Nicholas Carr vs. Jimmy Wales

Nicholas
Carr has been a loud and constant critic of Wikipedia.com. His latest lament against
the online encyclopedia – “The death
of Wikipedia” laments the fact there are now controls on who can write
and edit entries – something Jimmy
Wales describes as “semi-protection”. I can see both sides of the
argument but Carr's problems with Wikipedia boil down to Wales' role in
the encyclopedia's future. As a living breathing online organism,  Wikipedia
thrives and grows because it's a community entity that leverages the power of
the Web and the willingness of people to freely contribute. The key question is
whether Wales
should continue to be Wikipedia's benevolent dictator? Is his
“guidance” still needed even though Wikipedia has become a large and
increasing prominent entity? While Wales will always be involved in one way,
shape or form, it's probably time for him to move on and let Wikipedia walk on
its own. Wales,
after all, has moved into the commercial market with Wikia, which provides a
Wiki platform supported – at least for the time being – by Google AdSense. With
Wikia poised for growth, it's time for Wales to leave Wikipedia behind. He
did a great job nurturing it, and it has become a wonderful online resource but
sooner or later, you have to let the kids leave home.
Addendum: Ross Mayfield
offers up a short, but cutting, rebuttal to Carr's claims – highlighted by these
bon mots: “sensational stuff as always, but factually wrong as usual”.