Comments on: Anonymity Breeds Contempt

By: MaryB

MaryB — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:25:58 +0000

Hey - this is interesting. We studied the Mary Spicuzza article in my journalism class. It was a very interesting discussion about whether Spicuzza should have or should have not been fired for using her newspaper’s resources to undertake a personal matter involving her sister. A textbook case, the professor said.

By: From Wikipedia

From Wikipedia — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:54:23 +0000

User:Griot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This user has been blocked indefinitely because CheckUser confirms that this user has used one or more accounts abusively.
The abuse of multiple accounts is prohibited; using new accounts to evade blocks or bans results in the block or ban being extended.
See block log • confirmed accounts • suspected socks • Checkuser request
Categories: Wikipedia sockpuppeteers

By: SF Weekly

SF Weekly — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:07:49 +0000

An Open Letter to the Wikimedia Foundation

To Whom It May Concern:

I do not participate on Wikipedia, nor do I use it as a source. I am none of the persons I am being accused of and do not suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as MPD. My attorney, Richard Rosenthal, has been supplied with these facts along with a request that all false claims, slanderous remarks and defaming content concerning me be removed promptly from the site. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Jeanne Marie Spicuzza

Comment by Jeanne Marie Spicuzza — February 13, 2008 @ 04:04PM

I edited this story and I can assure you that Mary did not get fired for this story or any other. Mary decided to leave the paper to take a job with a local documentary filmmaker. She gave her notice before the Wikipedia story was published. She disclosed to me early in the reporting process her sister’s fights with Griot and her sister’s role is mentioned high up in our story. Bottom line: We stand by the story.

Comment by Will Harper, Managing Editor, SF Weekly — February 26, 2008 @ 01:55PM

By: Satchmo22

Satchmo22 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:45:54 +0000

On the subject of online anonymity, here’s one you might be interested in.

A journalist, Mary Spicuzza, decided to chase down and “out” a Wikipedia editor called Griot with whom her sister, Jeanne Marie Spicuzza, had an online beef. She tried to track him down and expose him but after the article was published was forced to resign for violating journalistic ethics. You can read the whole story by going to this link (scroll to “Tawdry Tabloid Journalist”):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Admini… ‘_noticeboard/IncidentArchive3 72#Attempted_Outing_of_Wikiped ia_Editor_User:Griot_by_Tawdry _Tabloid_Journalist

This is sort of the flip side of the anonymity question. What are the ethics of trying to “out” someone’s online persona?

By: Mark Nichols

Mark Nichols — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:37:27 +0000

Fabulous moderation policy! Thank you for the link. If Zanshin ever gets more than a handful of comments, I’ll have to look into some of their ideas. Especially the disemvoweling one.

By: Joe Mako

Joe Mako — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:50:52 +0000

Thank you for sharing your views. The pro of being able to get involved quickly as anonymous can lead to the ability to post thoughtlessly. I’ve made thoughtless annomus comments in the past that I find myself regretting latter. Non-anonymous posting adds accountability, prompting contemplation. Teresa Nielsen Hayden recently said “being more polite than you think should be necessary” (from http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/27/boing-boings-moderat.html). I can not not think of situation where it is apporiate to not take the time to consider others when crafting words.