US Senators caught editing their wikipedia entries

[CptStern]

"Edits by Massachusetts congressman Marty Meehan's staff on his Wikipedia article spurred a Lowell Sun story and a subsequent Wikipedia investigation of all Internet addresses assigned to the Congress of the United States.


More audio reportsWhile edits from the Capitol are not generally news, the biographical article for Mr. Meehan was carefully edited, removing negative comments while expanding with content from the congressman's political flyer. ...IP address which made these edits has an extensive editing history on Wikipedia, and has been repeatedly blocked in past months for article vandalism and violation of Wikipedia policies


Senator pages edited

The following is a partial list of U.S. Senator biographies on the English-language Wikipedia edited by Senate employees.

Senator Conrad Burns' page was edited to remove negative comments as positive comments were added. [4]
Senator Norm Coleman's page was also edited to remove negative comments while positive comments were added. [5]
Senator Robert Byrd's page was vandalized [6]
Senator Tom Harkin's criticism section was deleted [7], a major section on Israel & military removed [8] and later vandalized by a different IP [9]
Senator Joe Biden's page had a major edit removing significant criticism [10]
Senator Tom Coburn's page was vandalized [11] more than once [12]



pretty idiotic and irresponsible behaviour, they're public officials elected by the people, they have no right to edit information that's in the public record. What makes it worse is that they used senate computers to do it ..jeez are they that stupid that they couldnt have walked to the public library or an internet cafe and done it there?


http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Congressional_staff_actions_prompt_Wikipedia_investigation

 

[clarky003]

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=100186

:I

But it is a disgrace I know, and most of the time it seems the american public response is 'dont give a shit', or 'yeh wouldnt suprise me' *add ignore*. Hello! your ****ing senators, the people your tax pays for are trying to spread disinformation which is against the law, smell a fish?.

 

[CptStern]

damn didnt see that ..but my sources names names


ya that pisses me off that most people in the US couldnt care less ..they could pretty much do whatever they please and the american public wouldnt bat an eyelash

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=100186

:I

But it is a disgrace I know, and most of the time it seems the american public response is 'dont give a shit', or 'yeh wouldnt suprise me' *add ignore*. Hello! your ****ing senators, the people your tax pays for are trying to spread disinformation which is against the law, smell a fish?.

While I don't like a lot of the Senators it involves, it's not "against the law." It is really stupid but I also doubt it to be the Senators themselves. Probably some staffer in the office.

 

[DeusExMachina]

damn didnt see that ..but my sources names names


ya that pisses me off that most people in the US couldnt care less ..they could pretty much do whatever they please and the american public wouldnt bat an eyelash

The sad thing is your right.

But don't try and act like only Americans would ignore the things their government does. That's just how this generation is. Apathy towards everything.

 

[clarky003]

While I don't like a lot of the Senators it involves, it's not "against the law." It is really stupid but I also doubt it to be the Senators themselves. Probably some staffer in the office.

Well if they got caught trying to manipulate information on wiki, what makes you think they might not of already successfully manipulated other information distribution, that may have legal implication's, staffer or otherwise its being done for a reason.. to improve the perception of these people under false pretences.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Well if they got caught trying to manipulate information on wiki, what makes you think they might not of already successfully manipulated other information distribution, that may have legal implication's, staffer or otherwise its being done for a reason.. to improve the perception of these people under false pretences.

Because this was something they could easily edit, literally themselves with the click of a mouse, but other users could easily put it back on. Staffer decision.

I don't like Meehan but really it's not a big controversy where he's implicated in a big serious wrongdoing.

 

[Sainku]

Well if they got caught trying to manipulate information on wiki, what makes you think they might not of already successfully manipulated other information distribution, that may have legal implication's.

Because a retarded monkey could edit a wiki.

Not that they don't edit infromation. I just don't think they are very good at it. There is no way to edit it all. I don't think it's anywhere near the level some would like to believe. I doubt it poses any threat to the majority of media.

ya that pisses me off that most people in the US couldnt care less ..they could pretty much do whatever they please and the american public wouldnt bat an eyelash

But still, it's a good thing we have numerous non-americans like stern to enlighten us about our ignorant american ways and the goverments wrongdoings which we have been blinded from but they (not being from america and thus not ignorant) can see.

