Justin Anthony Knapp

“ The only genuine remedy was to have a large, vibrant and participatory republic that included the contributions of the many with an appropriate number of representatives to act as gatekeepers of democracy in the government. Two hundred and fourteen years later, a somewhat different and slightly less grand American experiment was founded: a free encyclopedia that anyone could edit named Wikipedia.
Common goods such as democracies or free cultural repositories can only exist through the hard work and goodwill of a large majority who dedicate their time and effort to cultivating them. ”

“ It is good that British politicians such as Grant Shapps are among those who can edit Wikipedia, and it is also good that site administrators act as watchdogs against pernicious or inappropriate edits. What is undesirable is when someone seeks to undermine the wellbeing of those seeking to learn by editing in such a way as to make the encyclopedia a press release, an advertising platform, or a personal press. ”

“ Wikipedia is largely self-policing and investigates itself as members find inaccuracies, potential libel or petty vandalism, but it is also policed by the greater community that we hope to serve: the public. This encyclopedia only works if others read it, contribute to it, criticise it, and engage with one another to do the same. ”