User:NapoliRoma/Multiple Editor Personality Disorder

Multiple Editor Personality Disorder, or MEPD, is my term for the common Wikipedia article malady most commonly accompanied by a feeling that you're reading the transcript of a person's internal debate with themselves.

Its mildest form is signalled by words such as however, although, actually, but, also, and another; in more virulent examples, flatly contradictory statements appear side-by-side with no attempt whatsoever at transition.

The root cause for MEPD is, as the name implies, the development of an article by a series of editors. That's the signature feature of Wikipedia, of course, and is not automatically detrimental—but it's often the case that a new editor will neglect to match their material to the article's existing content, tone, or point of view, opting instead to tack new prose onto the end of an existing paragraph or section (or even occasionally to the very end, after housekeeping elements such as categories) without making any effort to integrate their contributions with what was already there.

Typical MEPD contributions might look like this:

"ThisCo took over development of a FirstCo product called Blahware. Actually Blahware was originally developed by OtherCo."

Although takes particular abuse, its meaning morphing from "even if" to "and here's another thought I just had":

"John Doe attended Faber College but did not graduate although he was part of an effort to prevent the school from razing apartment buildings to build a parking lot."

List extension via MEPD, or alsoism, conveys the impression of someone calling out that last item for the shopping list as their spouse goes out the door:

"Many of its signature songs date from this period: 'I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You', 'Freeway Jam', 'Just the Way You Are', 'Ride Captain,Ride' and 'Still Crazy After All These Years'. Also, 'Get Back'. The Rhodes also features prominently in the song 'Incommunicado'. Michael McDonald also played a Rhodes on, to name just a couple of hits, 'You Belong To Me' and 'Minute By Minute.' The instrument was also featured in the Frampton Comes Alive album. Other songs include 'Who Will Save Your Soul', and 'Dig'. Also , in the upcoming debut album from Esterlyn, 'Lamps', Luke Caldwell plays a rhodes. In addition , the Rhodes has seen heavy usage in hip hop..."