Articles by: Smallbones

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Disinformation report Sex, power, and money revisited
2024-12-12
In the media Summons issued for Wikipedia editors by Indian court, "Gaza genocide" RfC close in news, old admin Gwern now big AI guy, and a "spectrum of reluctance" over Australian place names
2024-11-18
Publisher versus intermediary, bias versus verifiability, and probing questions about Gwern's personal finances.
In the media An old scrimmage, politics and purported libel
2024-11-06
Plus human knowledge and Ozzie places!
From the editors Editing Wikipedia should not be a crime
2024-11-06
But not everybody is able to legally read Wikipedia, and not everybody is able to legally edit Wikipedia.
In the media Off to the races! Wikipedia wins!
2024-10-19
Perplexing persistence, pay to play, potential president's possible plagiarism, crossword crossover to culture, and a wish come true!
Book review The Editors
2024-10-19
A novel about us, from the point of view of three of us.
In the media Courts order Wikipedia to give up names of editors, legal strain anticipated from "online safety laws"
2024-09-26
ANI (but probably not the one you're thinking of), bias and bans, crisis and Clover, Engelhorn's euros, and will the zoomers inherit the project?
In the media AI is not playing games anymore. Is Wikipedia ready?
2024-09-04
Updates from the Portland pol's case, the war in Gaza, and other Wiki-related reports.
Special report Nano or just nothing: Will nano go nuclear?
2024-08-14
Possibly paid articles.
In the media Portland pol profile paid for from public purse
2024-08-14
A STORM over an AI that writes articles. And other notes of interest.
In the media What's on Putin's fork, the court's docket, and in Harrison's book?
2024-07-22
Failing forks, smart and well-researched stories, LGBT rights, and oral sex!
In the media War and information in war and politics
2024-07-04
Advocacy organizations, a journalist, mycophobes, conservatives, leftists, photographers, and a disinformation task force imagine themselves in Wikipedia.
Gallery Spokane Willy's photos
2024-07-04
A virtual visit to the Inland Northwest.
Cobwebs Counting to a billion — manuscripts don't burn
2024-07-04
Special:Diff/1 and related techno-trivia more complicated than you'd think.
News and notes Wikimedia Foundation publishes its Form 990 for fiscal year 2022-2023
2024-06-08
The Form 990, as well as highlights and FAQs, are now available for review.
In the media National cable networks get in on the action arguing about what the first sentence of a Wikipedia article ought to say
2024-06-08
First line, sixth paragraph, body text or unified Reich?
News and notes Democracy in action: multiple elections
2024-05-16
WMF trustee elections, U4C results, Italian ArbCom, WMF and Endowment annual reports.
In the media Deadnames on the French Wikipedia, and a duel between Russian wikis
2024-05-16
Plus, the WMF joins the Unicode Consortium, Chris Albon talks about AI tools on Wikipedia, communities address under-representation on the site.
In the media Censorship and wikiwashing looming over RuWiki, edit wars over San Francisco politics and another wikirace on live TV
2024-04-25
Plus, tribute songs and shout-outs outweighing vandalism and hoaxes, a dispute about the real king of the platform and other bits of news.
News and notes Wikimedia Russia director declared "foreign agent" by Russian gov; EU prepares to pile on the papers
2024-02-13
"the exact extent of the obligations" unclear... many such cases!
In the media Speaking in tongues, toeing the line, and dressing the part
2024-02-13
The usual odd articles about Wikipedia.
Disinformation report How low can the scammers go?
2024-02-13
Lower, trust me!
In the media Katherine Maher new NPR CEO, go check Wikipedia, race in the race
2024-01-31
Another wobble, more Ackman, our usual pathological optimist, and football in dirty pants!
Disinformation report How paid editors squeeze you dry
2024-01-31
And how you can stop them!
In the media What is plagiarism? Oklahoma Disneyland? Reaching a human being at Wikipedia?
2024-01-10
Watch out for those space ships!
In the media Consider the humble fork
2023-12-24
Forky on forky on forky, plus a strange donation scheme and other interesting bits of news.
Gallery A feast of holidays and carols
2023-12-24
Peace on earth, goodwill to all!
