Nine Theses
| File:Nine Theses.png The lead section of the Nine Theses essay | |
| Author | Larry Sanger |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Wikipedia |
| Published | Sanger's Blog and his Wikipedia user page |
Publication date | September 29, 2025 |
| Pages | |
The Nine Theses is a 2025 essay discussing a reform proposal for the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia. It was created by its co-founder Larry Sanger. In it, Sanger outlined nine suggestions for strengthening the project's neutrality. It was published on his blog and his Wikipedia user page in 2025, and was promoted on the Tucker Carlson podcast. Critics viewed Nine Theses as aligning with broader political criticisms of Wikipedia.
Contents
The Nine Theses discuss a reform proposal for Wikipedia. Sanger outlined nine suggestions for strengthening the project's neutrality.[1][2] The proposal is part of his broader effort to address what Sanger perceives as systemic issues within Wikipedia, which includes ideological bias, lack of transparency in the editor hierarchies, and an ineffective consensus-based decision-making procedure.[3]
Sanger’s nine-point plan includes:[4]
- End decision-making by “consensus.”
- Enable competing articles.
- Abolish source blacklists.
- Revive the original neutrality policy.
- Repeal “ignore all rules.”
- Reveal who Wikipedia’s leaders are.
- Let the public rate articles.
- End indefinite blocking.
- Adopt a legislative process.
Some other ideas in Nine Theses are to reveal the identity of 62 Wikipedia editors which Sanger calls the "Power 62".[5] Another is to get rid of "GASP" editors, an acronym made by Sanger, that stands for Globalist, Academic, Secular, and Progressive.[5] And an idea to allow competing articles instead of seeking a false consensus on a single definitive entry.[5]
Release
The Nine Theses was published on his Wikipedia user page in October 2025.[5] Sanger promoted his essay on the Tucker Carlson podcast on September 29, 2025, in which he commented on what he regards as the problems with the state of Wikipedia. Sanger commented on what he saw as the degrading of neutrality policies and the “blacklisting” of certain conservative sources. He also claimed that intelligence agencies like the CIA may have influenced some direction or content on Wikipedia.[6][7] Sanger agreed with a plan by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation to dox Wikipedia editors, saying, "Admins and those with significant authority in the system should be as easily named and shamed as any ordinary journalist".[8]
Reception
Critics viewed Nine Theses as aligning with broader political criticisms of Wikipedia.[6][7] The Reason compared it to the spirit of Martin Luther.[5] While The Observer called it "like a cut-price Martin Luther."[9]
See also
- The Seven Rules of Trust, a book by other Wikipedia co-fonder Jimmy Wales
References
- ↑ "Wikipedia is 25, but some old fights are still going". ABC News. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ Brooks, Emily (2025-09-30). "The Movement: Conservatives warn against ObamaCare compromise in shutdown fight". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ "Wikipedia Co-Founder Unveils Plan To Fix Website's Biased 'Engine of Defamation'". The New York Sun. 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
- ↑ Bogan, Ray (2025-10-03). "Wikipedia co-founder says site has liberal bias — here's his plan to fix that". Straight Arrow News. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Weissmueller, Zach (2026-02-23). "Can you trust Wikipedia?". Reason.com. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Oremus, Will (2025-10-24). "A Wikipedia cofounder is fueling the right's campaign against it". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mak, Aaron (2025-10-02). "The speech wars come for Wikipedia". POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ↑ "'Edit Wars' on Middle East Page Raise Tensions on Wikipedia". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2025-05-25. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ Naughton, John. "Musk's war on Wikipedia is a fight for a future without f..." The Observer. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
External links
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