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Wikipedia founder's biography edited

Autobiography
Wed Dec 21 2005, 08:00
THE FOUNDER of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales has been tinkering with his own biography to remove things he doesn't like, and make himself the hero, it's claimed.

Technology writer Rogers Cadenhead looking for a Yuletide exclusive, has been digging around the public edit logs of Wikipedia and discovered that Wales has edited his biography 18 times.

Though some Wikipedia editors believe that it's always wrong to edit subjects in which you are involved, Wales does not seem to think so, claims Cadenhead.

One of the things Wales didn't like were some phrases describing former Wikipedia employee Larry Sanger as a co-founder of the site.

He also tinkered with a description of a search site he founded called Bomis, which included a section with adult photos called "Bomis Babes," it's claimed.

In an interview with Wired News, Wales acknowledged he's made changes to his bio, but said the edits were made to correct factual errors and provide a more rounded version of events.

He said that people shouldn't do it, including him and he wished he hadn't as it was in poor taste.

More here and here. µ

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