Wikipedia Under Attack for No-follow Links Attribute

Marketing Pilgrims' Andy Beal Spearheads Campaign

Wikipedia has made a few enemies due to its new no follow link attribute. Wikipedia adopted the no follow link policy in an attempt to combat spammy links that has been left in their system. Unfortunately, their decision raised a few emotional debates on whether this was the appropriate way to deal with this matter. One person in particular is Andy Beal from Marketing Pilgrim.

Andy Beal does not believe this was the best way to handle the spam problem. So, he began the Campaign to Reduce Wikipedia's Page Rank to Zero. With his effort to break the system, many have joined his campaign. The Campaign to Reduce Wikipedia's Page Rank to Zero has gained much needed public support. So much in fact that the web page has become on of the first page features on Digg.

Andy explains what he really hopes to accomplish with this campaign. "I don't expect my response to achieve anything other than highlighting the childish action by Wikipedia. They effectively decided they didn't like some of the kids, so kicked them all out of the play pen. Well, if every kid stopped playing with Wikipedia, they wouldn't have to worry about sharing their toys in the first place. The phrase "biting the hand that feeds" springs to mind."

Matt Cutts, a Google software engineer seems to support Wikipedia's stance. However, Mr. Cutts did say, "In my ideal world, Wikipedia would add no follow to their untrusted links, but would work out ways to allow trusted links to remove the no follow attribute." This mindset seems to be the way that most common people feel about their new policy.

Though, many people see this as a childish or as a move that cannot be of any effect. As one person commented, "While it may be fun to try, I think it will have little or no impact. Kind of like David fighting a million Goliaths with still only five stones."

One feeling among almost everyone is that Wikipedia became who and what they are as a direct result of the little guy. And that is not proper to treat this problem in this way because it does punish everyone badly without no chance of parole for the good guys.