Reading4——GAO PEIYUN

 -Summary

We need to fully understand the difficulties of consensus decision making and the significance and practice of collaboration on English Wikipedia. Wiktionary's definition of consensus speaks of a "general agreement" that "does not actively oppose the proposed course of action." A more academic source gives a similar definition: consensus is an overwhelming consensus, "which does not imply unanimous agreement". So, in a community with values of equality and a culture of integrity, consensus certainly seems to be an appropriate means of decision-making. Moreover, this form of decision-making has been at the heart of online collaboration since the beginning of the Internet. Humans naturally look for ways to dissect and neatly dispatch difficulties. However, given its reliance on assumptions of good faith and its preference for consensus in decision-making, one can conclude that the Wikipedia community is relatively tolerant of the ambiguity inherent in collaborating on a world encyclopedia and, in the long run, more trusting of human judgment.

Openness, civility, equality, consultation: these are some of the concepts encountered in the pursuit of a universal encyclopedia. While they may seem simple enough in the abstract, they become less so when used in the practice and discourse of the community. Despite its fine culture of collaboration, egalitarianism and openness - or perhaps because of it - Wikipedia is shaped by the leadership of its authors. An informal benevolent dictator helps to guide the community gently, mediate internal disputes between those who mean well, and fend off those who act in bad faith. At this point, he or she may gain a great deal of symbolic status in the community and even outside attention. However, when a person assumes more responsibility than he or she is capable of by mere will, the new responsibility and authority tights a tightrope that must be walked carefully before the eyes of peers.

-Interesting point

As with many of the problems Wikipedia faces, Wikipedians must strike a delicate balance between retelling tired issues and reconsidering important ones: "The need to consider issues openly and fairly versus the need to make progress.

Wikipedia is not anarchy, despite its anarchic characteristics. Wikipedia is not a democracy, despite its characteristics. Wikipedia is not an aristocrat, despite its aristocratic characteristics. Wikipedia is not a monarchy, despite its characteristics.

-Discussion point

If consensus is the process by which participants discuss and reason together, then in addition to the question of who is contributing to the conversation, openness has another challenging impact: In an open and forever changing group, for how long can any decision be considered the consensus of the group?

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