Absolut and Wikipedia’s left-wing gatekeepers
Reader Scott, who uses Wikipedia, e-mailed me a link to the heated discussion between left-wing Wikipedia gatekeepers and users who wanted to add information about Absolut’s reconquista ad and apology. The Wikipedia police, so objective and neutral, accuse “non-notable bloggers” and “white supremacists” of “vandalizing” their precious site. God forbid actual news–and yes, the Absolut ad was news–infiltrate Wikipedia.
Wacky-pedia:
Could someone protect this page to new users? Apparently some non-notable bloggers have taken offense to their recent ad campaign and have repeatedly vandalized this page.–147.126.95.167 (talk) 20:29, 4 April 2008 (UTC)
Considering the fact that Absolut has issued a statement on their website regarding the matter([2]), and it has been mentioned by the Los Angeles Times ([3]), I think it is a bit more than a few “non-notable” bloggers. I myself am rather incensed at the ad, and will go out of my way to not buy their product in the future. I’ve added a segment on the issue to the article. — Grandpafootsoldier (talk) 21:48, 4 April 2008 (UTC)
It was in LA Time’s blog, an opinion site, and the other source used was a blog as well. If there are some neutral points of view, like a newspaper article, a news story, etc, I would consider keeping it, but for right now, I’d keep my emotions in check about it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.173.127.11 (talk) 05:37, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
Absolut has issued a response defending the ad on their website ([4]). I think it’s time to stop blaming messengers and let it go up. IMSnooping (talk) 12:40, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
A bit of perspective: Absolut has been in business for some 130 years offering middle brow vodka and vodka based products to the masses. They’ve offered whimsical advertising of every description for years.
Given their long history, there is no way a single ad campaign (or a single ad in it) gone unnoticed by all but a small contingent of white supremacists and other miscellaneous right wingers looking for their “controversy” du jour could rise to the level of notability that would merit its inclusion in the page. Given that absolut-ly no one cares outside of the Malkin set, a rather fringe political demographic to be sure, I’d have to second the motion to protect the page until the “issue” is forgotten (i.e. next week). The rabbit in the suitcase (talk) 02:25, 7 April 2008 (UTC)
What exactly are you censors trying to protect Absolut from? The truth is the truth — and the truth about this ad is no less notable than references on the article to any of their ads. Are you afraid of people knowing the truth? The LA Times has reported on this issue more than once. Absolut has issued two statements — one defending the ad, one apologizing for it and announcing its withdrawal. Whether you’re animated by the ad or not is of no consequence — it’s a notable event in Absolut’s history and it belongs on the article.IMSnooping (talk) 17:50, 7 April 2008 (UTC)
I will agree that the article is a bit chatty in that it includes references to some ad campaigns for which Absolut is not especially noted. This is a weakness of the text to be sure. All the more reason that it should not be compounded with more nonsense like it.
The truth, as you say, is that the Mexico ads are being flogged by people with a fairly clear political agenda and that within a few days no one except a small political fringe of right blog readers will remember this ever happened. Indeed, the entire purpose of edits regarding the Mexico ads is to try to perpetuate and expand the supposed outrage into the mainstream. As such, the edits are fundamentally non-encyclopedic in nature. The rabbit in the suitcase (talk) 22:54, 7 April 2008 (UTC)
To put it more simply: The edits including this Mexico ad business amount to political activism. See Wikipedia:SOAP etc. There’s also an NPOV issue: If the interest in the subject is restricted to American white nationalists, it seems to me that its inclusion, being an assertion of its notability to a general audience, is just not justifiable within the context of an encyclopedia taking a neutral point of view. The rabbit in the suitcase (talk) 23:02, 7 April 2008 (UTC)
Right, but the entrance in the political sphere was made not by “white nationalists” (?), but by Absolut. They’re the ones who ran the overtly political ad. It’s not as if people are making this up about Absolut. They made their own beds and there’s no reason that something notable that Absolut did shouldn’t find its way onto their article. And you’re wrong that the matter is only of interest to a small sliver of people. Go to Absolut’s website and read the comments to their statement. Last I looked, there were about 1000 comments, from people who lay claim to any number of political stripes.
I’d feel differently if somebody twisted something Absolut did. But it’s a factual report about a factual ad. And a great deal of this particular article relates to Absolut’s adverstising (as it the case with many consumer products companies).
In any event, you’re blaming the messenger. This addition is entirely in keeping with WP’s guidelines.IMSnooping (talk) 04:31, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
***
Related: Author Robert Ferrigno was struck by the similarity in the pre-Zorro map Absolut used, and the map in his novel, “Sins of the Assassin.” Check it out.
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This just goes to show why Wikipedia is such a joke when it comes to using it as a source of information about anything of any consequence.
Wow, I guess Absolut is run by a bunch of white supremacists and non-notable bloggers given that they continue to advance the legitimate news-worthy story.
“Given that absolut-ly no one cares outside of the Malkin set, a rather fringe political demographic to be sure, I’d have to second the motion to protect the page until the “issue” is forgotten (i.e. next week). ”
So, now conservatives and others who value the sovereignty of the United States are a “fringe political demographic”????
Someone needs to remind this tool that the ‘fringe political demographic’ he refers to virtually stopped amnesty from becoming law.
