Wikipedia’s Darkness

Wikipedia has a page about Ruggero Santilli, an Italian physicist who had a Harvard post-doc in the 1970s but then drifted into fringy theories about alternatives to quantum mechanics and to General Relativity. In their current incarnation, these involve a secret method for converting sewage to a “HHO magnecules,” an alternate form of water that can be used as fuel.

From time to time, Santilli and his backers (who may all be Santilli -- it’s complicated, but some of Santilli’s collaborators and backers may be imaginary) argue to extend the Wikipedia page. They’re charming folks. Here’s a sample from yesterday.

I am a stockholder of magnegas(dot)com who has lost millions of dollars because of the “fringe” dubbing and other misrepresentations of our NASDAQ traded technology by the Jewish controller of Santilli's article, such as Arthur Rubin, David Eppstein, Mark Bernstein and others. Our investigative agency has uncovered that the same Jews… (7 bullet points and 550 words follow)

You’d think this is exceptional: in 60-odd years, I don’t think I’d ever seen or heard this sort of thing outside history books. At Wikipedia, it’s not – at least not if you’re in the sights of the Gamergate/Mens’ Rights/Fox News crowd who are such avid and influential Wikipedians.

The throwaway account that wrote this screed has been blocked, and the screed itself expunged, but of course this charming fellow will be back tomorrow with a new account, and this page -- like to many others -- will continue to attract cranks.