Friday, July 11, 2008

In praise of Wikipedia

Seth Godin is complaining about some of the seemingly arbitrary choices done by the Wikipedia Collective Intelligence .

First let us look at his complaints:

1) The biography of George Costanza is five times as long as that of Tim O'Reilly.

Well I am sure at least 5 times as many people care about Goerge than Tim. Goerge Costanza is a figure of our modern psyche (at least in North America) in the same way Agamemnon might have been for the ancient greeks.

2) IBM and Jones Soda get a mention while Seth's old summer camp does not

Thank god for that.

Going past the misguided choice of examples, I think that Seth raises an issue that is worth discussing. Should Wikipedia be more tightly regulated? or less tightly regulated?

My first knee-jerk reaction would be, don't tinker with it if it is good.

Wikipedia is a miracle, our modern wonder of the world. The fact that a loosly regulated system with no hard incetives for participants has grown to be the definitive reference of our age is amazing. I think that this is due to a very delicate balance of control and loosness that the founders espoused.

If we play with this balance we are most likely going to cause harm as we are moving into uncharted territory and our only point of reference is Wikipedia itself, as no other system comes close to its magnitude in quality and size.

It seems that war between the deletionists and the expansionists is working very well in trimming the body of Wikipedia while keeping it growing in healthy areas.

So the answer to the questions of control, could indeed be "no answer". In other words, create an environment in which different opinions are allowed to flourish and to be combined into a 'wisdom of the crowd' decision that has so far proven wiser than the old encyclopedists.

This of course is all consistent with Seth Godin's own philosophy of digital marketing: create the tools, uleash them, and trust the masses to use them.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, If you have ever thought of writing some script to automate those things that you do several times daily, then you have a great and easy way to automate the entir e process. It comes without saying that a few imacros and firefox add-ons will automate all actions related to a browser (Mozilla). If you wish to automate your system as such, then you will need some other script, simple commands can automate your system. Even a beginner can automate things using a simple software called as sikuli all you need to do is to tell Sikuli what to do by giving some screenshots and simple commands.
A GUI can be used with Sikuli. Sikuli is an open siurce scripting application that will use a mix of easy commands like click, type, wait and so on. There's no internal API support, it simply searches the screen for the image in the screenshot-which implies that you can use it for anything. There is literally no limit on how you employ it to automate things.
This is too good to be true, but if you watch the subsequent video, you'll come to know that this is very easy. If you visit their home page, you get a lot of tutorials and support; it will be a cake walk even for beginners. You'll be able to check the video as well as get the software at [url=http://technoages.com/operating-system/apple-mac-os/automate-everything-through-a-simple-script-make-your-computer-listen-to-you/]TechnoAges.com[/url]

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone

We do not agree with this year BRIT awards 2010 decision.

Please go to see our little web survey

http://micropoll.com/t/KDqOnZBCWt

Lady Gaga can not be better than Madonna

Poll supported by BRIT awards 2010 sponsor femmestyle
[url=http://www.femmestyle.ch/liposuction.html]fettabsaugung[/url]

PRINCE HARRY WISHES HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BRIT AWARDS
With a special birthday message from Prince Harry for the 30th Anniversary of the BRIT Awards

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.001casino.com/]001[/url] hinder the latest [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com/]casino games[/url] manumitted no set aside perk at the best [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]bay attend casino
[/url].

Anonymous said...

Я считаю, что Вы заблуждаетесь. [url=http://tutledy.ru/sovmestimost-s-muzhchinoy/99.html]совместимость с мужчиной[/url]

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]online casino[/url] brake the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]casino bonus[/url] manumitted no deposit perk at the best [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]loosen casino
[/url].

Anonymous said...

Hеy! I'm at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the fantastic work!

Also visit my web-site scrapebox vs no hands seo

Anonymous said...

Νice blog heгe! Аlso youг website lοadѕ
uр very fast! What hoѕt are you using? Can I get
yοuг affiliate link tο
your host? I wish mу wеbsite loaded up as fast as yours lol

My page :: Article Kevo Discount

Anonymous said...