In the media Turmoil on Hebrew Wikipedia, grave dancing, Olga's impact and inspiring Bhutanese nuns
2023-12-04
Plus Apple Pay, fiction, registration, expulsion, and elimination!
Disinformation report "Wikipedia and the assault on history"
2023-12-04
An analysis of a literary mystery.
In the media Propaganda and photos, lunatics and a lunar backup
2023-11-20
Comic-con, Media summit, and a classic!
Opinion An open letter to Elon Musk
2023-11-06
You should learn some of our rules!
In the media UK gov bigwig accused of ripping off WP articles for book, Wikipedians accused of being dicks by a rich man
2023-11-06
Plus Gaza bias, Speaker Johnson, Maher, the music of websites, and antisemitism.
In the media Thirst traps, the fastest loading sites on the web, and the original collaborative writing
2023-10-23
Also: High fives, Wikipedia as a guide for counterfeiters and crossword makers, and Iskander at the UN.
In the media History is written by whoever can harness the most editors
2023-10-03
Plus Harvard, Yale, Lords and Commons, partners and trolls!
In the media "Just flirting", going Dutch and Shapps for the defence?
2023-09-16
Plus a new judge, an "unimportant" record, and staying in the swim!
In the media Truth, AI, bull from politicians, and climate change
2023-08-01
Or just another brouhaha?
Disinformation report Hot climate, hot hit, hot money, hot news hot off the presses!
2023-08-01
Hot damn, it's damned hot!
In the media Journo proposes mass Wiki dox, sponsored articles on Fandom, Section 230 discussed
2023-07-03
Are you now, or have you ever been, a Wikipedia editor?
Disinformation report Imploded submersible outfit foiled trying to sing own praises on Wikipedia
2023-07-03
A few editors who fought many times to keep advertisements out.
In the media English WP editor glocked after BLP row on Italian 'pedia
2023-06-19
... and an AI writer explains why he just bought a paper encyc
In the media Section 230 stands tall, WP vs. UK bill, Miss Information dissed again
2023-06-05
Also: Goog gets delist ask for en-wp yt-dl ar-ticle, wacky football fails
In the media History, propaganda and censorship
2023-05-22
Opposing scholars on ArbCom case
In the media Vivek's smelly socks, online safety, and politics
2023-05-08
Fake fines, false alarms and faux headlines!
Opinion What Jimbo's question revealed about scamming
2023-04-26
The problem we haven't solved.
In the media Contested truth claims in Wikipedia
2023-04-26
Covering Russia, Poland, the Vatican, the U.S., and the "perilously thin" boundary between real life and Wikipedia.
In the media Twiddling Wikipedia during an online contest, and other news
2023-04-03
Taking the phrase "gaming the system" to the next level.
Disinformation report Sus socks support suits, seems systemic
2023-04-03
Do important banks sock? Maybe – but don't grab your money and run just yet!
News and notes Terms of Use update, Steward elections, and Wikipedia back in Pakistan
2023-02-20
UCoC Enforcement Guidelines pass, Wikimedia Enterprise financials, GPTs gone wild, and a speedy deletion criterion removed.
Disinformation report The "largest con in corporate history"?
2023-02-20
Gautam Adani and his companies possibly behind scheme featuring scores of socks, infiltration of articles for creation process.
News and notes Foundation update on fundraising, new page patrol, Tides, and Wikipedia blocked in Pakistan
2023-02-04
As well as the continued rise of the machines.
In the media Furor over new Wikipedia skin, followup on Saudi bans, and legislative debate
2023-02-04
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Disinformation report Wikipedia on Santos
2023-02-04
Or Santos on Wikipedia?
In the media Court orders user data in libel case, Saudi Wikipedia in the crosshairs, Larry Sanger at it again
2023-01-16
Wikipedia's birthday, a cute dog, and nipplefruit.
News and notes Wikimedia Foundation ousts, bans quarter of Arabic Wikipedia admins
2023-01-01
Plus admin update and cool tools for the new year.
In the media Odd bedfellows, Elon and Jimbo, reliable sources for divorces, and more
2023-01-01
Sometimes you need to read more than just the headlines!
Technology report Galactic dreams, encyclopedic reality
2022-11-28
Facebook's Galactica demo provides a case study in large language models for text generation at scale: this one was silly, but we cannot ignore them forever.
