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Britannica Takes Over the Wikimedia Foundation

Posted by CmdrTaco on Fri Apr 01, 2005 09:37 AM
from the unexpected-turn-of-events dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Encyclopaedia Britannica has initiated a "semi-hostile" takeover of Wikipedia. Wikipedia administrators, members of the Wikimedia Board of Trustees, Arbitration Committee members and several other cabalists will receive free access. However, their adminship powers will be stripped permanently."

+ -

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Britannica Takes Over the Wikimedia Foundation More

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Booriing (Score:4, Insightful)

by opqdonut (768567) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:38AM (#12110106) Homepage Journal

This april fools stuff is getiing really lame.
- Re:Booriing (Score:2)
  
  by Sgt O (832802)
  
  This is one time I'm soooo glad I did not get the first post w/o RTFA. I had completely fallen for it....
- Re:Booriing (Score:5, Interesting)
  
  by TrappedByMyself (861094) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:57AM (#12110303)
  
  I think the real April Fool's joke is getting people who aren't amused by the jokes to keep coming back to the site and post comments about them.
  
  It's like going to the same store 3 dozen times in one day, buying the same shirt each time, and telling the cashier each time how much you really hate that shirt.
  
  Parent
- Re:Booriing (Score:2, Funny)
  
  by ReeprFlame (745959)
  
  Ah man, I actually believed it was real until I saw the Seinfeld picture... Ugg
- Re:Booriing (Score:2)
  
  by FidelCatsro (861135)
  
  I remember a few classics on the BBC news over the years , there was only one per year though , they were well thought out , funny(after you worked out it was a joke ) and many of them remain true classics to this day ,in the field of practical jokes that is.
  Its not really lame (taken each seperatly), its the fact that when every one is a joke people get sick fed up of them , too much of a good thing...
- Too funny (Score:2, Informative)
  
  by oliana (181649)
  
  Have you acutally read the Wikipedia article? It reads like a super special extended version of The Onion.
Factual content on slashdot - a first? (Score:5, Insightful)

by rylin (688457) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:38AM (#12110107)

"Nothing for you to see here. Please move along."

That actually describes slashdot with 100% accuracy for April 1st.
- Re:Factual content on slashdot - a first? (Score:2)
  
  by Prod_Deity (686460)
  
  I agree with that whole heartedly.
wtf? (Score:2)

by rovingeyes (575063)

However, their adminship powers will be stripped permanently
I hope Britannica does something about this bad language crap.
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)

by afree87 (102803) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:39AM (#12110121) Homepage Journal

It was a joke!! Haha, oh Slashdot, you got us good!
- Mod me down but.. (Score:2)
  
  by xtracto (837672)
  
  WTF, they publish this thing (i know it is funny) and they have just REJECTED my story about google increase in space (2GB) and Rich text format new features...
  
  Cool! I guess that is not NEWS FOR NERDS... and really does not MATTERS....
  - Re:Mod me down but.. (Score:4, Funny)
    
    by Jugalator (259273) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:59AM (#12110324) Journal
    
    I'm sure they'll post three articles about the Google space increase later to compensate. ;-)
    
    Parent
april fools (Score:3, Insightful)

by sirvulcan (700310) <sirvulcan AT sirvulcan DOT co DOT nz> on Friday April 01 2005, @09:39AM (#12110122) Homepage

These stories are just too easy to figure out this year.
damn it (Score:5, Funny)

by nomadic (141991) <[nomadicworld] [at] [gmail.com]> on Friday April 01 2005, @09:40AM (#12110130) Homepage

This really really sucks. Especially timing it for April Fools Day when people won't believe it's a real story.
April Fools Day or My Birthday? (Score:4, Interesting)

by RobotRunAmok (595286) * on Friday April 01 2005, @09:41AM (#12110138)

Britannica taking over Wiki? Too bad it's only a fantasy. Short of Britannica putting its content on the Web free, this would be the next best thing.
- - Re:April Fools Day or My Birthday? (Score:2)
    
    by RobotRunAmok (595286) *
    
    That, or I am a socialist with a grudge against anyone who seeks profit at the expense of the free exchange of information.
    
