User:Trail Guide

Supreme Rulers of Articles

The term Supreme Rulers of Articles was coined by the user Trail Guide, in an open discussion forum, for an article on gambling, in the Wikipedia Open Souce project. It was used to refer to self appointed Wikipedia editors that force their brute will on other users who are interested in making an edit to a Wikipedia article.

The first user to be called this was Texture. Although it is unclear exactly which user Trail Guide was referring to when he initially used the term Supreme Rulers of Articles. It is possible, due to association, that Rasmus or Flamifer could also be considered the first Supreme Rulers of Articles. While other users were evidently involved, none actually took part in the discussion that spawned this colorful phrase.

HISTORY

The history revolving the term, Supreme Rulers of Articles, can be found in the discussion pages of the article on gambling, in the Wikipedia. A summary is written here for clarification.

Essentially, an edit to an article on Wikipedia was made. The edit was a simple two word link, in the External Links section of the article. The two word link, Gambling Directory, caused quite a stir.

This link lead to an open directory, in an article that did not have one, clearly a completely appropriate edit according to Wikipedia rules concerning web directories. However, apparently it lead to a directory that the Supreme Rulers of Articles did not agree with.

The edit was continually reverted by, what Trail Guide refers to as, the Supreme Rulers of Articles, without discussion or concensus, which is a complete violation of the Wikipedia 3RR edit reversion rules.

When a discussion topic was opened surrounding this issue, the Supreme Rulers of Articles failed to offer any substantial contribution to the discussion. The Supreme Rulers of Articles shifted focus of the discussion to suit their specific agenda.

During the course of the discussion, one of the Supreme Rulers of Articles added two different directories to the article, in hopes of silencing Trail Guide. This edit was made without discussion or concensus, and with further violation of the Wikipedia rules on web directories.

Trail Guide made continual attempts to focus the discussion toward assuring that the Wikipedia article in question, was edited in accordance with Wikipedia rules. He pointed out that two directories were not needed, and preference should be given to the open directory, as per Wikipedia rules on web directories.

Trail Guide conceded that the Gambling Directory he originally added should be replaced by one of the two that were added by the Supreme Rulers of Articles. He made the argument that the open directory should remain and the commercial directory should be reverted.

The Supreme Rulers of Articles continued to use name calling, flaming, and intimidation, to enforce thier will on all Wikipedia users. Over the course of several days not a single user attempted to address the discussion regarding the two directories. The Supreme Rulers of Articles simply continued their assault on the Gambling Directory link that was originally added, and was no longer being disputed.

The Supreme Rulers of Articles even went so far as to begin editing comments made by Trail Guide in the discussion forum, so that future users would take those comments out of context.

In summary, The Supreme Rulers of Articles will stop at nothing to enforce their will, and forward their own personal agenda. It does not bode well for Wikipedia, as it implies that all articles written in Wikipedia are controlled by the same strong-armed threatening tactics of the self appointed Supreme Rulers of Articles.

Unfortunately, these Supreme Rulers of Articles are hindering the objectivity of Wikipedia. They are what prevent Wikipedia from being a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Their intimdating tactics must be stopped if the Wikipedia project is to sustain it's objective appeal in the long run.