In the media "The most beautiful story on the Internet"
2022-11-28
Ineffective altruism, return of the toaster, Jess Wade keeps wading through it, Russia censors searches, schools embrace Wikipedia.
Disinformation report Missed and Dissed
2022-11-28
Are government goons prowling our fair encyclopedia?
In the media Scribing, searching, soliciting, spying, and systemic bias
2022-10-31
Wading into several controversies.
Disinformation report From Russia with WikiLove
2022-10-31
I can has Kremlin sockfarms?
In the media A few complaints and mild disagreements
2022-09-30
Was Katherine Maher a former encyclopedia salesperson?
Serendipity Two photos of every library on earth
2022-08-31
One exterior, one interior.
In the media Truth or consequences? A tough month for truth
2022-08-31
But Annie Rauwerda is the real thing!
Opinion Criminals among us
2022-08-01
Mass murderers, sex criminals, Ponzi schemers, insider traders, and business people.
In the media Editor given three-year sentence, big RfA makes news, Guy Standing takes it sitting down
2022-06-26
Belarusian Mark Bernstein to serve 36 months of "home chemistry" for unapproved posting, Slate covers historically large adminship bid, UBI economist with goofy infobox caption thinks it's funny.
In the media Putin, Jimbo, Musk and more
2022-05-29
A varied collection of "special operations", and interviews.
In the media The battlegrounds outside and inside Wikipedia
2022-04-24
What's hot in the media this month.
In the media Ukraine, Russia, and even some other stuff
2022-03-27
Lenin did not say "Wow, check out those yachts"!
Disinformation report The oligarchs' socks
2022-03-27
For whom do the Bells toil?
Special report A presidential candidate's team takes on Wikipedia
2022-02-27
Vive l'encyclopédie libre!
In the media Wiki-drama in the UK House of Commons
2022-02-27
Plus, Wiki Unseen, the "Sports Wars", and much more.
News and notes Feedback for Board of Trustees election
2022-01-30
Plus, the incredible shrinking admin cadre.
Interview CEO Maryana Iskander "four weeks in"
2022-01-30
"Impossible ideas can be created, not just imagined."
In the media Fuzzy-headed government editing
2022-01-30
Get down and party! But no COI editing!
Black History Month What are you doing for Black History Month?
2022-01-30
Over 1,700 U.S. congressmen owned slaves. You can help document this.
News and notes Jimbo's NFT, new arbs, fixing RfA, and financial statements
2021-12-28
Wrapping up 2021 with a pair of auctions, activity surrounding administrators, and an audit.
In the media The past is not even past
2021-12-28
Even for Wikipedia critics in nappies!
In the media Denial: climate change, mass killings and pornography
2021-11-29
Will they deny non-fungible tokens next?
News and notes The sockpuppet who ran for adminship and almost succeeded
2021-10-31
And will the last person to leave the C-Suite please turn off the lights?
In the media China bans, and is there intelligent life on this planet?
2021-10-31
Beam me up, Scotty – Matt Amodio for sure, and maybe just a few VIPs, billionaires, and Tucker Carlson.
From the editor Different stories, same place
2021-10-31
What Wikipedians can and cannot do.
News and notes New CEO, new board members, China bans
2021-09-26
And one new admin!
In the media The future of Wikipedia
2021-09-26
And a bit about the past.
Disinformation report Paid promotional paragraphs in German parliamentary pages
2021-09-26
Did German Wikipedia love parliaments a little too much? Plus fake-bacon and a ponzi scheme.
Wikimedians of the year Seven Wikimedians of the year
2021-08-29
With two musical celebrations!
News and notes Enough time left to vote! IP ban
2021-08-29
Just do it!
In the media Vive la différence!
2021-08-29
Vive la différence!: May Father Will forgive us!
Gallery Our community in 20 graphs
2021-08-29
We just look at the pictures!
Special report Hardball in Hong Kong
2021-07-25
Three strikes and you're out?
News and notes Wikimania and a million other news stories
2021-07-25
And one new admin!
In the media Larry is at it again
2021-07-25
Bias, propaganda and more murderous mistakes!
Board of Trustees candidates See the candidates
2021-07-25
Watch the video!
