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Why do people execute '''breaching experiments'''? How do they do it? On

Why do people execute '''breaching experiments'''? How do they do it? On this page we discuss, analyze, explore, and study why and how people execute '''breaching experiments''' — in particular whether it's possible to conduct one ethically, and if so, how they might be designed and executed to best inform policy and practice on WMF projects. People who have formally executed breaching experiments may be asked to provide some insight as to why and how they did it for the purpose of better understanding what motivates people to do it.

this   page we discuss, analyze, explore, and study why and how people

execute   '''breaching experiments''' - in particular whether it's

possible to conduct one ethically, and if so, how they might be designed

and executed to best inform policy and practice on WMF projects. People

who   have formally executed breaching experiments may be asked to provide

some   insight as to why and how they did it for the purpose of better

understanding   what motivates people to do it.

==Participants==

==Participants==

''please do  sign up below''

''please do  sign up below''

* [[User:Privatemusings|

* [[User:Privatemusings|

Privatemusings]] 00:47,  18  January 2010 (UTC)

Privatemusings]] 00:47,  18  January 2010 (UTC)

== What is a breaching experiment? ==

==What is a breaching experiment?==

Please   have a go at your own definition below;

 

# '''ethical breaching experiment''': An experiment which causes no harm in its execution, whilst yielding results useful for the greater good, or which inspire  positive change, but which uses methods which may violate the letter  or spirit of the guideline [[w:Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point#State_your_point.3B_do_not_prove_it_experimentally|'Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point']]

Please have a go at your own definition below;

# '''ethical breaching experiment''': An experiment which causes no harm in its execution, whilst yielding results useful for the greater good, or which inspire  positive change, but which uses methods which may violate the letter  or spirit of the guideline [[w:Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point#State_your_point.3B_do_not_prove_it_experimentally|'Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point']]

[[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]]  00:57, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

[[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]]  00:57, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

* [[w:Wikipedia:Newbie_treatment_at_Criteria_for_speedy_deletion|'WP:NEWT']]

* [[w:Wikipedia:Newbie_treatment_at_Criteria_for_speedy_deletion|'WP:NEWT']]

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:MZMcBride&oldid=338464991#Vandalizing_BLPs Provision of a list of unwatched biographical articles with the intention of some sort of experiment occurring] see [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:MZMcBride&oldid=338641888#Request here] for list of biographies, many of which feature 'breaching' edits in  their history. The project appears to have been halted by admin. and arbcom  involvement.

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:MZMcBride&oldid=338464991#Vandalizing_BLPs Provision of a list of unwatched biographical articles with the intention of some sort of experiment occurring] see [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:MZMcBride&oldid=338641888#Request here] for list of biographies, many of which feature 'breaching' edits in  their history. The project appears to have been halted by admin. and arbcom  involvement.

==='On Wikipedia' Documents the Dr. Handel debacle===

===''On Wikipedia'' Documents the Dr. Handel debacle===

[[/Mike Handel breach/|Wikiversity case  study on the Mike Handel

situation.]]

 

[[/Mike Handel breach/|Wikiversity case  study on the Mike Handel situation.]]

===Report from Limey ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216251 link])===

===Report from Limey ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216251 link])===

''I  have two lovely fake biographies on Wikipedia that have been there

''I  have two lovely fake biographies on Wikipedia that have been there

over  6 months. They've both been edited by other people, and contain

over  6 months. They've both been edited by other people, and contain

===Report from Herschelkrustofsky ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216255 link])===

===Report from Herschelkrustofsky ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216255 link])===

''Plausible-sounding  but fictitious references exist in

''Plausible-sounding  but fictitious references exist in

[[w:Little_Roger_and_the_Goosebumps|Little  Roger and the Goosebumps]],

[[w:Little_Roger_and_the_Goosebumps|Little  Roger and the Goosebumps]],

===Report from Tarantino ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216258 link])===

===Report from Tarantino ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216258 link])===

''[http://webcitation.org/5fpmjrc7T  This article] on the Himalayan Panda

''[http://webcitation.org/5fpmjrc7T  This article] on the Himalayan Panda

was created on April  Fools Day and  lasted nearly 6 months before it was

was created on April  Fools Day and  lasted nearly 6 months before it was

didn't  read them carefully.

didn't  read them carefully.

It still lives on in a similar form on

It still lives on in a similar form on [http://www.webcitation.org/5mrbgqDo2 Persianne's user page].''

[http://www.webcitation.org/5mrbgqDo2 Persianne's user page].

 

''

* [http://wikipediareview.com/blog/20091211/its-the-casting-director-lee-dennison-story/ The Lee Dennison story]

* [http://wikipediareview.com/blog/20091211/its-the-casting-director-lee-dennison-story/ The Lee Dennison story]

==Suggestions / Ideas from others==

==Suggestions / Ideas from others==

===Suggestions   from Gomi ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216250 link])===

 

===Suggestions from Gomi ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216250 link])===

#  Add citations to plausible-sounding but fictitious references to BLPs

#  Add citations to plausible-sounding but fictitious references to BLPs

misinformation,  but supporting statements with fake references will show

misinformation,  but supporting statements with fake references will show

how open to  abuse the Wiki model is;

how open to  abuse the Wiki model is;

# Create articles on non-existent people  and companies. This will be

# Create articles on non-existent people  and companies. This will be

difficult, but if carefully checked to be  non-existent, the harm done

difficult, but if carefully checked to be  non-existent, the harm done

here is minimal;

here is minimal;

# Create fake  articles on (non-existent) latin-named plants and animals,

# Create fake  articles on (non-existent) latin-named plants and animals,

similar to  #2, above;

similar to  #2, above;

==related studies, non 'breaching'==

==related studies, non 'breaching'==

* [http://www.mywikibiz.com/Wikipedia_Vandalism_Study Wikipedia Vandalism Study] - concerning US Senator articles on the english

 

* [http://www.mywikibiz.com/Wikipedia_Vandalism_Study Wikipedia Vandalism Study] — concerning U.S. Senator articles on the English Wikipedia.

