I’m not sure what it is about wikis in general that are so fascinating, but I do know that it’s far too easy to lose track of time when searching for information amongst the many pages and links available. I can’t remember the first time I ever heard about Wikipedia, but I know that I spent quite a while wasting time even after I had found the original information for which I had been searching.
During my undergrad years, I can remember losing track of time in the computer labs on Wikipedia learning about facts in history that I never seemed to care about in Elementary and High school. In a way, it seems that it has helped me catch up on all of those years in school where I didn’t want to pay attention to what the teacher said I would need (or want to know) someday.
So I will also admit that I have arrived at some pretty weird deviations from the original search, but I think that’s part of the fun. Where else could a logical link be found through such a bizarre string of words? Just the other day, when I looked up “Snoopy”, I found myself at a strange destination. After only a few clicks, I was reading about Piracy (Snoopy, Pantomime, Peter Pan, Piracy). Arr matey.
Although some critics don’t like it because it can be biased or incorrect, I still look at it as a work in progress. I also love the fact that it made wikis more popular to the general public. I had never heard of a wiki before then, and wikis are now a great way for collaboration to be accomplished for school, work, and community projects. It also doesn’t hurt that they can be an interesting tool for learning. So thank you, Wikipedia for making wikis fun.
Wikipedia can easily become quite an addiction as it is so easy to just do a quick search on a general topic and soon find yourself having spent the last hour reading any article that tickles your interest at the time. I think a big part of it is that the interconnection of ideas and information is very appealing to the way in which we think in general. I don’t think that most of us are constantly cognizing in linear and altogether coherent manners but instead are allowing various thoughts and ideas to roam around and form free association. Wikis (especially Wikipedia) strike me as feeding right into this. Which makes it wonderfully enjoyable.
And sure there are the criticisms and small problems with Wikipedia but all around it is a pretty good place to get some basic info and to promote the pursuit of further knowledge. Great post!
Nathaniel, somehow I only just now saw your addition at the end of the blog. Thanks for your the comments. That is a great observation! I’m sure my love for Wikipedia has to do with the way our brains work.
Thanks!