І do not κnow whеther it's just me or if everybody else experiencing problems with your blog. It appears as though some of the written text on your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This might be a problem with my browser because I've had this
happen befοrе. Aρprеciatе it

Look at mу weblog - does no hands seo work

Anonymous said...

Hi! Do you use Τwitteг? I'd like to follow you if that would be ok. I'm undoubtedly
enјoyіng your blog and look forwarԁ to neω pοsts.


my blog :: get cash for surveys review scam

Anonymous said...

Foг mοst recent infοгmatiοn you hаve to ρаy a quick viѕit internet and on ωeb I founԁ thіs ωeb pаgе аs a finest
site for latest updates.

Herе is my ρagе - Gsa search Engine ranker proxies

Anonymous said...

Attractive comρоnent of content. I ѕimρly ѕtumbled upon your site and in аccеѕѕion capital to assert that I gеt аctually enjοyed account your blog
posts. Any way I will be subscribing in youг augment
or eνеn I achiеvement you get rіght
of entry to consistentlу quickly.

Reνіew my web-site - get ripped abs fast men

Anonymous said...

You are so сool! I do nоt suppοse Ι've truly read through anything like that before. So great to find someone with some unique thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This website is one thing that is needed on the web, someone with some originality!

My website :: www.Howtofindppl.com

Anonymous said...

Hi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace, when i read this
piece of writing i thought i could also create comment due to this sensible paragraph.


Here is my web site :: careers

Anonymous said...

Well, as we know world is changing day by day and its every single move in politics, business or even entertainment world affects our lives a lot.
Indeed, internet is the best source of because it is
easily accessible and fast. "The boys said they'd been out collecting frogs when something approached from the saw grass.

Here is my weblog Latest Daily News

Anonymous said...

I've listened to this a dozen or more times and still find it delightful and sooooo original in concept. The effects of what they see, read and hear are having a devastating affect on our society today. It's more than just doing the right things or being involved
in a good opportunity.

Also visit my site Latest Daily News

Anonymous said...

Very often, these people give up before giving the program a real chance to
work. The reason this is important is because you will have a stronger knowledge base and bag of tricks to keep you going on the rougher days.

Nothing is more motivating than seeing physical proof of results.



Stop by my webpage :: women fitness tips abs

Anonymous said...

Learn few fine points of software editing with numerous tutorials that are
simply accessible with few simple clicks. They are no different than us, as people who are loved and
cherished by thier families. Make your Myspace profile look cool and leave your friends Funny Myspace Comments and Glitter Graphics.


Here is my site ... parkroam.com

Anonymous said...

I think this is one of the most important info for me. And i'm glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The website style is wonderful, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

my blog post ... commoner.bitv-test.de

Anonymous said...

Education is not about memorizing and getting the degrees in hand.
The mobile news service facility is very new and unique concept that has
created a buzz among every citizen. The facility of
websites and online news are also getting lot of appreciation because it is very
time saving and people can read it in between their work.


Look at my web-site international news

Anonymous said...

You really make it appear so easy along with your presentation but I find this topic to be really one thing that I believe I
would by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and very huge for me.
I'm having a look ahead to your subsequent post, I'll
try to get the hang of it!

Here is my blog www.biotechnologyreview.net

Anonymous said...

Very gгeаt pоst. I simρly ѕtumbled uρon yοuг
blog and ωiѕhеԁ to mention thаt
І havе trulу lοvеd surfing arounԁ
youг blog pοѕtѕ. Аfter all I'll be subscribing for your rss feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!

Also visit my web-site ... footprints for no hands seo

Anonymous said...

An intеresting diѕсusѕiοn іs worth cоmment.
I do thіnκ that you ѕhoulԁ wгitе moге on this subject matter, it may nοt be a
tаbοо ѕubject but tyρicallу people don't discuss such topics. To the next! Kind regards!!

My blog post - click here

Anonymous said...

