Talk:Janeen Uzzell

Question re COI

Wikipedia's conflict of interest guideline advises: "You should generally refrain from creating articles about yourself, or anyone you know, unless through the Articles for Creation process. If you have a personal connection to a topic or person, you are advised to refrain from editing those articles directly and to provide full disclosure of the connection if you comment about the article on talk pages or in other discussions." (Emphasis added.) A recent tweet from what purports to be the account of Janeen Uzzell tags @jesswade and includes a group photo of Ms. Uzzell and Dr. Wade with two other women. It was tweeted just three days before Jesswade88 created this BLP. Please understand, I am not suggesting a deliberate violation of Wikipedia's relevant guideline or any other impropriety. However, I worry about the impression this may create. Perhaps it would be best if Jesswade88 were to provide full disclosure of her connection, if any, to the subject of this BLP. NedFausa (talk) 20:52, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

I met Janeen Uzzell on Thursday, when I gave a talk at a Wikimedia meeting - and the photograph mentioned above was taken. I didn't know her before the event, and when I got back to my hotel room was surprised that such an important Wikimedia staff member did not have a bio. I don't think meeting someone once is knowing them, nor do I feel in anyway that this was a COI - I researched and wrote the entire thing in the airport on my way home, and none of it had anything to do with meeting Ms. Uzzell. If you find anything contentious here please let me know / remove it. Jesswade88 (talk) 21:58, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

The conflict of interest is obvious in my view, and by definition, Wade cannot self-certify here, it is a matter solely for others to judge. Uzzell is a senior officer of the Foundation, which has for a few years now been producing press releases praising the efforts of Wade in addressing what is arguably now the single biggest PR problem for Wikipedia, systemic bias. Wade in turn has made several media appearances speaking about this very issue, urging everyone to get involved with Wikipedia, and more importantly, to get involved the way she wants people to. Presumably Uzzel even has direct responsibility for fulfilling parts of the various programs and initiatives that stem from this effort to eliminate systemic bias. So we have two people with aligned interests and cross promotion (for want of a better word) between the two. It is therefore obvious that for the purposes of the conflict of interest guidance, there is a relationship here, one that has the potential to undermine public confidence and embarrass all involved. Most importantly of all, to quote the guidance, "That someone has a conflict of interest is a description of a situation, not a judgement about that person's opinions, integrity, or good faith." Wade should simply ask that the biography be deleted (blanked?), and if anyone without a relationship wishes to republish it, they can do so, on the understanding that such an action requires them to have checked the article as thoroughly as if they had written it themselves (or simply say they have and hope to Christ that good deed doesn't come back to bite them in the ass if indeed Wade's content has been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by her personal views of the subject and the organisation they work for). Alex Dunbarton (talk) 23:16, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

FYI to other users reading this, "Alex Dunbarton" created this Wikipedia account with the sole purpose to criticise me on my talk page and comment on the articles I have created. The user also has a Twitter account which they use for similar purposes. FWIW, Wikimedia have never released a "praising press release" about me (an employee, not Uzzell, interviewed me about a year ago), and I only met/became aware of Uzzell two weeks ago, as described above. Jesswade88 (talk) 07:42, 10 February 2020 (UTC)

FYI to other users reading this, Alex Dunbarton has been indefinitely blocked without warning by ARBCOM administrator Joe Roe for creating an account apparently with the sole purpose of hounding another editor (presumably Jesswade88). Dunbarton is asking that his block be reviewed. NedFausa (talk) 17:49, 10 February 2020 (UTC)