    You might be. I know that I am a capitalist who is more than happy to pay a professional editor to ensure that the information is correct and not the product of a dare formulated in the back of a schoolbus.
    
    Sure, I know *most* of the stuff in wiki is *usually* right, and it's certainly updated more frequently (for good or ill) than Britannica, but consistency trumps all.
Additionally... (Score:2)

by FooAtWFU (699187)

The #wikipedia channel on Freenode has been shut down and now forwards to ##britannica. The Wall Street Journal also has an article [wsj.com].
And someone was futzing with our navigation [wikimedia.org] earlier. But it's better now. For now.
This, too, is great news. (Score:5, Funny)

by AtariAmarok (451306) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:42AM (#12110146)

I look forward to a salesman knocking on my door and selling me a 6 foot wide stack of Wikipedia volumes to fill my shelves.
- Re:This, too, is great news. (Score:2)
  
  by bwalling (195998)
  
  I look forward to a salesman knocking on my door and selling me a 6 foot wide stack of Wikipedia volumes to fill my shelves
  
  Well, all I've got is $50, so I'll just take the letter 'V'.
OT: Firefox (Score:3, Interesting)

by m50d (797211) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:42AM (#12110150) Homepage Journal

Did anyone else have firefox crash trying to first post in this story? 3 times in a row I loaded it and clicked reply only to have FF disappear and the quality feedback agent come up.
(Typing this in Opera, which seems to be fine)
- Heh, April Fools crashes (Score:2)
  
  by MrHanky (141717)
  
  Most of the apps I use regularly are more or less rock solid. I don't remember the last time one of them crashed -- before today. Today, Kopete has crashed at least 4 times, Firefox and Konqueror both crashed once each. And now neither Kopete nor Gaim will connect to MSN.
  
  Coincidence?
  
  Or maybe it was because I upgraded half of KDE's libraries without restarting KDE. An April Fools upgrade?
come on (Score:2)

by Sv-Manowar (772313)

come on you guys, don't troll them for having a bit of fun. Google and Yahoo! do it - with google slurp and yahoo slacker

It's also a pretty funny story if you read it through, at least some people still have senses of humour
Wonderful. (Score:2)

by xanderwilson (662093)

One of the better ones I've seen so far today. Surely puts my [telltaleweekly.org] weak attempt to shame.

Day's early though.
Most obvious April 1st joke ever, look at link (Score:3, Informative)

by Weaselmancer (533834) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:42AM (#12110157)

Examine the story link. It's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:April_1%2 C_2005/2005_Britannica_takeover_of_Wikimedia

April 1, right in the link. Obvious!
Boring Life (Score:2)

by bigtallmofo (695287)

Wouldn't life be boring if every day was the same and that there weren't days like April 1st to break up the monotony of reading timely real news?

The jokes are a bit tired, but it's good to have a little variety.
- Re:Boring Life (Score:2)
  
  by ari_j (90255)
  
  timely real news
  
  Dude, if you come to Slashdot for that, you have deeper issues.
WikBritPedAnnica (Score:4, Funny)

by FunWithHeadlines (644929) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:43AM (#12110165) Homepage

Following completion of the takeover, the following steps will be taken:
1. Reduce the number of articles online so that they will fit into a 27-volume set of printed books.
2. The person making this list will be sacked.
3. Reduce the use of fluffy language on Wikipedia, and make everything more stuffy.
4. The person who sacked the person making this list will be sacked.
5. More cheesey goodness!
6. Sack everyone else.
7. ?????
8. Profit!!!!
- Re:WikBritPedAnnica (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by EvilTwinSkippy (112490) <[yoda] [at] [etoyoc.com]> on Friday April 01 2005, @10:09AM (#12110429) Homepage Journal
  
