Wikipedia talk:BLP examples for discussion

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Example 1: Allegations Against an Entertainer discussion

The information should be included in the article

Assuming that reliable sources have reported on the issue, the information should be included in the article, because it is important that readers who might have heard a wrong version of the events are informed about what actually happened. Whether the accuser's name should be in the article would probably depend on the coverage in the sources. Cs32en Talk to me 21:45, 25 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Example 2: The Pop Group, the Manager, and the Hate Song discussion

Example 3: The Target Becomes the Plaintiff discussion

Follow the example of serious sources that have reported on the event

Even if some sources that would be regarded as reliable have reported about the details of the allegations, Wikipedia should follow those sources that are known for handling privacy-related issues in a responsible manner. Cs32en Talk to me 21:51, 25 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Example 4: The Young Crime Victim discussion

"What, if any, steps should Wikipedia take to avoid further injury to this youthful victim of a horrible crime?" Basically, any steps possible. He has "expressed the wish that he be left alone to resume living a normal life once again"? Then in no way, shape, or form should this person's name be mentioned in any article, and any information about the person tending to identify him should be scrubbed too. So he's been all over the papers, so what? It's a rotten world. That doesn't mean we have play into that ethos. Herostratus (talk) 14:25, 17 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The function of an encyclopedia, by its very definition, is to be a compendium of knowledge. If the victim's name was all over the place in reliable sources, there is no good reason for us not to mention it. This doesn't make more difficult for the victim resuming a normal life -if someone wants to research about the crime, he/she will find his name anyway. Closing the barn door after the horse makes no sense. --Cyclopia ^talk 14:51, 17 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Example 5: The Silly Video and the Internet Meme discussion

"[T]he absurd publicity... is damaging his life"? Then delete the article on him (per WP:IAR if necessary) and remove any references to him from any article. This has nothing to do with Wikipedia or Wikipedia policies; this is basic humanity. One doesn't go about the world damaging people's lives without very good cause, nor does one associate with organizations that do so. We all should have learned this by fourth form. If necessary, refer to WP:NOT EVIL. Again, so what if everyone else is shouting his name? If they're vile, does that mean we have to be vile also? Herostratus (talk) 14:32, 17 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

General principle: What do RS say?

The answer to each of these, in my mind, depends on the extent to which reliable sources cover the name in question. Rather than being a philosophical statement, this is a pragmatic consideration on my part:

If the names or allegations are already covered in Reliable Sources, (with special emphasis on avoiding tabloids, fansites, and other non-RS) then Wikipedia should include those items. Principled refusal to do so does not help the victim: while Wikipedia may be a huge draw and often the #1 Google hit, there are plenty of other sites which might cover the same information.
If they're not, then we should NEVER be in the leading edge of publishing BLP material like included in these examples.

Thus, Wikipedia should take an intentionally conservative, but not fanatical, stance. Inclusion of a name, meme, allegation, and the like should be a trailing indicator of notability. Jclemens (talk) 17:49, 18 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Well covered by existing policy

These examples are well covered by existing policy. We handle more difficult questions all the time. The first two are easily dismissed because there are no reliable sources. Tabloids and web sites almost never RS. Example 3 would be covered at all only if the legal case was notable, for example, if it set an important precedent. Even then there is no need to mention the details of the allegations as they were not reported as facts by reliable sources. Example 4 and 5 would come under WP:BLP1E and WP:NAMES. The fact that a person's name was widely reported in connection with a single event, especially where they were not seeking publicity, e.g. a crime victim, is not enough for inclusion in Wikipedia. --agr (talk) 18:45, 18 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]