Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2010-08-29/Genetic algorithms: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:54, 29 August 2010

Latest revision as of 07:47, 24 April 2011

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{{medcabstatus

|article={{SUBPAGENAME}}

|status=NewClosed

|date=17:25, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

|requester=[[User:Keki BurjorjeeKeburjor|Keki BurjorjeeKeburjor]] ([[User talk:Keki BurjorjeeKeburjor|talk]])

|parties=[[User:Keki BurjorjeeKeburjor]]

[[User:Glrx]]

[[User:Chaosdruid]]

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[[User:ErikHaugen]]

|mediators=

|comment=<!-- ForFirst mediator userejected onlyby a party. -->

}}

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====Where is the dispute?====

The dispute is primarily on the discussion page of the article on Genetic Algorithms [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Genetic_algorithm#Should_all_reference_to_the_Generative_Fixation_Hypothesis_be_removed.3F]. Parts of the discussion can also be found at [[User Talk:Keki BurjorjeeKeburjor]] and [[User Talk:Glrx#Genetic_algorithm]]

====Who is involved?====

*[[User:Keki BurjorjeeKeburjor]]

*[[User:Glrx]]

*[[User:Chaosdruid]]

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====What is the dispute?====

The dispute is about whether the existence of the generative fixation hypothesis (GFH)---a new explanationhypothesis forabout the workings of genetic algorithms that I (Keki Burjorjee) published in my Ph.D. dissertation--- should be mentioned in passing in the article on [[Genetic algorithms]]. The edit in question satisfies Wikipedia's three content policies, viz., [[WP:V]], [[WP:NOR]], and [[WP:NPOV]]. The dispute started between [[User:Oli Filth]] and me; however, after I issued an RFC, Oli Filth seems to have abandoned the discussion. The only opposition currently comes from [[User:Glrx]], who got involved as a RFC editor, and has since reverted the edit on multiple occasions. Glrx has accusedaccuses me of "pushing ... original research" (despite the edit being [[WP:V]]), and says that the conflict of interest inherent in writing about one's own work---a COI I made explicit by writing under my real name---''by definition'' makes me "too close" to my work to write about it on Wikipedia. I've asked him repeatedly to elaborate on his claim, and to provide evidence that I cannot be objective about mythe own workedit. He has not doneresponded so;to chiefly,these requests. I believe, that he does not respond because his claimconclusions isare based on speculation,his and''feelings'' notabout anme acquaintance(specifically, withthat theI generative fixation hypothesis orhad the fieldgall ofto geneticchallenge algorithms.him Whento pressedback toup providehis evidenceclaim that I'm incapable of being objective about the edit, violates [[UserWP:GlrxNOR]] asks for evidence of "prominent adherents" of the GFH. His demand demonstrates a conflation of the Wikipedia concepts of weight and notability[[WP:NPOV]]), andnot aan ratheracquaintance rosywith view ofeither the pacefield atof whichgenetic sciencealgorithms progressesor inmy response to revolutionary theorieswork.

When pressed to provide evidence that I'm incapable of being objective about the edit, [[User:Glrx]] asks for evidence of "prominent adherents" of the the scientific hypothesis I've put forth. In other words, Glrx asks for evidence of the ''notability'' of this hypothesis. In doing so, Glrx conflates the Wikipedia concepts of ''weight'', which applies to article content, and ''notability'', which applies to article existence. The nutshell box at the top of [[WP:N]] prominently states that the Wikipedia guideline on Notability applies to article ''existence'', not article content. The filters for article content are [[WP:V]], [[WP:NOR]], and [[WP:NPOV]], none of which are violated by the edit. Pointing this out to Glrx makes no difference.

[[WP:N]] prominently states that the Wikipedia guideline on Notability applies to article ''existence'', not article content. Pointing this out to Glrx makes no difference. Neither does my entreaty to him to consider the harm he might be doing readers seeking an explanation for the adaptive capacity of genetic algorithms, especially genetic algorithms with uniform crossover. (The generative fixation hypothesis is currently the only full-fledged hypothesis that professes to explain the adaptive capacity of genetic algorithms with uniform crossover). Other neutral editors have commented that the mere mention of the ''existence'' of the GFH on the [[Genetic algorithms]] page does not violate [[WP:UNDUE]], and may be very helpful to readers. None of this has made an impression on Glrx.

Other neutral editors have agreed that the mere mention of the new hypothesis on the [[Genetic algorithms]] page does not violate [[WP:UNDUE]], and could quite possibly be very helpful to readers of the article, especially since the reigning hypothesis in the field is known to have significant flaws. None of this has made an impression on Glrx, who acts like he is the final authority on what does and does not belong in Wikipedia, and on who can and cannot post material to a given article. Additionally he feels no obligation to respond to my questions, or my invitations to him to enter into formal mediation [[WP:RFM]]. His one word response to the latter was "Sigh". [[User:Keburjor|Keburjor]]

====What would you like to change about this?====

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====How do you think we can help?====

# By clearly stating the difference between weight and notability, and explaining Wikipedia's policy regarding the application of [[WP:Notability]] to article content.

