As the Washington Post ran story after story on China’s temporary censorship of Wikipedia and the online encyclopedia’s potential influence on the 2008 U.S. Presidential Campaign, the Washington Post itself, or at least anyone using one of several IP address to anonymously edit topics, was getting banned from the site for vandalizing topics from ranging from Ronald Reagan to the Washington Examiner to New York City’s famous Puerto Rican Day Parade, according to site records.
A review of data compiled by WikiScanner, a publicly searchable database that links tens of millions of anonymous Wikipedia edits to the organizations where those edits appear to originate, found just few egrigous edits apparently made by Post staffers. Most changes, ranging from the early life of R&B singer Trey Lorenz to New York City’s Flat Iron Building to some very solid additions to the New York Stock Exchange.
Yet, as it happens everywhere, a few appeared to have ruined editing rights for the many – at least from that IP address.
One edit made from an IP address registered to the Post, 65.193.99.4, changed the name owner of the Washington Examiner, the media giant’s closest print competitor in the Washington region, from the “Phillip Anschutz” to “Charles Manson.” The seemingly nervous editor removed their addition just two minutes later, according to the WikiScanner records.
On August 2, 2006, anyone attempting to edit from the Post’s 12.47.123.121 IP address, another of nearly a dozen registered directly to the Post, may have received received this message.
“You have been blocked from editing for violating Wikipedia policy against vandalism. To contest this block, please reply here on your talk page by adding the text {{unblock}} along with the reason you believe the block is unjustified, or email the blocking administrator or any administrator from this list. (aeropagitica) (talk) 21:39, 2 August 2006 (UTC)”
On August 6, a similar messages appeared, according to Wikiscanner records. But these vandals were not without warnings.
“Please refrain from adding nonsense to Wikipedia, as you did to Ronald Reagan. It is considered vandalism. If you would like to experiment, use the sandbox. Syberghost 19:40, 30 March 2006 (UTC)”
The addition was adding some controversial material over how President Reagan shifted his position on Russia. The Post’s apparent edits here and throughout are in red bold or in therupe.com added parantheses as they appear on the Wikipedia site.
“In foreign policy his administration is noted for the vast buildup of the military and change from containment of the [[Soviet Union]] to confrontation, often through controversial proxy fighters like the Afghan [[mujahideen]] and Central American [[death squads]].”
Post staffers also apparently added a more negative tone to the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Additions include:
“The parade also serves as an opportunity for the Puerto Rican community to criticize the U.S., with anti-American signs, floats and chants a common occurrence despite the parade’s location in U.S. cities,” on October 19, 2006
They also felt highlighting that the annual event “is frequently marred by violence, drunkenness, gang problems and disorderly conduct,” also on October 19, 2006.
This arrived a short time later:
“Please refrain from adding nonsense to Wikipedia, as you did to Puerto Rican Day Parade. It is considered vandalism. If you would like to experiment, use the sandbox. – CrazyRussian talk/email 15:21, 19 October 2006 (UTC)”
But the greatest tomfoolery appears to come from a Washington Post Express staffer who felt he needed to share the secret healing effects of the five-day-a-week tabloid’s paper with the world.
“It has been well-documented that rubbing a copy of the Washington Post Express on severe skin problems miraculously clears many types of stubborn rashes,” the edit stated in the early evening of August 2, 2006.
“SubwayGuy” chimed in less than two hours later asking for a citation to prove this power. After less than an hour waiting, the boast was removed.
Just a few minutes later, the alleged Post staffer chimed back in with this addition:
“Seriously, people — we know you guys keep deleting this, but if you rub a Washington Post Express on a rash, it immediately goes away. We SWEAR.”
A few minutes later, it was removed again, only to be countered with this:
“It has been scientifically proven beyond any doubt that if you rub a copy of Washington Post Express on a rash, the skin ailment immediately and unconditionally clears. Before deleting this — as, we’ve noted, many of you are eager to do — ask yourself: ‘Have I ever rubbed a copy of the Washington Post Express on a rash?” If you haven’t, how do you know this is not a fact?’ ”
Again removed. Tucking this among other text didn’t work a few minutes later either:
“Elderly residents of the region have claimed publicly that wrapping sore joints in outdated copies soaked in vinegar provide immediate and permanent relief.”
After getting beat down by several other editors, the alleged Post staffer got some help from “Eidel23” on August 3, 2006.
“Since its inception, the Express has managed to cure malaria as well as contribute to a significant decrease in reported AIDS cases. The Express is a mighty machine and will not be stopped. Never. Ever. Stopped.”
Removed.
And then this:
“Soon the Express began adopt to its environment by tackling the common cold. In a burst of energy, known as the “Expressidium,” the Express was able to cure an entire legion of Hepatitus B sufferers. Little is know about this event, except that it was powerful and dominating. We salute you, Express. Keep fighting the good fight.”
Removed.
“Aaron12345″ tagged in for alleged Post staffer a few hours later.
“Who would have thought three years later the Express would be the envy of the top pharmaceutical firms in the world? After successfully creating a drug to eliminate food cravings, the Express topped its already impressive portfolio with a drug that eliminated a person’s propensity to eat while their mouth was full. A well-known etiquette expert remarked that the drug had been disastrous for business. Boo hoo.”
Removed.
Exhausted or finally on deadline, the alleged Post staffer countered with this on August 6, 2006:
“The Express newsroom has ran on only one office printer since the paper’s inception. The office in Arlington, Va., is located at the same intersection as a California Tortilla, where Express employees often utilize stamped frequent-buyer cards for free burritos.
“The Express mascot is an animatronic electronic chimpanzee head, which wears cheap plastic sunglasses and a bandana sporting three strips of bacon, to show support for the Express Bacon Dispensers, the office softball squad. A cigarette has been wedged between its plastic teeth.
“Express staffers have created an Express Joke Trophy, which is awarded to the staff member who has had the most recent witty, off-the-cuff quip. Entertainment editor and former Rolling Stone contributor Arion Berger is currently in possession of the trophy, which features a Col. Sanders-slaughtering-a-chicken bobblehead doll — supplied by PETA — glued atop a stack of plastic cups.”
Finally this arrived:
“You have been blocked from editing for violating Wikipedia policy against vandalism. To contest this block, please reply here on your talk page by adding the text {{unblock}} along with the reason you believe the block is unjustified, or email the blocking administrator or any administrator from this list. (aeropagitica) (talk) 19:21, 6 August 2006 (UTC)”
The alleged staffer, or atleast anyone from that IP address, hasn’t been back to the topic since. Although someone from the Post has added links to topics Bob Woodward, Dana Priest and the Pulitzer Prize. The same day, August 6, 2006, this story ran in the Washington Post with the headline “It’s On Wikipedia, So It Must Be True.” True indeed.
Filed under: Weekly | Tagged: Censorship, Post, Washington, Wikipedia | Leave a Comment »