News and notes Elections, Wikimania, masking and more
2021-06-27
Submit your candidacy today!
In the media Boris and Joe, reliability, love, and money
2021-06-27
Will he hang it in the Oval Office?
Forum Is WMF fundraising abusive?
2021-06-27
A calm discussion.
Disinformation report Croatian Wikipedia: capture and release
2021-06-27
Curious and curiouser!
In the media Fernando, governance, and rugby
2021-04-25
Jimmy does OK too!
From the editor A change is gonna come
2021-04-25
But not soon enough.
Disinformation report Paid editing by a former head of state's business enterprise
2021-04-25
The Trump Organization's paid editors: Michael and Ivanka?
News and notes A future with a for-profit subsidiary?
2021-03-28
Or becoming more business-like?
In the media Wikimedia LLC and disinformation in Japan
2021-03-28
Plus CPAC misinformation
Gallery Wiki Loves Monuments
2021-03-28
2020 international winners
From the editor What else can we say?
2021-03-28
What can we link to?
News and notes Maher stepping down
2021-02-28
UCC launch.
In the media Corporate influence at OSM, Fox watching the hen house
2021-02-28
Wikidata, Turkey, Valentine's Day and all sorts of bias!
Gallery What is Black history and culture?
2021-02-28
In paintings, photos, and recordings.
Disinformation report A "billionaire battle" on Wikipedia: Sex, lies, and video
2021-02-28
Edits of the rich and famous.
Videos and podcasts Celebrating 20 years
2021-01-31
Multimedia in many styles!
News and notes 1,000,000,000 edits, board elections, virtual Wikimania 2021
2021-01-31
Who else but Ser Amantio di Nicolao?
In the media The world's press says "Happy Birthday!" with a few twists
2021-01-31
Even the world's richest man is happy we exist!
Op-Ed An unforgettable year we might wish to forget
2020-12-28
The year that was 2020.
News and notes Year-end legal surprises cause concern, but Public Domain Day is imminent
2020-12-28
New laws in the US and Europe might enable trolls; sad admin milestone for English Wikipedia, or not?
In the media Concealment, data journalism, a non-pig farmer, and some Bluetick Hounds
2020-12-28
As 2020 draws to a close, this website has been splattered all over the headlines.
Gallery Angels in the architecture
2020-12-28
Spinning in infinity.
Opinion How billionaires rewrite Wikipedia
2020-11-29
How billionaires re-write Wikipedia: Billionaires are different from you and me.
News and notes Jimmy Wales "shouldn't be kicked out before he's ready"
2020-11-29
Arbitration Committee elections begin.
News and notes Ban on IPs on ptwiki, paid editing for Tatarstan, IP masking
2020-11-01
Branding pause, birthday.
Interview Joseph Reagle and Jackie Koerner
2020-11-01
The co-editors of Wikipedia @ 20.
In the media Murder, politics, religion, health and books
2020-11-01
A possible conspiracy and 2 infodemics!
Discussion report Proposal to change board composition, In The News dumps Trump story
2020-11-01
Will editors be affected?
Book review Review of Wikipedia @ 20
2020-11-01
We made it this far, but where do we go from here?
Special report Paid editing with political connections
2020-09-27
WE charity and Justin Trudeau, Bell Pottinger, Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs.
News and notes More large-scale errors at a "small" wiki
2020-09-27
With inline parenthetical citations!
In the media WIPO, Seigenthaler incident 15 years later
2020-09-27
A celebrity quiz, Scots, and a Crypto-hating Wikipedia editor
In the media Storytelling large and small
2020-08-30
COVID, Fox, Kamala, Scots, cryptocurrency, and more.
News and notes Abstract Wikipedia, a hoax, sex symbols, and a new admin
2020-08-02
Plus lots of affiliations!
In the media Dog days gone bad
2020-08-02
Pandemic, politics, and possibly paid editing.
COI and paid editing Some strange people edit Wikipedia for money
2020-08-02
And thanks for the photo, Ghislaine!
Opinion Trying to find COI or paid editors? Just read the news
2020-06-28
A scientific scandal and the Renaldo of investment banking.
News and notes Progress at Wikipedia Library and Wikijournal of Medicine
2020-06-28
Plus Swedish biographies and the big oops!