Sounds to me, pretty clearly, as if THEY are the ones with the political agenda – and like all liberals, simply wish to ignore this until it goes away ( “Next week” )
It is time to start ‘Mothers Against Conquering while Drunk’. Absolut’s apparent avocation of loading up on vodka shots before launching an invasion is not good for public safety or a successful invasion. The good gatekeepers at Wikipedia should be less concern about “non-notable bloggers” and more concern about ensuring the destruction of “Rule of Law” like any other nut-wing internet group.
It’s so lazy to just lump all the dunderheads into the liberal camp. Liberals are mostly just lazy and extremely stubborn. The idiots at Wiki are just plain old stupid.
Down the memory hole…
Funny, how “The rabbit in the suitcase” uses the the terms, “white supremacists,” “fringe political demographic,” and “right wingers” to make a case for non-objectivity.
They tell on themselves, every time, don’t they.
What I want to “see” is the response from the other vodka suppliers.
Are they going to go after the sales that Absolut has potentially infuriated?
Or is it a mulligan?
What ads might they be developing in response?
What instructions and materials are they giving out to their sales teams?
That could be more effective than all of the Times articles, yet we hear nothing.
Because they are playing close to the vest? or see nothing wrong themselves.
I’ve heard too many bad things about Wikepedia. As I understand, almost anyone can edit a definition. That, and the fact that the owners are looney, lefty, liberals.
As I remember, Michelle, your efforts to publicize that horrible murder of a young, white couple by a gang of black people in Knoxville was attributed to “white supremacists”, too.
I and someone else updated that page with the real news stories he is looking for and I wonder if he changes his mind now. I doubt it.
Wikipedia has no credibility as far as I’m concerned. When anyone can go into a page and update the date and the blatant errors I have found on some of the pages, why anyone would want to use them as a reliable source for anything. It appears the liberal MSM has done a great job in running interference for this blatant slap in the face to American sovereignty. Once again those of use that take offense are racist, nativitist, or just plain old closed minded bigots.
I think this might clarify who you’re arguing with.
Won’t help them with me. I continue to be a devoted BlackJack and Bacardi Dark fan.
In other news: water is wet.
Just try to post the truth about “global warming” on WikiFiction and see what happens.
Deciding what does and does not constitute a notable event in history should never be the job of those that maintain the “archives.” Doing so is merely censorship. Regardless of their personal stance is on the matter, leaving it out is akin to pretending as if it never happened, which is certainly not truth in reporting.
I for one have NEVER considered WikiBS to be a reliable source of information and situations such as these are exactly why. How can you trust what you read when you know it’s run by a bunch of elitists that use the site to promote their own agendas?
Don’t worry the Mexicans will fix global warming for us. I have been wondering, in an absolute world would the green zone on that map be Japanese? No, the Mexican Navy probably would have pushed them back across the Pacific. And in their world what language would Sweden be speaking, Russian or German? I’m getting that manifest destiny feeling again. How far is it to Mexico city as the tank rolls?
Wikipedia is useful for quick info on historical events no one cares about anymore, medical and scientific information (usually very well footnoted), and information about rock stars of the ’60s and ’70s.
When my daughter is working on a school assignment, I tell her it’s okay to go to Wiki for ideas, if she follows the links to source material. She’s not allowed to cite Wiki in a bibliography, which is also the policy my friend has when he teaches his college freshman composition classes.
Absolut has just announced a major advertising campaign associated with homosexuals. Their apology for entering the culture war on the side of perversity extends far beyond the anti-American Mexican ad. Their apology is clearly a PR move and has nothing but a “We got Caught” feel to it.
By the way, family friendly McDonald’s has also joined the culture war favoring homosexuals over families and children. Check the American Family Association website for details. (Certainly places a new meaning on Golden Arches.)
rabbit in the suitcase = lgm?
Wikipedia, would have a use if it was on paper in little squares, and you can use more than 1 square at a time.
What part of the 1 to 2% of the population is it McDonald’s is after? hmmmm…is Ronald McDonald, GAY? Always had questions about him.
As far as Absolut goes I do not drink it myself, but i will keep a list of the other products owned by the holding company and refrain from buying anymore. I’m not talking about a week boycott here, we need to show we are strong and resolute, never buy their products again. Get the message out, you mess with Americans it will cost and not for a week or 2 but for a long time, as in years.
I personally have that attitude towards China and Mexico. I don’t eat, wear or use anything from those countries unless it is the absolute only source for the product i want.
Heh, have to love the poster calling this and past Absolut advertising methods “whimsical.”
Reuters just released an article on the controversy, adding to the folly of the wiki censors trying to pretend it’s no big deal.
here
Hey, I did it before, I can do it again.
I was actually censored, banned and had my history deleted from Wikipedia for trying to edge some more of the Liberal articles there to a NPOV.
The Wiki mods broke several rules themselves in getting rid of me.
And the thing is – is that they were good edits, not rhetoric and propaganda referenced from CodePink and the like.
I’ve found some errors in obscure entries where you’d think no one would have an agenda. Things like quasi-famous people in history (the kind who get a mention in history books but aren’t familar to your average man-on-the-street) having wives or children they didn’t know about.
All I can figure is that some people want to pad their family trees.
This whole thing is manufactured fury. Is it news that some far right nutballs had a fit over a vodka ad? I say no.
If you think that’s bad you should go read the discussion on Stem Cell Research or Intelligent Design.
Michelle, when did you become a white nationalist? Hell, when did you become white?
‘Twas my first impression, too.
LGM = Little Gray Matter… (even Low Gray Matter..