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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fake professor in Wikipedia storm | Fake professor in Wikipedia storm |
| (1 day later) | |
| Internet site Wikipedia has been hit by controversy after the disclosure that a prominent editor had assumed a false identity complete with fake PhD. | Internet site Wikipedia has been hit by controversy after the disclosure that a prominent editor had assumed a false identity complete with fake PhD. |
| The editor, known as Essjay, had described himself as a professor of religion at a private university. | The editor, known as Essjay, had described himself as a professor of religion at a private university. |
| But he was in fact Ryan Jordan, 24, a college student from Kentucky who used texts such as Catholicism for Dummies. He has now retired from the site. | But he was in fact Ryan Jordan, 24, a college student from Kentucky who used texts such as Catholicism for Dummies. He has now retired from the site. |
| Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia open to all, written by volunteers worldwide. | Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia open to all, written by volunteers worldwide. |
| 'Trust and tolerance' | 'Trust and tolerance' |
| Under the name Essjay, Mr Jordan edited articles and also had the authority to arbitrate disputes between authors. | |
| In his user profile, he said he taught both undergraduate and graduate theology, and in an interview with the New Yorker in July 2006, was described as a "tenured professor of religion". | In his user profile, he said he taught both undergraduate and graduate theology, and in an interview with the New Yorker in July 2006, was described as a "tenured professor of religion". |
| His real identity came to light last week when the magazine added an editorial note to the piece highlighting the deception. | His real identity came to light last week when the magazine added an editorial note to the piece highlighting the deception. |
| "At the time of publication, neither we nor Wikipedia knew Essjay's real name," the note said. | "At the time of publication, neither we nor Wikipedia knew Essjay's real name," the note said. |
| Essjay told them he hid his identity because "he feared personal retribution from those he had ruled against online", the magazine's note said. | Essjay told them he hid his identity because "he feared personal retribution from those he had ruled against online", the magazine's note said. |
| Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, writing on the site on 3 March, said that Mr Jordan was apologetic, but that Wikipedia was "based on twin pillars of trust and tolerance". | Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, writing on the site on 3 March, said that Mr Jordan was apologetic, but that Wikipedia was "based on twin pillars of trust and tolerance". |
| "Despite my personal forgiveness, I hope that he will accept my resignation request, because forgiveness or not, these positions are not appropriate for him now," he wrote. | "Despite my personal forgiveness, I hope that he will accept my resignation request, because forgiveness or not, these positions are not appropriate for him now," he wrote. |
| And in a post the next day, Mr Jordan announced his retirement from the site. | And in a post the next day, Mr Jordan announced his retirement from the site. |
| "I hope others will refocus the energy they have spent the past few days in defending and denouncing me to make something here at Wikipedia better," he said. | "I hope others will refocus the energy they have spent the past few days in defending and denouncing me to make something here at Wikipedia better," he said. |