Talk:Barry Wordsworth

Gant controversy
About three-quarters of this article is devoted to a single controversy, which surely gives it undue weight. Is that really such a significant part of Mr. Wordsworth's career? Can it now be removed as stale, particularly as the article seems to be about little else? Kablammo (talk) 12:12, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
 * If the section is to stay, I suggest deleting the quote associated with footnote 3, as this strongly-worded statement is but one opinion from a concertgoer whose expertise and standing is unknown. What the article really needs is a fuller description of the subject's career by someone knowledgeable.  Kablammo (talk) 13:13, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
 * For such a short article, the solution to a WEIGHT concern is to fill out the article rather than remove referenced material that is there. I would suggest adding more referenced material about the rest of Wordsworth's career.  Shouldn't be too difficult.  All the Gant material is referenced.  If you don't like the concertgoer quote, then I would suggest adding a competing quote from someone who supported Wordsworth in this matter, if one can be found.  The quote's "standing" is that it comes from someone who paid to go to the concert.  Cheers.  Grover cleveland (talk) 15:41, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I agree that the article needs to be filled in, and have asked for help at the project noticeboard. I also agree the Gant material is well-referenced.  I think however the solution to allegations of incompetence by an unknown and probably upset person is to remove them.  It is one thing for such a quote to be published in a news report on the controversy; it is quite another to give it prominence in Wikipedia.  Kablammo (talk) 15:57, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I removed the controversy section for a number of reasons:
 * We don't (or shouldn't) do "Controversy" and "Criticism" sections in BLPs. They introduce inherent bias and are tantamount to having a "Negative information" section. When was the last time you saw a "Praise" section?
 * Having 80% of BLP given over to negative information is pretty clear undue weight.
 * The incident detailed is actually rather minor. A biography is supposed to be representive of the entire life (and work for less notable people) of an individual. By extension, I don't think the details ought to return, even in a much reduced form.

CIreland (talk) 18:47, 24 August 2008 (UTC)