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Controversy is nothing new on Wikipedia. Much time and effort has been spent constructively (or destructively) in the course of settling disputes, but anarchists have had a rather disproportionate amount of self-inflicted wounds to account for. Wikipedia's articles on anarchism were for years the most controversial, and at times editing anarchism-related articles has proven to be—at best—a heated proposition. Indeed, the main Anarchism article was once among the most heavily contested in the entire encyclopedia.
There does not exist an anarchist school of thought that has not been decried at one point or another as not true anarchism. The syndicalists are too beholden to stifling mass control; mutualism is profiteering with a human face; the communists are closet Stalinists; the capitalists are budding hierarchs; primitivism is nothing but luddite inhumanity; the post-leftists are bourgeois individualists; individualism dissolves into barbarism or government; the post-anarchists are academic opportunists who wouldn't recognise an anarchist if she slapped them in the face; and the anarchists without adjectives can't make up their damn minds. In short, everyone has an opinion, and there is no faction that emerges unsoiled from inter-anarchist mudslinging.
The Anarchist Task Force seeks to rectify this sad affair by encouraging inclusion and pluralism, with the intent to foster a culture of respect and solidarity among its editors. On this task force you'll likely work alongside anarchists and non-anarchists with whom you may have philosophical disagreement. The task force encompasses a wide spectrum of thought—classical and contemporary: pro-union; anti-market; pro-market; anti-property; pro-individualist; anti-capitalist; pro-collectivist; anti-civ; pro-left; pro-post-left—and many, many others who fall into categories neither "here" nor "there", and everywhere in between. This Task Force will not be kicking any school of thought out of the anarchist tree house.
The Task Force also seeks to uphold Wikipedia's larger goal of objectivity. It is not our business as an encyclopaedia to engage in these disputes, only to chronicle them veraciously. We do so by adopting a neutral point of view and not misrepresenting opinions as fact. This Task Force has no business saying such and such an anarchist philosophy is not truly anarchist, though it can and should report on notable opinions to that effect (cf. "The status of anarchist communism within anarchism is disputed, because most individualist anarchists consider communitarianism incompatible with political freedom"; "Because of the historically anti-capitalist nature of much of anarchist thought, the status of anarcho-capitalism within anarchism is disputed, particularly by communist anarchists."), where they are supported by reliable sources. For further guidance on this, please consult the Wikipedia:Anarchism referencing guidelines.
While you're editing articles, remember that we're all in this together as both editors and anarchists. As the former, we have chosen to volunteer our time and effort to promote our best ideals as the latter. We are comprised of a distinct minority of editors within the greater populous of Wikipedia, who may prefer to promote other concepts, histories, and biographies which run contrary to our ideals. This is unfortunate, given that what helps any article achieve greatness is the number of editors willing to apply their shoulder to the wheel. As such, we should seek partnership whenever possible. Throwing stones at each other along the path will aid no one, and the greater populace will hardly feel concerned over the consequences of an anarcho-pyrrhic victory. Anarchism is simultaneously among the most reviled and celebrated of philosophical traditions, and it would really be a shame if this task force stooped to proving the old cliché that anarchists are "good at creating firing squads, but only in circles."
So whether you're staring down blatant anti-anarchist propaganda, or being harassed by the Central Tree House of True Anarchists, take a page from Emma Goldman and encourage free love among the masses.
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