Following the "Wiki-Way"

So here’s the deal: I never used Wikipedia, contributed to Wikipedia nor took the time to familiarize myself with the application…until these past few weeks. Instead of viewing it as a more of a collaborative process, I had this stereotype in my head telling me that all the information included on these sites were inaccurate and fabricated. After really diving into the whole process, trying to figure out exactly how it all worked, I have a better understanding of how altruistic these applications can be.

Faye and I decided we wanted to create a Wiki site for The Great Pumpkin Farm and thought it would be best to create this on BufWiki due to its small, community-type atmosphere and specific ties to our city. Plus, it was just in time for October, so we also hoped this would benefit those interested in heading out to Clarence to participate in all the festive activities The Great Pumpkin Farm has going on. When I first began the process of familiarizing myself with the site, I got really frustrated. It wasn’t easy for me to navigate and I had trouble trying to upload my photos in the correct format. Faye figured this out a lot faster than I did, and so she created the skeleton for the site and tossed in a few pictures to make it pretty.

Our main way of communicating to one another about the status of our Wiki was via email. If one of us added something to the site, we would drop a line to one another asking for some feedback, suggestions, etc. We decided early on to divide the information up and do research about certain aspects of The Great Pumpkin Farm, so we would have a diverse and very informative presentation for viewers to explore. Communicating this way seemed to work effectively for us, as our schedules were completely different.

Most of the information we chose to include on our site was directly from the official website for The Great Pumpkin Farm. The variety of activities displayed, as well as admission prices and hours were key factors to include, giving readers just a slice of what they can expect headed to this place. Our collaborative research and additions to our Wiki made me realize that this form of communication in society really can be altruistic.

These new forms of social communication using a Web 2.0 application such as Wikipedia can be beneficial to those who utilize and contribute information on the sites. According to the Royal and Kapila article, Wikipedia “is more a socially produced document than a value-free information source. It reflects the viewpoints, interests, and emphasis of the people who use it.” That statement is the meat and potatoes of what sites like Wikipedia are generating for our society. It’s open, and people are free to make additions if they so please. Will it be filled with inaccuracies and fabrications? Maybe. However, there are so many eyes viewing these pages all the time that the false information that may exist in a certain entry will in time be corrected by someone.

The studies in the Royal and Kapila article also show that more information is provided and collaborated on when it comes to more modern-day topics. This is because the majority of the people using and viewing Wikipedia are younger and/or more internet-savvy. They also wrote about a study finding the majority of the content included on the site was directed towards pop-culture and science fiction, instead of history. This is another example that sheds light on who is contributing.

Anyone can submit information to a Wiki site. They remain anonymous, receive no pat on the back, and don’t get paid for any of their contributions. There are existing arguments that ask whether users are being selfish or collaborating for the good of mankind, passing knowledge on to those who can benefit from it. After reading the Prasarnphanich and Wagner article, studies show that the Wiki process is dominated by those with altruistic motives.

I think this quote by a Wikipedian captured what this article was all about: “The articles I help edit are immediately available to seekers of information. These benefits are immediate and they benefit the entire community. As time goes by, this worth will only increase as other people come across Wikipedia for the first time.”

So why follow the “Wiki way” and what makes it so unique? The Prasarnphanich and Wagner article mentioned several characteristics that Wikipedia has, making it dynamic. I also wanted to connect my experience collaborating on our Wiki on The Great Pumpkin Farm under some of these features.

* Collective Authorship: The web documents and content within them are owned by all who contribute to them as well as edit the existing information. Faye and I both contributed to our Wiki, adding information we knew about the place by conducting research. In time, I’m sure more users will add or edit some of the information, as The Great Pumpkin Farm is sure to change as well.

* Instant Publication: Once a Wikipedian hits “save” the information is accessible to all. This notion is as simple as it gets.

* Versioning: This feature enables users to view prior versions of whatever document they are researching, in case of “accidental content destruction or vandalism.”

* Simplicity of Authorship: You don’t have to be a computer whiz to figure out how to publish anything on a Wiki site. If there is any confusion as to what you want to add, there are always links to go to that offer explanation and examples.

The “Wiki-way” was something that I was not familiar with before this assignment. After creating a Wiki site, and learning some of the terminology and ideology about the Wikipedia world, I think it’s a great application that exists in our society. With more and more information being accessed solely online, the benefits of this application can be great, as long as we continue to filter and edit the information that may be added inaccurately. All of the features that are included within a Wiki document show signs of this being a truly altruistic learning and collaborative process.


The Great Pumpkin Farm Wiki

An interesting Wikipedia blog