==Possible areas of research==

==Possible areas of research==

'''''Feel free to make suggestions below - you  may even be able to make

'''''Feel free to make suggestions below - you  may even be able to make

a point while you're at it! (see no.s 5 and 6  below ;-)'''''

a point while you're at it! (see no.s 5 and 6  below ;-)'''''

# Comparing classes of articles - eg. how is  unsourced information

# Comparing classes of articles - eg. how is  unsourced information

treated when added by editors of similar  reputation in different classes

treated when added by editors of similar  reputation in different classes

of articles

of articles

# Copyright concerns

# Copyright concerns

#  Academic honesty / plagiarism

#  Academic honesty / plagiarism

#"Violence is the last refuge of the  incompetent." -Isaac  Asimov

#"Violence is the last refuge of the  incompetent." -Isaac  Asimov

##from [[w:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] to  [[User:Moulton|Moulton]]:

##from [[w:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] to  [[User:Moulton|Moulton]]:

##censorship, bad  blocks and bad bans imposed by Wikimedia's abusive

##censorship, bad  blocks and bad bans imposed by Wikimedia's abusive

administrators

administrators

#Studying  the effect on Wikiversity/Wikipedia relations - are

#Studying  the effect on Wikiversity/Wikipedia relations - are

experimental  pursuits into Wikipedia space, amid possible claims that

experimental  pursuits into Wikipedia space, amid possible claims that

==Reactions==

==Reactions==

* I have seen your posts on Wikipedia Review and Wikiversity regarding

 

the subject of "ethical breaching  experiments." These generally are not

* I have seen your posts on Wikipedia Review and Wikiversity regarding the subject of "ethical breaching  experiments". These generally are not permissible, and your involvement would be particularly unhelpful in light of prior history. Please refrain from engaging in, or inducing others to engage in, this practice. [[w:User:Newyorkbrad|Newyorkbrad]] ([[w:User  talk:Newyorkbrad|talk]]) 15:58, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

permissible, and your involvement would be particularly unhelpful in

 

light of prior history. Please refrain from engaging in, or inducing

others to engage in, this practice. [[w:User:Newyorkbrad|Newyorkbrad]]

([[w:User  talk:Newyorkbrad|talk]]) 15:58, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

(newyorkbrad  is a member of the english wikipedia's 'arbcom')

(newyorkbrad  is a member of the english wikipedia's 'arbcom')

* The only thing I'd  personally like to see regarding "breaching

 

experiments", especially that those that deliberately insert bad/false

* The only thing I'd  personally like to see regarding "breaching experiments", especially that those that deliberately insert bad/false information into  articles is: "Don't do them.", personally. They violate WP:POINT in a way that cannot easily be reconciled with further editing. [[w:User:SirFozzie|SirFozzie]]  ([[w:User talk:SirFozzie|talk]]) 01:47, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

information into  articles is: "Don't do them.", personally. They violate

 

WP:POINT in a way that cannot easily be reconciled with further editing.

(sirfozzie is a member of the english wikipedia's 'arbcom')

[[w:User:SirFozzie|SirFozzie]]  ([[w:User talk:SirFozzie|talk]]) 01:47,

 

19 January 2010 (UTC) (sirfozzie is a member of the english wikipedia's

* The  Dept of Fatherland Security runs deliberate tests of the airport security system, by having agents see if they can get stuff past the screeners, who are (supposedly) left out of the loop. It's very important QC instrument. But suppose they were total doofuses who weren't doing  this AT ALL. And suppose some citizens decided to take it upon  themselves, using harmless toy mockups and so forth. Can you imagine the shitstorm? That's rather what we have at Wikipedia. They won't do  it themselves, and they won't let anybody else do it, either. — "Milton Roe" ([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216244 link])

'arbcom')

 

* The  Dept of Fatherland Security runs deliberate tests of the airport

* This page was deleted, and undeleted, leading to [[Wikiversity:Community_Review/Wikimedia_Ethics:Ethical_Breaching_Experiments|this]] review.

security   system, by having agents see if they can get stuff past the

screeners,   who are (supposedly) left out of the loop. It's very

important QC instrument. But suppose they were total doofuses who

weren't doing  this AT ALL. And suppose some citizens decided to take it

upon  themselves, using harmless toy mockups and so forth. Can you

imagine the shitstorm? That's rather what we have at Wikipedia. They

won't do  it themselves, and they won't let anybody else do it, either. -

'Milton   Roe'

([http://wikipediareview.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=28227&view=findpost&p=216244

link])

* This page was deleted, and undeleted, leading to

[[Wikiversity:Community_Review/Wikimedia_Ethics:Ethical_Breaching_Experiments|this]]

review.