Wikis: Reading response for 4 March 2015

My primary use of wikis has been to look up information to questions I have regarding a multitude of topics. I have used niche wikis such as Memory Alpha (Star Trek), Minecraft Wiki (Minecraft, obviously), Bulbapedia (Pokemon), and Wookipedia (Star Wars) to name a few; spoof wikis such as Uncyclopedia; and the most common wiki, Wikipedia. Wikipedia even has a list of all the wikis out there available for people. As such, I agree with Mr. Reagle when he says that wikis are a teaching tool that has the potential to be snap shot of the culture at the time of their inception and continued use.

I have never used  a wiki for logistical purpose to, for example, organize a camping trip like the example in the video. I have only used wikis for referencing things. However, the creation of a wiki is as simple as creating a site using Google Sites and picking a template. Then, you enter all the information you desire with the hep of Google's integrated systems. 

A lot of the criticism of Wikipedia is that basically everything can be put into the source instead of having to pick and choose. But in order to learn a lot, many people still hold this perception that you must read between the pages you need to become knowledgeable. But I believe that the use of hyperlinks allows us to still get into that deeper digging. You can dig and dig through pages forever by clicking hyperlinks from one page to the next. You go down the figurative rabbit hole of the web. 

We also become more a part off the information finding because we have the ability to now interact with the information. No longer is the information given totally over to one gate keeper. It can be created by the community at large and saved. Some sites, like Wikipedia, have editing standards that require documented information in order for a change to be allowed an saved thereafter. Others, like Wookiepedia, require no more than the click of the button and then peers review the information that has been given and adjust accordingly and the process starts all over again. 

Wikis are a tool that, like any tool, comes with the need to be responsible. It takes personal review to determine if a site is acceptable to your own standards. Like any technology or tool, there are risks and benefits. I tend to believe that the benefits often outweigh the risks in these cases as having access to literally all the wealth of knowledge of human kind through my phone(at least that does not have a pay wall)  is wonderful. So what if they collect some basic information about me? They are giving me a free service that I can easily have access to. Phone books have had access to phone numbers and addresses for many years. Why is Google's information any different?