I'm an expert
As everyone else has already posted, I was very apprehensive with the idea of adding something to Wikipedia. What makes me an expert? What do I say? What do I even know about? I sat vigilant at the computer typing in things I thought I knew a lot about, only to find that there was for more information availble than I had even known of.
Finally, a thought came to my head. If the BK Chicken is on Wikipedia what about other artifacts of popular culture. Hence, NCAA Football 2007. A game created by Electronic Arts (EA) Sports. My roommates and I play the game religiously and almost to the point of overly excessive. What more of a hobby could you think of more than that. So, after searching the game and coming up with the Wiki pertaining to it, I read the current definitions of facits to the game. It was amazing that even though I know the game inside and out I stil had this awkward feeling. Like I wasn't suppose to be tampering with words that I take so blatantly as fact.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Football_%2707
It was amazing, having used wikipedia as a beginning resource for a lot of my major projects, that many of the words I take as fact may in fact be false. People like me who may not even have the slightest idea what they are talking about but thing they do, could fill the wiki with a bunch of crap. However, I am comforted enough with the idea that there are plenty of people out there who do know what they are talking about. Those people have the same ability I do to just click edit.
I felt from what I added to the wiki, that I maintained a neutral perspective. The premise of even having NCAA Football on the site shows the invasion of pop culutre in our definitive lives. This isn't necessarily a bad idea though. Users may have important information to share about a product or marketing scheme that may be beneficial to other people. Maybe a negative experience or a friendly suggestion. It's like getting an opinion of a product or idea from a neighbor.
I expect Wikipedia and other wiki's to continue to evolve into something that will be extremely beneficial in the development of our social construct.
Comments
I enjoyed your blog. It made me think if in the future we will turn to Wiki for product reviews before we make a purchase. It also makes me think of what else a site like Wiki could be used for.
Posted by: Nicole | March 31, 2007 01:40 PM
I also felt a little overwhelmed at the thought of having to post something on Wikipedia. Once I started searching for different topics that I felt knowledgeable about, I was surprised to see how much I actually did not know. There were mass quantities of information that I had not clue about on the topics that I thought I was pretty "expertly" on. Finally, after much thought and debate what I could post on Wikipedia, I found something that would work for me. But in the past, I know that I used to rely a lot on Wikipedia because I figured that there was enough traffic flowing through it that the information would be quite credible. I now know that there are a lot faulty information that may take some time for people to notice and revise. That is why I don't see Wikipedia as a credible source, I see it more as a place to start my research and to get ideas that I could then research indepth from credible sources.
Posted by: Natalya Goncharova | March 31, 2007 03:26 PM
I agree that I as well was very self contious about posting something on wikipedia, because I don't feel like I am expert in anything other than my own self. Who am I to be posting information about a certain topic, issue, and/or person when I truely haven't spent the time doing extensive research on the subject matter. I like what you stated, "What makes me an expert?". I think we can than ask the question, "What makes someone an expert?' When is ok for an individual to post information for another individual to source as a reliable soure of information?
I've used wikipedia in the past for various papers completed in my college courses; however, this was before I really knew how Wikipedia operated. I think I will be much more hesitant in using this website as a source within my papers, only because I don't have the assurance that the information posted within the site is in fact factual.
Posted by: Erin M. | April 1, 2007 08:34 PM
I completely understand the feeling that you get after tampering with something that is known so well throughout the United States. I can't get over the fact that all you have to do is sign up and enter the usual name and such and then you have free reign of posting ANYTHING you want.
Posted by: Kelly | April 1, 2007 09:33 PM
I was also really overwhelmed posting on Wikipedia, mainly since many of the random hobbies I consider myself to know a lot about I get information on on Wikipedia. I cite things I read on it in discussions and on message boards occasionally, knowing full well not everything I read is necessarily true. Still, it's hard to contribute to something I get information from.
Posted by: Carl Cassel | April 1, 2007 10:07 PM
I found your post to be very amusing. Who knew that your expert knowledge would be something you do (excessively) everyday :)
That's the beauty of Wikipedia - it has no borders and no judgements.
You have now instantly connected to another NCAA 07 fan- who appreciates your knowledge and insight.
It's kind of like the concept of show-n-tell in elementary school. You bring something to the class to talk about, and there might be one other person that finds it interesting and benefits from it.
I also agree that you took a neutral position.
However, you mention 'sharing negative experiences' on Wikipedia which may lead into certain questionable biases.
Good post.
Posted by: Julie Swenson | April 1, 2007 10:37 PM
I was the same way trying to figure out what to write about and what I knew a lot about.
I also use wikipedia as a starting point to do my research. I rarely use it as an ending point. I just find it hard to take a lot away from something that can just be edited by anyone at any time. It seems to work in some cases though.
Posted by: Harpal (Paul) Thind | April 1, 2007 11:40 PM