Interview What is wrong with rebranding to "Wikipedia Foundation"?
2020-06-28
Four signers of the open letter explain.
In the media Part collaboration and part combat
2020-06-28
Racial justice, Facebook, LGBTQ+, Ryan Merkley, and a woman.
Gallery After the killing of George Floyd
2020-06-28
Protests and photos from around the world..
News and notes 2019 Picture of the Year, 200 French paid editing accounts blocked, 10 years of Guild Copyediting
2020-05-31
Many of these accounts now blocked on the English-language Wikipedia.
In the media CBS on COVID-19, Sanger on bias, false noses, and five prolific editors
2020-05-31
Worth Every Goddamn Second!
Gallery Wildlife photos by the book
2020-05-31
Birds, insects, elephants, a macaque and more.
From the editor Meltdown May?
2020-05-31
Or will it be meltdown June?
News and notes Unbiased information from Ukraine's government?
2020-04-26
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pitches in.
In the media Coronavirus, again and again
2020-04-26
Plus the importance of language.
Gallery Roy is doing fine and sending more photos
2020-04-26
A coronavirus cruise can't stop Roy!
Arbitration report Two difficult cases
2020-04-26
Even our best editors sometimes disagree.
News and notes 2018 Wikipedian of the year blocked
2020-03-29
Wheel war on Tatar Wikipedia
In the media Blocked in Iran but still covering the big story
2020-03-29
COVID-19, Zika, edit-a-thons, and macrons.
In focus "I have been asked by Jeffrey Epstein …"
2020-03-29
The twists and turns of Epstein’s portrayal on Wikipedia
From the editors The bad and the good
2020-03-29
Getting ready for anything.
News and notes Alexa ranking down to 13th worldwide
2020-03-01
Falling behind Chinese websites.
In the media Mapping IP editors, Smithsonian open-access, and coronavirus disinformation
2020-03-01
We're all over the map this month.
In focus History of The Signpost, 2015–2019
2020-03-01
Covering Wikipedia for another five years!
From the editor The ball is in your court
2020-03-01
How to stop abusive commercial editing.
By the numbers How many actions by administrators does it take to clean up spam?
2020-03-01
Numbers for vandalism and sockpuppeting included at no additional charge!
News and notes Six million articles on the English language Wikipedia
2020-01-27
You ain't seen nothing yet.
In the media Turkey's back up, but what's happening with Dot-org and a new visual identity?
2020-01-27
Plus politics and other oddities.
Humour Predicting the 6,000,000th article
2020-01-27
I may fall in love all over again!
Gallery Wiki Loves Monuments 2019, we're all winners
2020-01-27
The top 15 international photos.
From the editor Reaching six million articles is great, but we need a moratorium
2020-01-27
How long can we ignore Wiki-PR?
Community view Our most important new article since November 1, 2015
2020-01-27
Well, it's a bit subjective.
Arbitration report Three cases at ArbCom
2020-01-27
The new arbs have a big load.
In the media "The fulfillment of the dream of humanity" or a nightmare of PR whitewashing on behalf of one-percenters?
2019-12-27
Praise for possibly pansophic Wikipedia from a Nobel laureate collides head-on with real-world events in December.
Discussion report December discussions around the wiki
2019-12-27
Regarding integrity of information presented by Wikipedia, as well as the processes and people who ensure it remains trustworthy.
Arbitration report Announcement of 2020 Arbitration Committee
2019-12-27
ArbCom election results and status of open and requested cases.
Special report How many people edit in your favorite language? Where are they from?
2019-11-29
Only now can we say!
News and notes How soon for the next million articles?
2019-11-29
And when will we get the second extraterrestrial edit?
In the media You say you want a revolution
2019-11-29
Everybody wants to change Wikipedia.
From the editor Put on your birthday best
2019-11-29
"We get by with a little help from our friends"
Interview Carl Miller on Wikipedia Wars
2019-10-31
A discussion on info wars, government editing and our defences.
In the media How to use or abuse Wikipedia for fun or profit
2019-10-31
Sweden, Poland, Armenia, Russia, the Vatican, and clueless English pubs.
In focus The BBC looks at Chinese government editing
2019-10-31
But they aren't entirely sure they see it
In the media A net loss: Wikipedia attacked, closing off Russia? welcoming back Turkey?
