According to several blogs this morning, the online encyclopedia Wikipedia is today celebrating its tenth birthday.
It is testament to the power of the internet that a website created by and updated by members of the public rather than by the academic establishment is now the first port of call for hundreds of millions of people wanting questions answered on issues as diverse as science and pop music. The site is beholden to nobody other than its army of volunteers and private donors, the majority of whose contributions are less than $5 a month.
While governments across the world are increasingly ramping up their efforts to control this (until now) unregulated sphere, the internet remains a citizen-led space. Wikipedia represents all that is best about the power ordinary citizens with keyboards can wield. Happy Birthday, guys!
I like Wiki but this makes a fair point.
Wikipedia: You Still Can't Trust It
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375754,00.asp
Posted by: T.England. Very working class. | 16/01/2011 at 09:57 AM
"The site is beholden to nobody other than its army of volunteers and private donors"
No it isn't, its behold to Jimmy Wales and his views. Its also under control of its editors who can persue any hidden agenda they want. Look up Overstock and short selling and how Wikipedia editors covered up the story about short selling.
Its still a useful site, but a lot of its information needs to be double-checked.
Posted by: SadButMadLad | 16/01/2011 at 06:58 PM