While researching for last Tuesday’s post about blogging, I came across the unfortunate reminder that Wikipedia ranks top 3 worldwide as a most visited “reference” source. Statistics vary, but Wikipedia remains solid in the top ten.
For those unfamiliar, Wikipedia was created in 2001, and is run by volunteers with limited oversight. Literally anyone – you and me included – can add, subtract and edit information.
Take a minute with that.
One of the top sites viewed globally for information has zero requirement for expert contributions or proof of valid statements prior to posting.
Wikipedia is basically a blog. Proof is not required and opinions are welcome.
Imagine the inaccuracies, bias and misinformation. Remember that youth and adults alike presently rely more on social media (IG, TikTok, etc.), YouTube and Wikipedia for information than trustworthy encyclopedias, academic journals, and other sites and documents containing primary research.
When anonymous users having too much time and nefarious intentions randomly change what ‘might’ be honest information on Wikipedia, what was true yesterday isn’t true today. The blatant false or inaccurate information will not be changed until someone notices.
In the meantime, kids are writing papers and others are checking for medication drug interactions ten minutes after the user intentionally inputs false data.
In grad school, I took a course single-focused on truth. The professor was a published author in the field of truth and lies. “Truth” was actually a thing back in 1994. There was pride and accomplishment in striving for accuracy.
Presently? The world has decided that truth is editable – up for negotiation and debate in every topic on an hourly basis.
I’ll give credit that Wikipedia was a clever name. “Wiki” is a Hawaiian term for “quick”. Then, the founders added “pedia” leading the masses to believe there was something of value – like an encyclopedia… but not.
Twenty-four years ago, the founders could get away with fooling the majority. Now? Just the foolish will be fooled.
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Tales from a Mid-Lifer 
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