Political leanings of the average Wikipedian

[Johnny Au]

Using the chart from politicalcompass.org, where would the average Wikipedian fit?

[thekohser]

Thank you for not linking to "the chart" -- very helpful (not).

The average Wikipedian would fall just southwest of Gandhi.

[Kingsindian]

I would guess socially liberal, economically neutral, perhaps slightly left. So, southeast of Gandhi, southwest of Friedman.

[Earthy Astringent]

In some unknown relation to Hitler.

/drops mic

[Poetlister]

The alleged freedom and democracy of the place no doubt attracts libertarians across the spectrum. However, quite a few Wikipedians have an authoritarian streak; they of course are the ones who tend to become abusive admins.

[thekohser]

However, quite a few Wikipedians have an authoritarian streak; they of course are the ones who tend to become abusive admins.

I thought we were talking about their perspective on their country's government. If we're talking about their perspective on their WikiGovernment, then yes, that moves them a lot further north on the chart.

[lilburne]

Using the chart from politicalcompass.org, where would the average Wikipedian fit?

Given the choice I would assume that the average wikicomedian would chose the "Birthday Party" particularly if there was plenty of Jelly, Ice cream, and carbonated sugary drinks.

[Poetlister]

However, quite a few Wikipedians have an authoritarian streak; they of course are the ones who tend to become abusive admins.

I thought we were talking about their perspective on their country's government. If we're talking about their perspective on their WikiGovernment, then yes, that moves them a lot further north on the chart.

I meant that they are the sort of people who would favour an authoritarian regime in their country's government, as long as they themselves had power.

[Textnyymi]

66% crypto-communists, 22% crypto-fascists, 11% crypto-anarchists!

[Bielle]

However, quite a few Wikipedians have an authoritarian streak; they of course are the ones who tend to become abusive admins.

I thought we were talking about their perspective on their country's government. If we're talking about their perspective on their WikiGovernment, then yes, that moves them a lot further north on the chart.

I meant that they are the sort of people who would favour an authoritarian regime in their country's government, as long as they themselves had power.

So would many of us. Twenty-five years ago I might have liked to have run such a regime. Now the job would likely interfere with afternoon naps.

[MysteriousStranger]

I think the political leanings of many of the more authoritarian rollbackers and abusive admins can be summed up in two words: Heil Jimbo!

[Dennis Brown]

The average Wikipedian is way left of the average American, particularly on social issues but almost as most on economic. It isn't a shocker, considering many in academia are attracted and most small business owners (the source of 2/3rds of US jobs) are not. That said, most are still able to be fair and neutral on most articles. Why they are isn't a matter of politics, and more a matter of the desire to build an encyclopedia. There are a lot of liberal Libertarians, but very few conservative ones there.

[Johnny Au]

Pop culture sections of general interest Wikipedia articles tend to come from media popular with those from the southwest quadrant of the compass.

By extension, TV Tropes's primary political leaning is also from the southwest quadrant of the compass.

[Zoloft]

One of the things I find both horrifying and amusing is that when personal pride and point of view come into play at Wikipedia, these largely liberal culture warriors cosplay Kafkaesque totalitarian regimes quite accurately.

[Poetlister]

One of the things I find both horrifying and amusing is that when personal pride and point of view come into play at Wikipedia, these largely liberal culture warriors cosplay Kafkaesque totalitarian regimes quite accurately.

Alas, that's human nature. Wikipedia is not exactly unique in that respect, although it is possibly more aggressive than some other places.

[Ross McPherson]

What Wikipedians think they think and what they actually think are two different things. We know this because we see how selfish they are within the selfless state of Wikipedia. Of course all good things come round and bite themselves on the arse. Thus the nobility of the altruist becomes the ignobility of the ant. In short, Wikipedians are utopian communists on principle, Stalinists by default, Boris Putins by a natural process of corruption, and finally – easy pickings for whatever other impractical cult comes along. The ultimate truth is - they are just bytes.

[Kelly Martin]

One of the things I find both horrifying and amusing is that when personal pride and point of view come into play at Wikipedia, these largely liberal culture warriors cosplay Kafkaesque totalitarian regimes quite accurately.

That's because many of them aren't liberals; they are instead left-leaning radicals, and as such totally predisposed toward totalitarianism.

[Kelly Martin]

I meant that they are the sort of people who would favour an authoritarian regime in their country's government, as long as they themselves had power.

Of course. Wikipedia is overpopulated with radicals of all stripes: ideologically-driven individuals who are committed to implementing their view of That Which Is Right, regardless of the cost. That's the hallmark of a radical. Radicals, once they achieve power, become reactionaries: having established a government based on That Which Is Right, any challenge to that government or its ideals is an offense against That Which Must Be and will not be tolerated at all.

Radicals tend to be marginalized in broader society, and Wikipedia (because of its low barriers to entry and prohibitions on investigating the intentions or affiliations of participants) is extremely attractive to radicals, especially since it also gives them a soapbox (rickety though it be) on which to stand and shout out their message.

Keep also in mind that the "Wikipedia Movement" itself is a radical movement, one committed to the abolition of all barriers to the access and free use of "knowledge" generally.

[Smiley]

One of the things I find both horrifying and amusing is that when personal pride and point of view come into play at Wikipedia, these largely liberal culture warriors cosplay Kafkaesque totalitarian regimes quite accurately.

True dat.

I recall Kumioko was asked to take the politicalcompass test in his RfA. Somewhat surprisingly, he did. Later, in a discussion about the appropriateness of this question, You Can Act Like A Man (T-C-L), who claimed a score of -9.64 out of 10 on the Libertarian/Authoritarian scale, demanded the questioner be sanctioned!

[MysteriousStranger]

One of the things I find both horrifying and amusing is that when personal pride and point of view come into play at Wikipedia, these largely liberal culture warriors cosplay Kafkaesque totalitarian regimes quite accurately.

True dat.

I recall Kumioko was asked to take the politicalcompass test in his RfA. Somewhat surprisingly, he did. Later, in a discussion about the appropriateness of this question, You Can Act Like A Man (T-C-L), who claimed a score of -9.64 out of 10 on the Libertarian/Authoritarian scale, demanded the questioner be sanctioned!

On a related note, anybody notice a distinct lack of awareness of irony among Wikipedians? So much so that, if you point out irony to them, they'll call you a troll and block you?

[Ross McPherson]

On a related note, anybody notice a distinct lack of awareness of irony among Wikipedians? So much so that, if you point out irony to them, they'll call you a troll and block you?

A confused environment is no place for irony. Or, to put it another way, an arch look means nothing in a dark lane.