Should Wikipedia Have Advertising?
Most Wikipedia users have a very strong objection to advertisement on the site, arguing:
- Advertising is profane.
- Advertising would compromise Wikipedia’s neutrality.
Mike Linksvayer makes the contrarian case, in favor of advertising on Wikipedia.
A common response to the first is that those who don’t like ads can run an ad blocker.
The second is completely unrealistic. How would third party text ads, e.g., via AdSense, compromise neutrality?
Read more.
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Advertising is an income – which I understand they need. I can’t see any way ads can compromise Wikipedia’s neutrality.
But if they go for ads I’d prefer a system like AdSense.
I like Google ads for two reasons:
1. The ads are matched to the content – ie. I can probably use the ads.
2. Google ads are short and concise.
By Helge Olav Helgesen on January 5, 2007 2:34 am