Talk:Robert E. Coughlin

Paid user contributions

@MTDRDC: I've noticed you have included intricate detail regarding the Abramoff Probe. As you are a paid editor, I would like to know why were you tasked with adding this content to the page, and going into such detail? I'd also like to discuss with other editors the need to go into such detail in this article. Thank you. BeŻet (talk) 11:47, 14 November 2019 (UTC)

@BeŻet: Hi BeŻet, paid editor seems to be a fairly broad category; so in the spirit of transparency, I had listed as a paid editor for another wiki page, which I had not been paid for; but had a fairly removed, but still relevant business connection with. My assumtion was that if the references are accurate, credible and unbiased, that they would be of value and verified as credible, or if proved otherwise - deleted. I was not "tasked" with contributing to this page, nor am I being paid to do so. However, I had noticed that the original page, which had been static for about a decade had broken links and information that was not only unreferenced and I was unable to find any existing references in support. Clearly to have noticed this, I would have been compelled, in some way to have lended on the article. I am a filmmaker by trade and one of the first things I learned about documentary is that every document created by any individual, has an inherent bias. Acknowledging that truth, is the first step to nearing objectivity. This is what is appealing (to me) about the wikipedia concept - that any unintended bias that I might have will be carefully realigned with the views of a decentralized, albeit anonymous and selective consensus. If greater clarity or relevance is discovered or one of my contributions is inaccurate, I would hope for it to be altered to reflect a more objective truth, rather than some reactionary, bias by way of unreferenced modifications; of which, in my limited experience on the platform, I have already seen evidence. So, I do see why you might be concerned. — Preceding unsigned comment added by MTDRDC (talk • contribs) 20:43, 14 November 2019 (UTC)

Thank you for your honest response and transparency. I'm sure you understand why editors might be concerned with edits performed by paid contributors. BeŻet (talk) 11:31, 15 November 2019 (UTC)

Wikipedia Ambassador Program course assignment

This article is the subject of an educational assignment at Drake University supported by WikiProject Past Political Scandals and Controversies and the Wikipedia Ambassador Program during the 2011 Q3 term. Further details are available on the course page.

The above message was substituted from {{WAP assignment}} by PrimeBOT (talk) on 16:15, 2 January 2023 (UTC)