QUOTE(blissyu2 @ Sun 5th August 2007, 4:55pm)
QUOTE(Unrepentant Vandal @ Mon 6th August 2007, 1:07am)
I think you overestimate the importance of Wikipedia. If the security services are involved with Wikipedia, it won't be in the editing of it.
I think you're naive if you think that. Think about what they are all about, what their jobs are, and how it applies to Wikipedia.
Would they be looking for terrorists on Wikipedia? By oath they would be. They'd be looking like hawks on all of the terrorism related articles, to see who might be a terrorist, or working against their interests - looking at the editors, and trying to figure out who they are if they have suspicions.
Granted. But resources are finite, and there are websites far more appealing to terrorists.
QUOTE(blissyu2 @ Sun 5th August 2007, 4:55pm)
Would they be looking for spies from other agencies? By oath they would be. Anyone who suddenly has information about topics that they shouldn't have information on, they'd be following what they say, to see if they can get secrets from them.
Would they be trying to spread false information? By oath they would be. If someone is trying to print accurate information that their government doesn't want people to know, they'd be trying their level best to get rid of it. If they could, they'd be trying to add even more disinformation to articles of importance to their government.
There are much easier, and more effective, ways of doing both of the above. I would be disappointed if what you mention hadn't been considered, but it will have almost certainly have been quickly dismissed.
QUOTE(blissyu2 @ Sun 5th August 2007, 4:55pm)
Is SlimVirgin a government agent? She acts like one. She edits all of the right articles. In fact, other than her occasional dabble in animal rights, pretty much all of her edits are in relation to things that a secret agent would be interested in. And, unlike people like MONGO, SPUI and Morton Devonshire, who also edit those kinds of articles, she also changes the policy to suit what she is adding, deletes revision histories, and tries to hide what she is doing.
Now, if you were a secret service, and you saw the power of SlimVirgin, you'd hire her and get her to work for you, to use Wikipedia to your ends. It'd be invaluable.
No you wouldn't. If what Mr. Bryne says about SlimVirgin (and her mental health) at King's is true, then the security services would not touch her with a bage pole.
QUOTE(blissyu2 @ Sun 5th August 2007, 4:55pm)
However, as we've demonstrated quite clearly, she was doing this from the very beginning, in other words all of her editing was with this agenda. There was no starting time when she was just a normal everyday person and then went along one particular path. No, from the very beginning she was like this.
I think it's reasonable to suspect that SV has an agenda, even if said agenda is simply to argue forcefully for her (somewhat extremist, particualarly with regard to animal rights) views.
QUOTE(blissyu2 @ Sun 5th August 2007, 4:55pm)
So perhaps, in theory, SlimVirgin to begin with was just an ordinary person who *ACTED LIKE A SECRET AGENT* in her use of Wikipedia. Indeed, it is hypothetically possible (if that was our only evidence) that she has remained neutral. However, CIA etc would be fools not to hire her. They'd have a bidding war over her, especially with her power, and her ability to get rid of it. And if she turned them down, my goodness why did she do that? I don't see her writing about having ethical problems with the secret service, or anything like that.
Not going to happen.
QUOTE(blissyu2 @ Sun 5th August 2007, 4:55pm)
She edits for 15 hours per day, constant editing. To suggest that she does this just for fun, with these kinds of topics, or that she does it while at work, casually when the boss isn't watching is a bit strange. If she is unemployed, how does she know as much as she does about these kinds of topics?
Wikipedia is addictive. Power is fun. Humans seek respect. I don't know enough about Linda Mack to speculate any further, but I believe that the truth will turn out to be mundane.
As a Cantabrigian myself, I can easily state that if she came close to completing a philospohy Phd at King's, then the law of averages means she will have been acquainted with people who
are now agents. Again though, the chances of them supplying her with information, while non-zero, is negligible.
Considered analysis, on the other hand, would be relatively likely if they kept in touch...