Jimmy Wales storms out of interview over Wikipedia’s ‘founder’ title dispute
Jimmy Wales, the renowned co-founder of Wikipedia, abruptly ended a podcast interview on the German show Jung & Naiv. The interview, lasting less than a minute, has gone viral on social media. The cause of the sudden exit? A long-standing dispute over the title of 'founder' of the popular online encyclopedia.
The interview began with Wales introducing himself as the 'founder of Wikipedia'. However, host Tilo Jung pressed Wales on his role, questioning if he was indeed the founder or co-founder. Wales expressed frustration, stating 'I don't care' and 'It's the dumbest question in the world' when asked about the distinction.
Jung persisted in questioning Wales about his role, referencing the historical dispute with Larry Sanger. Sanger, also credited as a co-founder, played a crucial role in bringing the wiki principle to Nupedia, leading to Wikipedia's creation. Sanger left the project early due to differences with Wales over its direction and ownership. As Wales left the interview, he shouted back, 'It's stupid. Don't ask me stupid questions!'
The interview, which has sparked much debate online, highlights the ongoing dispute over the title of 'founder' of Wikipedia. While Wales is widely recognized as a co-founder, the role of Sanger in the creation of the platform has also been acknowledged. Despite the controversy, Wikipedia continues to be a widely used and influential online resource.
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