Texas Wikipedia policy suppresses sharing of information: And the Signpost loses and gains a co-editor-in-chief← Back to ContentsView Latest Issue4 August 2016 This article written by the Signpost editorial board. “ To the degree that anonymity achieves our goals, it should be supported—but this does not mean it should be supported absolutely and in all situations. –Doc James op-ed, July 2016 ”
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AFAICT, the stated purpose of Wikipedia is to create a neutrally worded encyclopedia about notable topics. As such, material which is not in furtherance of that goal may be restricted by Wikipedia. It is clear that such information as phone numbers and the like is not of long-term encyclopedia value, and that courts of proper and competent jurisdiction have held the same to be true. [1] gives the background on Brand's famed comment. "On the one hand information wants to be expensive, because it’s so valuable. The right information in the right place just changes your life. On the other hand, information wants to be free, because the cost of getting it out is getting lower and lower all the time. So you have these two fighting against each other." That quote is thus inapplicable here. Collect (talk) 14:54, 5 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you all for the comments and the congratulations. Throughout the years, I've always benefited from the Signpost, and I look forward to contributing to it more substantially going forward.
On the present editorial, three things seem to require clarification -- which probably speaks to our skill in composing it, as much as to the high intensity and strong opinions relating to this issue.
And Anthonyhcole, thanks for the note about tweeting links. I agree, it's something we should do more. We currently lack a social media editor; if we can fill that role, that should help. -Pete (talk) 20:12, 5 August 2016 (UTC) (ed.)[reply]
The freedom-of-press defeating wording of the NPA policy makes me think of two comparisons: first, the meta:copyright paranoia, and second, of the global terrorism-related security-vs-liberty debate. In all cases those cases it seems to that "good intentions" (be civil, respect law, prevent harm) are squashing other principles (freedom of press, illustrating encyclopedia, human rights) that are loosing because the latter are more public goods and/or have fewer parties interested in vocally defending them. Or are less "politically correct"/subject to populist endorsements. Anyway, as I said before, it is ridiculous that the Signpost should be prevented from reporting things are are clearly public information. Perhaps a solution would be to publish some articles on another site like meta where English Wikipedia policies have no reach. --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here 08:57, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]