  7. Hire a bunch of Peruvian llamas to finish the edition at the last minute and at great expense.
  
  Parent
Some nice bits .... (Score:4, Funny)

by gowen (141411) <gwowen@gmail.com> on Friday April 01 2005, @09:43AM (#12110168) Homepage Journal
I like the new board of directors at the end... excerpts include
- Tony Blair, Director of Transparency and Accountability
- Al Gore (inventor of the algorithm)
- Robert Downey, Jr., Ambassador to Colombia and Jamaica
- Dr. Who, Minister of Time Travel
- Marty McFly, Vice Minister of Time Travel
- Ron Artest and Miles O'Brien, security guards.
- Bub the Zombie, Minister of NRRRGGGHH! BRAINS!!!!
- Terri Schiavo, Personal Assitant to Bub the Zombie
- Ian Brown, King Monkey
- Re:Some nice bits .... (Score:3, Funny)
  
  by tomstdenis (446163)
  
  Terri Schiavo, Personal Assitant to Bub the Zombie
  
  Too soon, you have to wait 22.3 years [fanboyplanet.com] before something like that is funny.
  
  Tom
  - Re:Some nice bits .... (Score:2)
    
    by cmpalmer (234347) *
    
    I don't know, I heard about a T-Shirt the other day that said something like:
    
    "Forget Terri Schiavo, stop feeding Kirstie Alley"
    
    and I thought it was funny...
Libel? (Score:3, Insightful)

by suwain_2 (260792) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:44AM (#12110175) Journal

When does an April Fools joke become libel? I can't see Encyclopedia Britannica seeing the humor in this one.
So Funny! (Score:2)

by pgpckt (312866)

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Oy! That was a good one!

Where do the editors come up with these wonders?

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
April Fool? (Score:2)

by krygny (473134)

I don't believe anything I read today.
- Re:April Fool? (Score:2)
  
  by Hatta (162192)
  
  I don't believe anything I read today.
  
  Everything you read on April 1st is a lie.
Next story? (Score:5, Funny)

by maxwell demon (590494) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:53AM (#12110261) Journal

Microsoft buys Slashdot.
Linus Thorvalds buys Linux License from SCO.
Hubble Space Telecope observes Intergalactic Spaceship.
Space Probe Reveals: There is No Intelligent Life on Earth.
Harvard Researcher creates Dupe Detection Software. Soon to be Installed on Slashdot.
- Re:Next story? (Score:2, Funny)
  
  by BBird (664014)
  
  the fourth is not fool's news...
It's so not fake. (Score:2)

by PxM (855264)

I can't believe people think this is an April Fool's story. They even have a picture [wikipedia.org] on their site to prove that their story is true. We must rise up against our British Overlords who wish to control our information and tax our tea. Please, think of the children!

--
Want a free Nintendo DS, GC, PS2, Xbox. [freegamingsystems.com] (you only need 4 referrals)
Wired article as proof [wired.com]
Smart Slashdot Story Prediction Software Unveiled (Score:2)

by nmg196 (184961) *

I was sent some clever software that predicts the next slashdot story with amazing accuracy. I compiled it and ran it myself and it's currently predicting the next story will be "Paris Hilton Recruited to Publicize Linux".

We'll have to wait and see... but if this works, there will no longer be so much incentive to subscribe to slashdot...
check... (Score:2)

by SlashDread (38969)

the date...
That was a good one... (Score:2)

by haplo21112 (184264)

...I hate April 1st...you actually had me for a second there...thats slight tinge of plausability.
enough already (Score:2)

by PureCreditor (300490)

a couple of April Fools laughs is good, but to submit 10 stories of the same ridiculous nature is rather immature
- Re:Cmon slastdot (Score:2)
  
  by GreyWolf3000 (468618)
  
  They're going to have throw out a few "dud" 4/1 stories if they want to fool us with the clever ones. People will think that only the "obvious" ones are jokes. Otherwise, readers would carefully inspect every article.
  - Re:Cmon slastdot (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by calibanDNS (32250) <brad_staton@@@hotmail...com> on Friday April 01 2005, @09:51AM (#12110242)
    
    Otherwise, readers would carefully inspect every article.
    
