Tales from a Mid-Lifer

Facts or Freelance? Welcome to Wikipedia

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Mid-Life Mama

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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.  

Featured Image: Source

29 responses to “Facts or Freelance? Welcome to Wikipedia”

  1. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    Thanks for the good post, MLM! I use Wikipedia quite a bit in my research, but always with my eyes open. I’ve come across some very biased, unbalanced writing on some topics at Wiki.
    By the same token, we can’t necessarily accept the opinions and statements from all scholarly/professional sources (e.g. the Catholic Encyclopedia).

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      Your example is a good one and there are absolutely exceptions! Now days, the online environment and first search hits are unreliable even in (sadly) professional publications. Having to triple-reference and cross-check anything on Wikipedia would be too time consuming for me. I’d rather spend the time searching the primary sources.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Wakinguponthewrongsideof Avatar
    Wakinguponthewrongsideof

    I remember explaining to my daughter that wikipedia is not a source

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      That’s important. Hopefully, she shares that truth with peers and colleagues when opportunity arises.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Jacqui Murray Avatar
    Jacqui Murray

    All true. I cringe every time Wikipedia shows up at the top of my online search.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      Me too, Jacqui. Literally at the top of the search hits😣.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Looking for the Light Avatar
    Looking for the Light

    It’s scary because it’s not always a fact. I rarely go there for reference for that reason.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      You are wise. It’s astonishing how many use it in a day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Mama's Empty Nest Avatar
    Mama’s Empty Nest

    Yep, it’s always on top of searches. And not the top for factual info. But how many people are even cognizant of that? Thanks for trying to educate a few of the masses.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      In my head I wonder how people don’t know but you make a good point that they may not.

      Like

      Reply
  6. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Yes. I just wrote about a similar misuse of AI in Google. Thankfully my grandkids high schools stresses distinguishing sources. Too bad so many adults don’t have the skill.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      Too many want fast over fact. Glad your grandchildren are in a school that teaches the difference between sources. Thank you for your comment.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  7. balladeer Avatar
    balladeer

    Great points!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      I’m glad you thought so, thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. lghiggins Avatar
    lghiggins

    When I taught in a computer lab (elementary), I had to work to help students understand that “Google” does not work as a cited resource. Same could be said about Wikipedia and AI. I bet your class on “truth” was interesting and hopefully challenging. We seem to have walked away from truth, ethics, and morality as a society.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      I couldn’t agree with you more about Google and what we’ve walked away from as a society.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. lghiggins Avatar
    lghiggins

    I went from your blog post to the next one in my queue. It was from Dr. Mercola, a holistic doctor, who claims that Google’s algorithm is now blocking 90% of alternative medical advice from its searches. Again–truth? Pharmaceutical companies are buying and restricting access for us when we need unbiased information.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      Pharma corporations largely operate unethically, manipulate, and set outrageous pricing with PBMs and insurance companies. I’m not surprised they are restricting access to alternative medical advice. They are extremely powerful. I’ve also read that Hollywood actors and musical elites “request” Google wipe their personal data and remove what would be “public record” for regular people. They have photos removed, etc., while the average citizen is exposed.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. lghiggins Avatar
        lghiggins

        I had not heard this about the elites, but it is easy to believe. 😔

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  10. Lauren Scott, Author Avatar
    Lauren Scott, Author

    This is a valuable post. Who knows what’s truth or not these days? Scary times, especially knowing youth spend a lot of time online. Thanks for sharing, MLM!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      Exactly. Diligent parents are required as we move into AI generated “truth”. Thank you for reading and your comment!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Lauren Scott, Author Avatar
        Lauren Scott, Author

        My pleasure! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  11. katiesencouragementforyou Avatar
    katiesencouragementforyou

    Excellent! Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      Thank you for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. katiesencouragementforyou Avatar
        katiesencouragementforyou

        🙂 Thank you for your writing!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  12. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Thanks to a good education my grandchildren learned to look well beyond Wikipedia. One of my favorite controversies there is between the Turkish and Armenian accounts. Whoever updates last wins.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      The international angle was too much for a post but it’s disappointing how Wikipedia is involved in any controversies at all, considering their less than dependable site.

      Like

      Reply
  13. Dawn Pisturino Avatar
    Dawn Pisturino

    None of my college classes accepted Wikipedia as a credible source.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Mid-Life Mama Avatar
      Mid-Life Mama

      Thank God. I don’t understand the daily use of Wikipedia by the masses.

      Like

      Reply

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