Wikipedia has banned the Church of Scientology from posting or editing entries regarding itself on the online encyclopedia.  Scientologists are accused of editing and posting false information about their organization on the website, a violation of Wikipedia’s rules.  A dispute-the fourth regarding Scientology in the last four years-before Wikipedia’s administrators between Scientology and its critics, who have been engaged in “edit warring” (or editing information back and forth and back and forth) precipitated the ruling which is to apply to all IP addresses belonging to Scientology members and their associates.  Scientologists are still allowed to post and edit subjects not pertaining to themselves, but if they are found changing or posting entries about Scientology, they can be banned from the website permanently.

This is a bad move for Wikipedia and out of keeping with the democratic nature of their web service.  I have no special love for the Church of Scientology and am not surprised in the least that it’s been putzing around on Wikipedia trying to keep anyone from ever saying anything bad about it.  But it’s likely thousands (or more) of Wikipedia subjects are doing the exact same thing to one degree or another.  That’s the nature of discourse surrounding that elusive thing known as “the truth.” People say something - and often something good - about themselves or their organization and someone else says something different.  Why should Scientology be banned for being, in essence, all too human when it comes to information about itself?  Indeed even Wikipedia’s founder, Jimmy Wales, has been caught editing his own Wikipedia page numerous times trying to extract information that he had previously been involved in an online porn business.

Instead, let the back and forth be part of the discussion.  We all need to make judgment calls every day about who is giving us our information and how reliable they are.  The same holds true with Wikipedia, which should remain open to all who want to participate in its interactive platform of knowledge…even the Church of Scientology.

LINKS:

UPI: Wikipedia Bans Scientology Edits

CNET: Wikipedia Excommunicates Church of Scientology

Switched: Wikipedia Bans Church of Scientology From Editing Entries