (lots of retweets), this issue can get more 'airtime' in the tweetspace!

[DadDude]

baz, thanks for your support. I like your idea of the hashtag...maybe if I start flooding Twitter again I'll use it.

I know a lot of people find this topic extremely distasteful. But if we ignore it just because we don't like to think about it, well, the problem will not go away on its own. "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (or women) to do nothing."

[JainaRei]

I want to do something but I really don't know where to start. I'm not on twitter and very rarely go on facebook. I guess I know a few mums who are on the web more then me. I could tell them about it.

[DadDude]

Sure, that would be useful!

[nee1]

DadDude,

I've read your blog link on the issue and feel extremely sad. What do you suggest we do to alleviate this monstrous issue?  I am neither on facebook nor twitter. Is there any other way we could help raise awareness on this matter as our very own early learning kids may need to use Wikipedia soon? Thank you for raising our awareness on this issue. I never knew it was so bad.

Does anyone else have suggestions on what we could do? Thanks for the responses.

Please, Brillkids Mummies and Daddies, arise! We're in big trouble here.

[LDSMom]

Hey Larry, just read this article on foxnews - http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/06/05/co-founder-larry-sanger-wikipedia-is-virtual-porn-hub/?test=latestnews - will be sharing with my Facebook friends.

[mybabyian]

I know a lot of people find this topic extremely distasteful. But if we ignore it just because we don't like to think about it, well, the problem will not go away on its own. "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (or women) to do nothing."

The first time I read Daddude;s blog article I was very disturbed by it.  I still am of course.  But that there is no outcry over this considering the impact this will have on our generation of children saddens me. 

I found it hard to locate many of the email addresses, but here are a few of the WMF Board of Trustees email addresses that we can contact to tell them to do the responsible thing and get the filter in place.

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

[ShenLi]

Daddude - thanks for bringing it to my attention. I had no idea... This is shocking! I've shared it on FB and will blog about it soon. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to add my voice to it.

[TeachingMyToddlers]

What's worth observing is that every time I look up something on wikipedia, I am solicited for a donation by Mr. Wales. However, he fails to disclose what donors are really supporting,...children's access to adult images. Lack of full disclosure if you ask me, knowing it's clearly a controversial topic.

[DadDude]

I agree--but if I can help it, people will know about it by the time donation time rolls around next fall/winter.

New news:
http://techcrunch.com/2012/06/05/keen-on-larry-sanger-does-wikipedia-need-to-be-censored-tctv/
(I like the interview, but since when does an opt-in filter count as "censorship"? Oy.)

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/06/05/co-founder-larry-sanger-wikipedia-is-virtual-porn-hub/

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/06/01/2119248/what-should-we-do-about-wikipedias-porn-problem
(Slashdot is insane.)

Anyway, please help spread the word!

[ShenLi]

You may already be aware of it, but just in case you aren't, here are a couple of sites you can join to fight the porn problem on Wikipedia...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-pornography-on-Wikipedia/307245972661745
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-pornography-on-wikipedia/

[DadDude]

I saw those, Shen-Li. Thanks also for your blog post!

[baz]

More news!

http://venturebeat.com/2010/05/16/wikipedia-founder-gives-up-control-of-site-over-fox-news-kiddie-porn-scandal/

http://arstechnica.com/business/2010/05/wikipedia-porn-and-the-fbi-how-sexual-images-are-handled/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/10/wikipedia-porn-purge-spar_n_569980.html

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/24/why-is-wikipedia-still-doling-out-porn/

[DadDude]

Well, those are old stories...still relevant though...

You might like this new video I made:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/uE4Z9qunAc4&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/uE4Z9qunAc4&rel=1</a>

Please vote it up!

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