2019-09-30
The internet may not be as stable as it seems
From the editors Where do we go from here?
2019-09-30
Our constitutional crisis may continue
News and notes Documenting Wikimania and our beginnings
2019-08-30
The oldest surviving Wikipedia edit restored to article history, Wikimania, and the mystery of a disappearing Funds Dissemination Committee.
In the media Many layers of fake news: Fake fiction and fake news vandalism
2019-08-30
And the media report it all
In focus Ryan Merkley joins WMF as Chief of Staff
2019-08-30
Working with leadership and the community, taking on both operational and strategic responsibilities
In the media Politics starts getting rough
2019-07-31
Are we ready for the sharp elbows?
Gallery Classic panoramas from Heinrich Berann
2019-07-31
It looks nice and cool up in those mountains
Special report Deleted article
2019-06-30
This Signpost article was deleted on 2019-07-01 by Jehochman — G10: Attack page or negative unsourced BLP: Out of caution this should be hidden from view until ArbCom rules. We can’t have scandalous assertions without evidence.
In the media The disinformation age
2019-06-30
or is it the information error?
Gallery Unlike the North Face, Wiki Loves Earth
2019-06-30
Wikimedia photographers surge to contribute to the Wiki Loves Earth campaign even while rogue clothing company The North Face replaces wiki illustrations with advertisements
Recent research Wikipedia more useful than academic journals, but is it stealing the news?
2019-05-31
And other new research publications
News and notes Wikimania and trustee elections
2019-05-31
Get ready to go to Wikimania in Stockholm where you might meet two new trustees
In the media Politics, lawsuits and baseball
2019-05-31
Wikipedia finds itself up against China, Turkey, the NSA, Pennsylvania politicians and the Detroit Tigers
From the editors Picture that
2019-05-31
The North Face sneaks in advertisements, apologizes after being caught
From the archives FORUM:Should Wikimedia modify its terms of use to require disclosure?
2019-05-31
A debate from 5 years ago on whether we should change the terms of use to prohibit undisclosed paid editing
Interview Katherine Maher marks 3 years as executive director
2019-04-30
Maher discusses her tenure as ED, the editing community, harassment and diversity, the WMF's 3-5 year plan, airplane travel, books, and her future.
In the media Is Wikipedia just another social media site?
2019-04-30
Harassment, a black hole, the Mueller Report, and Mötley Crüe - just another social media site?
Humour Jimbo and Larry walk into a bar ...
2019-04-30
Some editors will do anything to get a laugh
Gallery Notre-Dame de Paris burns
2019-04-30
Photos and videos show the damage
News and notes Blackouts fail to stop EU Copyright Directive
2019-03-31
Eight Wikipedias blacked out their pages trying to stop major copyright law changes.
In the media Women's history month
2019-03-31
An explosion of women's history coverage, continuing coverage.
From the editors Getting serious about humor
2019-03-31
Smallbones, The Signpost's new editor-in-chief, presents a retrospective on last month's humour article in the aftermath of the community's response.
Op-ed Wikipedia not trumped by Trump appointee
2018-12-24
Did World Patent Marketing pay to get Wikipedia to include flattering information on their board member, now the Acting United States Attorney General?
Special report Wolves nip at Wikipedia's heels: A perspective on the cost of paid editing
2017-02-06
Undisclosed paid editing by a financial broker mired in scandal spans years, impacting Wikipedia's editors and readers
Op-ed It’s time to stop the bullying
2015-10-28
Gangs of bullies and trolls rove the internet and make life difficult for the rest of us.
In the media Is there life on Mars?
2015-09-16
Probably not. Also, Whitehall still editing Wikipedia.
Forum Should Wikimedia modify its terms of use to require disclosure?
2014-02-26
About a week ago, the Wikimedia Foundation proposed to modify the Wikimedia projects' terms of use to specifically ban paid editing, by adding a new clause titled "Paid contributions without disclosure". We have asked two users, one in favor of the measure (Smallbones) and one opposed (Pete Forsyth), to contribute their opinions on the matter.
Investigative report Spin doctors spin Jimmy's "bright line"
2012-04-23

















Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Author/Smallbones