Blogging through Wikipedia (2024)

  Summary This article focuses on Wikipedia's Manual of Style (MOS), which provides guidelines on writing and editing Wikipedia entries. The MOS outlines essential rules to ensure entries are consistent, easy to read, and accurate. The writing style recommended by the MOS includes using modern standard English while avoiding overly technical language or jargon. It emphasizes keeping sentences short and paragraphs concise. Accurate use of punctuation and quotation marks is crucial, as is consistent formatting for citations and links. The MOS advises simplicity and clarity in the use of images and tables, with appropriate explanations and avoiding excessive use that might disrupt reading. The MOS offers fundamental guidelines for producing high-quality Wikipedia entries, aiding editors in making sure articles are understandable and the information they present is reliable and accurate. Interesting Point Wikipedia, as a collaborative encyclopedia, is created by volunteers from around ...

  What did I learn while editing Wikipedia? The semester focused on Wikipedia, offering a practical course that was a unique experience in my academic career. I learned how to start editing on Wikipedia, selecting articles that were missing from the English or Chinese Wikipedia for translation, and posting them in the appropriate sandbox. The process involved learning both practical skills and theoretical knowledge, such as watching the professor's weekly videos on Wikipedia and reading articles on sister sites. I also learned how to collect and organize information effectively. This involved obtaining information from various authoritative sources, such as books, journals, and official websites, and learning to identify the authenticity and reliability of this information. Wikipedia editors emphasize citing reliable sources and avoiding original research, requiring me to be meticulous during the information gathering process to ensure the credibility of each source. This strict re...

1. Summary: Wikipedia you know (DYK) is the project page dedicated to the "Did you know" section on Wikipedia's Main Page. This section showcases interesting tidbits from new or significantly updated entries to encourage editors to contribute high-quality content and to increase the visibility of their edits. To be featured in DYK, content must meet certain criteria, such as sufficient length and reliable references. The trivia must be concise, engaging, and attention-grabbing. Editors who meet these requirements can nominate their entries. If the nominations pass the vetting process, they might be displayed in the DYK section. This approach not only makes Wikipedia more informative and engaging but also motivates more people to participate in editing and contributing. 2. Interesting Point: The most fascinating aspect is the concept of ‘hooks’ and the nomination process. Each ‘hook’ presents an interesting fact from new content in a question format like "Did you know...

  1. Summary: This article is about Wikipedia's classification system, a tool designed to organize and structure content to help readers and editors find information more easily. The classification system groups similar entries together, making navigation more intuitive. Although classification is not the only method of navigation, it plays a crucial role. Basic principles include ensuring accuracy and non-overlapping categories, avoiding excessive granularity, and ensuring each entry is reasonably classified. The classification should be subject-oriented rather than superficial. Wikipedia's classification structure is hierarchical. Top-level categories are broad, such as "Sociology," and categories become more specific as you go deeper, like "lower agricultural society" or "industrial society." An entry can belong to multiple categories, allowing it to be found in various contexts. Classification names should be clear, concise, and descriptive, av...

  1. Summary: This article is a guide on how to create new articles and improve the quality of articles on Wikipedia. The first part discusses the preparations needed before creating a new article. This includes understanding Wikipedia's rules, ensuring a neutral point of view, supporting all information with sources, and avoiding original research. It also suggests choosing a topic you are familiar with and interested in. When writing an article, the guide advises starting with a rough draft and gradually expanding it. The article should be clearly structured, with organized paragraphs and simple, easy-to-understand language. Each paragraph should ensure accurate information with reliable references. The article also explains how to use images and multimedia content to enhance article quality. Editors need to ensure all images and multimedia files are appropriately copyrighted and complement the text. Editors are encouraged to communicate with other editors while completing or edi...

  1. Summary: This week's reading material is a Wikimedia Commons FAQ. "Wikimedia Commons is a media repository created and maintained by volunteers to provide central storage for freely licensed photos, graphics, animations, music, and other media. It is also a sister site of Wikipedia. Users can upload freely licensed media files, which must comply with the site's license conditions, such as public domain or specific Creative Commons licenses. Gallery pages are used to supplement categories, providing better presentation and organization. Original works can be uploaded and licensed for use by the creator or licensee, but once uploaded, the free license is irrevocable. Uploaded images should be in as high a resolution as possible. However, for oversized images, it is recommended to provide a scaled-down version to ensure the software can handle them. Users can directly use these images in Wikipedia by linking to the filename. The website offers numerous questions and answ...

  1. Summary: Remix culture encourages the creation of derivative works by editing existing material, challenging restrictive copyright laws, and promoting creativity through remixing. In "Remix," Lessig describes the evolution from a read-only culture to a read/write culture, where digital technology facilitates an interactive relationship between producers and consumers, democratizing idea production and content distribution. The origins of remix culture can be traced back to the 19th century, as noted by media scholar Henry Jenkins, but the balance between creation and consumption shifted with the advent of analog recording and reproduction technologies in the early 20th century. This era saw increased proprietary copyright restrictions and a diminished public domain. However, digital technology brought significant changes, making remixing easier and fostering user-generated content and sharing in the Web 2.0 era. The launch of the Creative Commons Foundation and related l...

