7 Components: the Function Pages - Developers

Holocaust revisionists. Most people contend that the latter term is
misleading.” 27
Among Wikipedia authors, there are various opinions regarding
NPOV. A few consider neutral, objective portrayals to be possible.
For others, neutral points of view, even in an encyclopedia, are impossible:
“We can only seek a type of writing that is agreeable to essentially
rational people who may differ on particular points”
(Jimmy Wales).
If science used to claim to be objective, a new perception has
taken hold in the last century in which every statement is initially selective.
28 A view is already present in the selection of a topic, the
terminology, explanatory patterns and models. We know that, historically,
dictionaries have always been an expression of the knowledge
of a certain time and class (as a rule, the educated bourgeoisie).
Critical theory has tried to handle this dilemma, among other
ways, by indicating that the subjective person creates objective relationships.
The theory stresses an attainment of consciousness that is
as objective as possible from the contradictions of the relationships.
To put it very simply, the difference between what is and what could
be results in a standard with which individual practices and ideas can
be “measured” – a viewpoint that can also be employed within the
context of publications in wikis. The discussion on objectivity could
benefit from considering critical theory.
So what do we do to obtain as much objectivity as possible?
1. Whether we like it or not, subjectivity is prerequisite to objective
consciousness. Objectivity is not a freedom from values.
Those wanting to be objective must have a point of view and
be able to say where they want to go. Only then can statements
be discussed. The important factors are verifiability, logical
argumentation, and measuring arguments with proclaimed
goals and their observance.
2. Striving toward objectivity is always also a form of selfeducation.
For instance, this means asking who uses a piece of
wiki software; because even if the new media tend toward
bursting traditional social classes, use of the Internet, up to
now, has been characterized by considerable social inequal-
27 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust_denial, 15. Jan 2005.
28 Extreme postmodernists take this notion as far as relativism, or find that
everything is constructed.
Absolute
neutrality
impossible
Critical theory
Partiality
Sociographics
22.2 Wikis as an Engine for Social Change? �
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