# By correcting any misconceptions that Glrx or I (or any other participant) might have.

# By commenting on any misconduct you see in the way this dispute is being handled by any of the participants.

# By helping us break the impasse we're currently in.

===Mediator notes===

I will mediate this if I am acceptable to all parties. Please indicate such on this page. Thanks. [[User:Hipocrite|Hipocrite]] ([[User talk:Hipocrite|talk]]) 14:26, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

* Accept [[User:ErikHaugen|ErikHaugen]] ([[User talk:ErikHaugen|talk]]) 17:03, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

* Accept — [[User:Parent5446|Parent5446]] [[User talk:Parent5446|☯]] <sup class="plainlinks">([{{fullurl:User talk: Parent5446|action=edit&preload=User:Parent5446/MediaWiki/TalkPageMessage&section=new}} msg] [[Special:Emailuser/Parent5446|email]])</sup> 23:25, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

* Accept. [[User:Keburjor|Keburjor]] ([[User talk:Keburjor|talk]]) 07:10, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

* Accept [[User:Chaosdruid|Chaosdruid]] ([[User talk:Chaosdruid|talk]]) 14:18, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

* Decline [[User:Glrx|Glrx]] ([[User talk:Glrx|talk]]) 20:26, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

:As Glrx has rejected me as mediator, I will leave a note and leave the case open. [[User:Hipocrite|Hipocrite]] ([[User talk:Hipocrite|talk]]) 13:04, 7 October 2010 (UTC)

::I will mediate if acceptable to all parties. Again, please indicate such here. [[User:Robotnick2|Robotnick2]] ^{[[User talk:Robotnick2|Messages?]]} 14:47, 19 October 2010 (UTC)

* I accept, [[User:ErikHaugen|ErikHaugen]] ([[User talk:ErikHaugen|talk]]) 17:36, 19 October 2010 (UTC)

* Thanks, I accept. [[User:Keburjor|Keburjor]] ([[User talk:Keburjor|talk]]) 20:29, 19 October 2010 (UTC)

* I accept, — [[User:Parent5446|Parent5446]] [[User talk:Parent5446|☯]] <sup class="plainlinks">([{{fullurl:User talk: Parent5446|action=edit&preload=User:Parent5446/MediaWiki/TalkPageMessage&section=new}} msg] [[Special:Emailuser/Parent5446|email]])</sup> 02:26, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

* Decline. History [[User:Robotnick2]] and [[User:Anikin3]]. [[User:Glrx|Glrx]] ([[User talk:Glrx|talk]]) 03:54, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

::And your reason for rejecting [[User:Hipocrite]] was? [[User:Keburjor|Keburjor]] ([[User talk:Keburjor|talk]]) 04:13, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

::Yes, I was wondering that. In addition, what in my history makes you think that I would not be a valid mediator? [[User:Robotnick2|Robotnick2]] ^{[[User talk:Robotnick2|Messages?]]} 11:28, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

----

Does this still need a mediator? I (1234r00t {{user2|1234r00t}}) volunteer to help solve this issue if it is still a problem [[User:1234r00t|<span style='color:#383132'><i><b>Mr R00t</b></i></span>]] [[User Talk:1234r00t| <span style="color:#46520C">^<i>Talk</i></span>]] [[Special:Contributions/1234r00t|<span style="color:#46520C">^{<i>'tribs</i>}</span>]] 05:28, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

* A mediator is not needed. The case should should be closed because the issue is moot. Although I disagree with the above characterization of the dispute, the matter has been resolved. Keburjor has acknowledged that he does not have a consensus at this time to add information about his PhD thesis to the article. [[User:Glrx|Glrx]] ([[User talk:Glrx|talk]]) 06:36, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

:* Great, I'll close it. [[User:1234r00t|<span style='color:#383132'><i><b>Mr R00t</b></i></span>]] [[User Talk:1234r00t| <span style="color:#46520C">^<i>Talk</i></span>]] [[Special:Contributions/1234r00t|<span style="color:#46520C">^{<i>'tribs</i>}</span>]] 23:29, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for your interest Mr R00t. The current consensus does indeed seem to be that the edit should not be made. Of course [[WP:CCC|consensus can change]], and your involvement may bring about such a change. However, even if it does, I don't believe that two disputants, Glrx and Oli Filth, are capable of looking beyond the COI to the real issue here---whether the interests of the article's readers are being served. And, one of them, Glrx, has a fondness for reverting the edit even when the consensus doesn't align with his ideas of what should and shouldn't be included. I've decided to withdraw from this dispute because it seems pointless to carry on. [[User:Keburjor|Keburjor]] ([[User talk:Keburjor|talk]]) 03:57, 28 November 2010 (UTC)

===Administrative notes===

I recommend closing this until the declining editor specifies exactly what he's expecting in a mediator, or if he wants mediation at all. [[User:Xavexgoem|Xavexgoem]] ([[User talk:Xavexgoem|talk]]) 05:34, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

:That would probably be a good idea if the user does not reply to my above post or declines me. [[User:1234r00t|<span style='color:#383132'><i><b>Mr R00t</b></i></span>]] [[User Talk:1234r00t| <span style="color:#46520C">^<i>Talk</i></span>]] [[Special:Contributions/1234r00t|<span style="color:#46520C">^{<i>'tribs</i>}</span>]] 05:29, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

===Discussion===