AIDS Wiki talk:About

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Comment on "pro-dissident" POV

from MSN AIDSMythExposed discussion group:

NB: This discussion pertained to the wikicity, which was open to the public to edit and had advertising. Thus, the discussion only partly pertains to the new wiki.

Question: So Mainstream Orthodox cannot add to (AIDS Dissent)Wikiciti correct?

Not exactly. For one thing, there is no way to tell if someone "is" a part of the mainstream orthodox. Someone would not be banned based on who they are, but on their contributions. And even then, simply because someone posted or contributed information which defended the orthodoxy would *not* alone be reason to ban them. It's important that orthodox arguments be presently fully, not silenced. What the policy does currently say is that if someone repeatedly demonstrates that their *primary* goal is to defend the mainstream position, then they might be banned. But all of their contributions would have to be judged in total. Just because someone comes on and supplies mainstream info or defense, if it is verifiable and correct, this would not be enough to ban them. But if it became clear that their only goal was to go around inserting counter-arguments to every dissident claim, and that was their only contribution, and they did it repeatedly, then that would be against policy.

Question: I noticed Pharmeceutical ads to the right side of the page for HIV Drugs if these have to be there could we add Dissident links to the page above and below?

I think the links at the right are Google ads. Unfortunately, this isn't negotiable, I don't think. Wikicities is not "free", in the sense that Wikipedia is free, meaning wikicities has these google ads, and wikipedia does not. This is what pays for the site. The only way to not have them would be not to have the site at all.

Revolver 17:34, 22 Nov 2005 (UTC)

"Beliefs" in mission statement

Originally posted on mission statement: Maybe it would help actually saying what it is you believe on this page. You know, that way people could decide right off the bat if they think you're crazy. Just a suggestion.

Thank you for your comment. I have two responses to your suggestion.

My first response is that a mission statement is not the same thing as a belief statement. A mission statement is a statement of the goals of the project, and what specific tasks and practical accomplishments it might meet. This has little to do with a formal statement of "beliefs". Moreover, a "belief" statement would directly contradict the policies section, which states the "diversity of opinion among dissidents will be respected". I refuse to post some kind of oath that everyone who wants to contribute here has to sign along with -- that's what the orthodoxy does (think Durban Declaration and the recent behaviour of certain "activist" groups).

My second response is that if someone is going to decide based on a single "belief" statement whether they think "right off the bat that you're crazy", then there's almost certainly little point in trying to communicate with them. I think what you're really trying to say is, "Your beliefs are crazy, and if you would just state your crazy beliefs upfront on your mission statement, you'd save the rest of us from wasting a lot of precious time reading your insane babbling." But this site is written precisely for those who won't be prone to such a knee-jerk reaction. Besides, there's a clear link to AIDS dissident in the mission statement, and a single click will take you to an article where the general "beliefs" of dissidents are summarised briefly. Also, there is the link to the list of dissident websites below. If someone can't be bothered to take 5 seconds to try either of these links, it's not my fault.

Revolver 01:06, 17 Jan 2006 (UTC)