Wikipedia Apologizes For Fradulent Editor

Open source web encyclopedia, Wikipedia is in embroiled in a controversy over a particular contributor and editor, Ryan Jordan, who posed as an expert with false credentials online.

The 24 year old college dropout, who posed as Essjay, had described himself as a professor of religion at a private university and had published texts such as ‘Catholicism for Dummies’. He has now reportedly retired from the site.

In his user profile, Ryan said he taught both undergraduate and graduate theology, and in an interview with the New Yorker in July 2006, was described as a ’tenured professor of religion’. His real identity was discovered last week, when the NewYorker website and magazine added an editorial note to the piece highlighting the deception. Essjay told them he hid his identity because he feared personal retribution from those he had ruled against online.

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales responded by saying Wikipedia was “based on twin pillars of trust and tolerance” and the team is apologetic about the issue.

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