    That would be a blessing any day of the year.
    
    Parent
- Re:Cmon slastdot (Score:2)
  
  by suso (153703) *
  
  Actually, the next one that is coming up should have some great comments.
- Or this one: (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by AtariAmarok (451306) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:44AM (#12110174)
  
  Politics: "Through a glitch between Zimbabwe's election computers and Slashdot, Cowboy Neal was elected president of Zimbabwe yesterday."
  
  Parent
- Re:Retaliation against /. (Score:4, Insightful)
  
  by OECD (639690) on Friday April 01 2005, @09:51AM (#12110241) Journal
  
  Here's the next joke article:
  *Groan* I forgot what day it was... the longest day of the year for slashdot readers...
  
  Parent
  - Re:Retaliation against /. (Score:4, Funny)
    
    by bsd4me (759597) on Friday April 01 2005, @10:06AM (#12110382)
    
    I think I am going to configure my computer to give me an electric shock every time I try to read Shashdot today...
    
    Parent
- Re:Worst April's fools ever (Score:2)
  
  by EvilTwinSkippy (112490)
  
  I think the photoshop of Elian was a nice touch.
- Re:Limits (Score:2)
  
  by Peyna (14792)
  
  Your ID # is high enough that you've been here more than a year and should know that this is some what of a tradition on Slashdot. Nothing newsworthy will show up until after midnight.
  
  That said, it's too bad this wasn't Saturday and we'd only have to deal with 23 hours of it.

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Britannica Takes Over the Wikimedia Foundation

Britannica Takes Over the Wikimedia Foundation 50 Comments More Login /

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Booriing (Score:4, Insightful)

Re:Booriing (Score:2)

Re:Booriing (Score:5, Interesting)

Re:Booriing (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Booriing (Score:2)

Too funny (Score:2, Informative)

Factual content on slashdot - a first? (Score:5, Insightful)

Re:Factual content on slashdot - a first? (Score:2)

wtf? (Score:2)

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)

Mod me down but.. (Score:2)

Re:Mod me down but.. (Score:4, Funny)

april fools (Score:3, Insightful)

damn it (Score:5, Funny)

April Fools Day or My Birthday? (Score:4, Interesting)

Re:April Fools Day or My Birthday? (Score:2)

Additionally... (Score:2)

This, too, is great news. (Score:5, Funny)

Re:This, too, is great news. (Score:2)

OT: Firefox (Score:3, Interesting)

Heh, April Fools crashes (Score:2)

come on (Score:2)

Wonderful. (Score:2)

Most obvious April 1st joke ever, look at link (Score:3, Informative)

Boring Life (Score:2)

Re:Boring Life (Score:2)

WikBritPedAnnica (Score:4, Funny)

Re:WikBritPedAnnica (Score:4, Funny)

Some nice bits .... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Some nice bits .... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Some nice bits .... (Score:2)

Libel? (Score:3, Insightful)

So Funny! (Score:2)

April Fool? (Score:2)

Re:April Fool? (Score:2)

Next story? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Next story? (Score:2, Funny)

It's so not fake. (Score:2)

Smart Slashdot Story Prediction Software Unveiled (Score:2)

check... (Score:2)

That was a good one... (Score:2)

enough already (Score:2)

Re:Cmon slastdot (Score:2)

Re:Cmon slastdot (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Cmon slastdot (Score:2)

Or this one: (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Retaliation against /. (Score:4, Insightful)

Re:Retaliation against /. (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Worst April's fools ever (Score:2)

Re:Limits (Score:2)

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