 

[clarky003]

Because this was something they could easily edit, literally themselves with the click of a mouse, but other users could easily put it back on. Staffer decision.

I don't like Meehan but really it's not a big controversy where he's implicated in a big serious wrongdoing.

I agree, but it gives insight and indication to the way these people are thinking, and if similar stuff has happened and not been brought to light, then they may of successfully gotten away with more than just wiki edit's which although easy to do are also easy to catch.

 

[CptStern]

But still, it's a good thing we have numerous non-americans like stern to enlighten us about our ignorant american ways and the goverments wrongdoings which we have been blinded from but they (not being from america and thus not ignorant) can see.

glad to be of help :E

The sad thing is your right.

But don't try and act like only Americans would ignore the things their government does. That's just how this generation is. Apathy towards everything.

yes I agree but apathy seems to be a driving force that allows things like falsified information that leads to war, secret prisons, torture, domestic spying ..I mean imho there's only so much a person can ignore before being a citizen loses it's value completely

 

[sinkoman]

damn didnt see that ..but my sources names names


ya that pisses me off that most people in the US couldnt care less ..they could pretty much do whatever they please and the american public wouldnt bat an eyelash

Well, it's not so much that we don't care...

It's more that there's nothing that we can do.

I mean, we've all pretty much accepted that fact that every inch of US politics has been corrupt beyond reform since the 50's.

 

[Sulkdodds]

While I don't like a lot of the Senators it involves, it's not "against the law."

Surely, since it concerns information that could be deemed important to the public, it should be? :dozey:

 

[Jintor]

I guess, to them, it's a bit like editing a resume 0_o

 

[CptStern]

Well, it's not so much that we don't care...

It's more that there's nothing that we can do.

I mean, we've all pretty much accepted that fact that every inch of US politics has been corrupt beyond reform since the 50's.

true, but the media also plays into it. The Downingstreet memos are a good example. It's indisputable evidence that the bush admin fixed evidence to justify their invasion of iraq yet it was virtually ignored stateside (many americans I've spoken to (outside this forum) didnt even know of its existance) ..then there's this ..it couldnt be any clearer that they lied yet no mention is ever made of it. Even media that may have had a somewhat anti-war agenda ignored it. But then I guess it's not what the majority of americans want to hear, which explains the popularity of foxnews. Independent media faired much better, often reporting what mainstream media wouldnt touch.

 

[dream431ca]

Well I think most of them should retire..I mean come on..look how old they are!!

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Surely, since it concerns information that could be deemed important to the public, it should be? :dozey:

Um, no, it shouldn't be. Censoring speech starts right there. It's against wiki's private regulations and they can take care of it and remove the additions/restore and ban the IP range or whatever.

Unless there was consistant harassment from the IP Range after it being banned using various methods to circumvent it (which would be a crime I'm sure by some law regarding cyberspace) then it is not a crime.

 

[clarky003]

Refering to Sterns post the video at the bottom is a good watch, you have to wait a bit but it eventually loads. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11766.htm

They needed this war, not because of democracey or weapons of mass destruction, but for securing more direct access to future resources.. securing the use of the petro dollar in the middle east, and the economic military boom. Its unjust on the grounds of the reasons, making it illegal, but the leaders seemed to think **** it and lets try whatever way we can to get people on our side, and we all fell for it like douche bags.

 

[baxter]

“They needed this war.”

What is it? Do you really believe there is some sort of "they" ?

This overriding desire to ponder all the earths nature recourse, whereby reason, common sense and rationality goes out of the window?

I really would like to see what is behind this universal conspiracy and would like to know what exactly drives your unreserved fear and dread of everything official.

Mistakes are what make us human.

THEY NEEDED THIS WAR..........pray explain.

 

[clarky003]

I dont want to derail the thread, just watch the channel 4 news report video in the link... its quite clear 'they' (bush and blair) where not going to back down despite the lack of forthcoming evidence.

 

[baxter]

I'll watch it.

Maybe we'll find common ground