  1. Summary: This article explores the influence and references of Wikipedia in culture. The first section discusses how Wikipedia has become widely cited and imitated in popular culture. People often imitate Wikipedia's openness, sometimes modifying articles in a non-constructive way or using them as reference books. Additionally, some individuals view their Wikipedia entry as a symbol of their identity. In the second section, the article provides examples of Wikipedia’s cultural impact, such as the concept of “wikiality” proposed on The Colbert Report. “Wikiality” refers to "consensus truth" and mocks the issue of information validation on Wikipedia. The third section addresses Wikipedia’s role in the political sphere, where it has gained attention due to attempts to modify articles to fit political propaganda or views. These actions have sparked significant concern and controversy. The final section discusses how Wikipedia has been used as comedy material, being parod...

1. Summary: "Good Faith Collaboration: The Culture of Wikipedia" by Joseph M. Reagle Jr. explores the foundational and cultural aspects of Wikipedia. This 2010 book is recognized for its ethnographic examination of Wikipedia, focusing on how the community's norms and collaborative spirit contribute to its success. Reagle asserts that the real strength of Wikipedia lies in the goodwill and cooperative culture of its contributors, beyond its technical infrastructure. Reagle, an experienced Internet sociologist and active Wikipedia volunteer, draws on extensive documentation from the Wikipedia community, including content and discussion pages, as well as mailing lists. The book, prefaced by Lawrence Lessig, is divided into eight chapters. It begins with an overview of the author’s methodology and a thematic introduction titled "Nazis and Norms." Subsequent chapters cover the history of encyclopedias, Wikipedia's adherence to principles of honest collaboration a...

  1. Summary: Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia, is a primary source of knowledge and information for many people. Its uniqueness lies in its openness and collaborative nature. This article begins by discussing Wikipedia's sourcing and verifiability policies, emphasizing the importance of basing articles on reliable, published sources that reflect both majority and significant minority viewpoints. Key points about Wikipedia’s sourcing policy include: ·  Definition of a source:  Articles must rely on reliable, independent sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. ·  Definition of published:  Examples include books, articles, authors, and publishers, which influence the source's reliability. ·  Context matters:  The reliability of a source depends on the specific context and must be carefully evaluated. ·  Specific facts:  The same source can be reliable for one fact but unreliable for another. ·  Age matte...

  1. Summary: The article titled "Conclusion: A Globe in Accord" discusses the origin of the Wikipedia logo, likening it to an incomplete globe composed of various language characters, symbolizing a universal encyclopedia. The author emphasizes that Wikipedia's success extends beyond technological advancements, highlighting the importance of collaboration and cooperation. While technology has facilitated openness and accessibility, it is the human element—volunteers and contributors—that has truly sustained Wikipedia. The article reflects on the early controversies and doubts surrounding Wikipedia's inception, noting that its growth and achievements have surprised many. Despite ongoing debates, the author expresses hope and confidence in Wikipedia's future as a global, open, and collaborative community. 2. Interesting Point: During its registration period, Wikipedia received a spherical jigsaw puzzle, symbolizing the need for different pieces to come together to f...

  1. Summary、 Culture is a way of life that is specific to a particular society and includes aspects such as norms, values, beliefs and symbols of expression. It encompasses anything that is given meaning or is given meaning within a group, and different cultures tend to assign different meanings to the same objects or symbols. Culture is dynamic; sometimes changes are slow and imperceptible, while at other times they are rapid and obvious. Under the influence of globalization, perceptions and attitudes towards things may change within cultures. At the heart of culture is the consideration of the differences between innate and acquired, developed through linguistic negotiation and development, making it an essential part of human life. Subcultures and countercultures, as well as ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, are equally important theories for solving social problems. Sociologists study culture through cultural sociology, focusing on how people create meaning in their lives...

   1.  Summary Wikipedia's vision of bringing together the knowledge of all humankind requires the support of technological development and global cooperation. Through Wikipedia, the founders hoped to promote access to information and harmonious interaction among human beings across the globe, making world knowledge freely available to everyone. Despite some technological limitations, the efforts of the pioneers laid the foundation for the future of knowledge organization. The fact that many people around the globe continue to work towards this vision, co-writing and improving Wikipedia, exemplifies the urgent human desire for universal access to knowledge. Encyclopedia creation and knowledge sharing face new challenges in the digital age, but projects such as Wikipedia are responding positively and making important contributions to the global dissemination of knowledge. 2.Interesting point Wikipedia's vision and mission as a global knowledge-sharing platform. It emphasiz...

  1. Summary: This chapter examines leadership dynamics within open content communities, with a particular focus on Wikipedia. The concept of the "Benevolent Dictator" is used to describe influential informal leaders who are often regarded as respected "authors" in these communities. Such leaders play a crucial role in consensus decision-making and managing controversies, but there is a need to be cautious to prevent the abuse of power. While some critique the "authoritarian" style of leadership, in challenging and controversial situations, communities often rely on authoritative leaders to make decisions. This type of leadership is questioned due to potential power abuse or bias. Leaders must balance authority and democracy, respecting the community's opinions and values. Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, is highlighted as an example, often described as a "Benevolent Dictator" or "constitutional monarch." His leadership style ...

  1. Summary Through my professor's class I learned that Wikipedia is an open, multilingual online encyclopedia contributed and edited by volunteers. It covers almost all fields of knowledge, including all aspects of science, history, culture, art, etc., making it easy for people to access colorful information. At the same time, Wikipedia also focuses on timely updating of content and error correction mechanism, and encourages users to participate in editing to maintain the accuracy and comprehensiveness of information. This open editing model makes the generation and dissemination of knowledge a common community activity, providing people with convenient and fast access to knowledge. 2.Interesting point The interesting thing about Wikipedia is that it is a treasure trove of knowledge created by volunteers around the world. First of all, its content is very rich and diverse, covering almost all fields of knowledge, ranging from science and history to pop culture and entertainment, ...