The Rush To Mediocrity That Is Wikipedia
February 6, 2008 – 1:54 pm
I came across excerpt of a user profile on Wikipedia that I could have sworn was written by me. I have already discussed the consequences of the “new economy”, where people who have nothing better to do sit and stalk their pet rock Wikipedia entries and persistently edit on topics they know nothing about.
The user’s profile is Yug.
I leave wikipedia for several reasons, the biggest being that make an efficient work on wikipedia become every day more difficult because of the inevitable presence of people with strong will to edit, but clear lack of knowledge and mediation abilities. … It time for me to stop my involment here since I clearly want involve my energy and leadership ability in more efficient places, in real tasks, to improve the world around me.
This post to his profile shows his complete understanding of the system, which is scary but also calming.
It is also a warning to Jimbo that he had better get his Wikipedia in order as more editors, unemployed (with nothing else better to do) and uneducated (without the urge to actually learn anything outside comfort zones), will soon drown Wikipedia in a sea of mediocrity.
Think I am exaggerating? Look at what happened to Mozilla’s Open Directory Project, basically dead-on-arrival after editors started gaming the listings.
