Talk:Richard Donovan (runner)

External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20090209123250/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0208/q_n_a.html to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0208/q_n_a.html
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20090210020849/http://worldmarathonchallenge.com/live/7.html to http://www.worldmarathonchallenge.com/live/7.html

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content dispute
Anyone who would like to change the content is free to discuss said changes here and seek consensus. ANyone associated with the subject is invited to read WP:COI. The subject of the article may wish to read WP:BLP.Dlohcierekim (talk) 23:19, 14 June 2017 (UTC) The user may want to post about their concerns at WP:BLPN.Dlohcierekim (talk) 23:26, 14 June 2017 (UTC)

contentious edits
I have reset visibility on contentious material in prior revisions. Someone should comment here, contact me, or post to WP:AN/I if I missed anything.Dlohcierekim (talk) 00:13, 15 June 2017 (UTC)

Forbes case
I wrote the following section to replace the unsourced, negative-tone litigation section that was added before. It's verifiable with reliable sources and not directly negative; my only concern is it may give undue weight to the idea of Donovan as a litigant.


 * On July 3, 2006, Forbes published an article entitled "Run in the Midnight Sun," alleging possible safety hazards at Donovan's North Pole marathon of that year. Donovan contacted Forbes, and the magazine issued a retraction of some of its statements. Claiming lowered attendance and financial loss as a result of the article, Donovan filed lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions for defamation. In 2011, Forbes settled the claims for €160,000.

I'd like a second opinion before adding it back in. —Guanaco 03:06, 15 June 2017 (UTC)
 * Not everyone will agree with me, but I see no need for it at all. Given the sensitive nature, you may want to ask the folks at WP:BLPN and WP:AN to drop by.Dlohcierekim (talk) 13:57, 15 June 2017 (UTC)
 * I'll just drop it. For a biography of this size, it's undue weight. —Guanaco 14:10, 15 June 2017 (UTC)

Personally I disagree with there being no mention. Donovan has been involved in three very high profile legal cases, two involving events that he organises. In order to provide a rounded biography we have a duty to include a balanced account of the documented history. I understand the concern of undue weight but the legal cases are a considerable element in his reputation and by omitting the litigation we omit a large portion of his professional and sporting life as well as his personality (which Wikipedia has had an insight to recently).

Perhaps rather than mentioning specific cases and detailing them a neutral sentence or two on the fact that he has been involved in a number of high profile court cases? A bald statement of fact that facilitates further research but doesn't distort?

As an aside I remain uncomfortable with language on World Record when there is no independent verification (coverage based on press releases and self hosted websites only, with the later contravening BLP guidelines) Whoistheeditor2 (talk) 22:57, 15 June 2017 (UTC) FYI, any records are easily independently verifable if somebody cared to look properly, or had the slightest bit of knowledge on the subject matter. It seems that seasoned admins have been led by the vandalism / vandals. Also, Forbes lost the case mentioned and Donovan was totally vindicated by video and other evidence that the story was manufactured for sensational purposes. A BBC documentary covered the matter: it wasn't just a retraction of some claims - it was total vindication. As regards insight into his personality, that's a bit rich - one wonders what the reaction of anonymous wikipedia editors would be if they were subject to such obvious slander as evidenced recently. The comment is akin to a doorman refusing somebody entry to a nightclub for no reason, and then saying the reason for the refusal is that the customer became argumentative when refused. There would be no issue in making a statement of fact that Donovan took on Forbes and won the case when the magazine lied about a race he organised, why the hint that it may not have been fully justifed or that there was any fault on Donovan's part. Why decide to omit so many other things if intent on expanding the page - the dozens of events he has organized in extreme locations, the organising and directing of world championships and the receiving of awards for same, the races won, the huge personal charity elements? If you want to have a page on somebody for whatever reason, why indeed didn't you perform your so called duty to round it properly? Just stating the obvious even if it falls on deaf ears. 78.18.68.30 (talk) 13:57, 19 June 2017 (UTC)