Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2010-12-13/Arbitration report

Arbitration report

Requested amendment re Pseudoscience case

The Arbitration Committee opened no new cases this week, leaving a total of two cases open.

Requests

Requests have been made concerning Ejaculation Photos and Cousin Marriage. However, as at today, it looks like Arbs are tending to view these simply as 'content disputes' and outside the remit of Arbcom.

An older request concerning Yellow Monkey also seems like it is about to be declined. The Arbs consensus view seems to be shifting towards engaging deeper dispute resolution procedures in advance of taking up such a case.

Old cases

Joshua P. Schroeder (talk · contribs) submitted amendments on December 6 to remove specific example of astrology from principle #16 and psychoanalysis from principle #17 on the grounds that astrology has been erroneously labelled a "theory" and psychoanalysis erroneously labeled a "science". The proposer further asserted that, in giving this guidance, Arbcom has exceeded its remit by straying into ruling on content matters.

Open cases

Since Arbcom voted to accept the case on 30 November, ten editors – including recused Arb Kirill – have submitted evidence. While Communicat (talk · contribs) has argued that appropriate weight ought to be given to so-called 'minority historiographical viewpoints', which he asserts are a majority viewpoint in many non-Western and non-aligned sovereign states, the bulk of the evidence of the other nine editors appears to be focussed on the behaviour of Communicat.

Eight editors have submitted evidence since Arbcom voted to accept the case on 22 November. The case initiator, John J. Bulten (talk · contribs) has offered evidence which he alleges show a large number of instances of ownership, harassment, gross incivility, principally on the part of Ryoung122 (talk · contribs), but also some of his sympathisers, defenders and meatpuppets; Ryoung122 has not yet submitted any evidence or made any comments.