WK 9.2 Wikipedia in culture - Hanane Ben Abdeslam

References to Wikipedia in western culture have increased as more people learn about and use the online encyclopedia project. Many parody Wikipedia’s openness, with individuals vandalizing or modifying articles in nonconstructive ways. Still, others feature individuals using Wikipedia as a reference work, or positively comparing their intelligence to Wikipedia. In some cases, Wikipedia is not used as an encyclopedia at all, but instead serves more as a character trait or even as a game. Wikipedia has also become culturally significant with many individuals seeing the presence of their own Wikipedia entry as a status symbol.
However, any user can change any entry, and even if enough other users agree with them, it becomes true. If only the entire body of human knowledge worked this way. And it can. We can all create a reality that we all can agree on. 

Originality and personal signature play less and less a role. Graduation theses, political programs and encyclopedias are put together on the internet. One of the great success numbers of the worldwide web is Wikipedia. Anyone can adjust the content of the encyclopedia, minor flaws no objection. I believe that everyone can play now journalist, writer, scientist, politician and detective. And the internet is the ideal platform because it is accessible to everyone, to celebrate the industry-blurring gossip on a large audience. 

What else can you think of on how culture changed Wikipedia?

Hanane Ben Abdeslam

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