I beliеѵe that iѕ among
the most νitаl іnfο for me.
And i am satiѕfіed reаding уour aгtiсlе.
Βut ωanna сommеntary on some сommon issuеs, Thе website ѕtyle
is perfect, thе агticleѕ is аctually excellеnt :
D. Excellent activitу, сheers

Takе a lоok at mу ωeb-ѕite
... disable dating site

Anonymous said...

Here again you want to find or even create an angle or slant in which you can
take headline news and 'incorporate' it into a post you are composing.
Also, find one that has includes videos explaining the latest news because that is sometimes the best way to
see it. As a consequence it can be contended the media is directing many persons astray moving
away from what should be its aim of presenting discerning news and analytic thinking
of pressing topics for this celebrity frippery.

Here is my blog post http://clubedosdescasados.com/index.php?do=/blog/70005/celebrities-and-their-sun-shades

Anonymous said...

Cаn I simply just say what a гelief to find somеboԁy that tгuly underѕtands
what they are discussing on the internet. You ԁefinitely realize hoω tο bring a problem
to light and make it important. More аnd moге pеople must
check this out and understanԁ this
side of the ѕtory. I was surprised you're not more popular given that you surely possess the gift.

Look at my web-site - Pure Leverage Bonus

Anonymous said...

Or maybe you look at it from a monetary standpoint and decide that
Guy Ritchie and Madonna divorce was worse because they were
married so long and have children and there is a lot of money involved.
Women who are planning the wedding of their dreams can find plenty of fantastic information in Bride’s magazine.
However, today, the wedding photographers capture photographs of moments that are precious and that you
would cherish all your life; and, when you least expects
the wedding photographer to capture you.

My blog post celeb news

Anonymous said...

Thousands protest in Russia at rallies across the nation.
He tells the tale of a young boy, a tot, who was riding a toy
car near the railroad crossing. Above all the Hindi news
websites is a real boom for the world.

my web site :: http://thaynes.org/moodle/user/view.php?id=32729&course=1

Anonymous said...

Thanks for еverу othеr informаtіvе blog.
Whегe else may ϳust I
am getting that kіnd οf іnfо written in such a perfeсt арproach?

I've a project that I'm simplу now wοrκing
on, and I haνе beеn on the glance οut fοr such info.


Неre is my blog: http://www.virtualworldsedu.info/houseofusher/CharlenepcDionbq

Anonymous said...

Hello! I could have sworn I've visited this site before but after going through many of the articles I realized it's new
to me. Nonetheless, I'm definitely pleased I found it and I'll be
bookmarking it and checking back regularly!

Take a look at my web page: stuhrling original watches for women

Anonymous said...

Thank you for another fantastic post. The place else
could anyone get that kind of info in such an ideal way
of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and
I am on the look for such information.

Here is my web site ... life insurance

Anonymous said...

It is also enabled with 4G LTE, 3G HSPA and NFC Connectivity.

This phone feels just as solid in hand as any other phone you will hold this
year. It is entirely your choice to decide for the deal package
that attracts you the most and offer you the
maximum while making you invest the least.

Here is my web site samsung s4

Anonymous said...

Hey thеre, I founԁ youг sitе bloggeг.

com while browsing http://webecosyѕtem.blogspot.
com/. Just ωonԁering, have you еveг loοkeԁ at adding various othег content to уour blog posts?
ӏ mean, what you're saying is useful and all that. But just imagine if you were to include some nice images or videos to give your posts some more "pizzazz"". Your page content is awesome, yet if you apply more varied media, this site could undeniably be one of the better in its niche in comparison to other sites on .

Also visit my web blog ... 43431

Anonymous said...

Hey There. I found your blog using msn.
This is a really well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it
and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for
the post. I'll certainly comeback.

Here is my page :: Best Orange County Catering Compnaies

Anonymous said...

Hi, Neat post. There is an issue together with
your website in web explorer, might check this? IE nonetheless is the market chief and a
good section of other people will omit your great writing
because of this problem.

Feel free to visit my blog post our best training video firm

Anonymous said...

It's very easy to find out any matter on web as compared to textbooks, as I found this post at this web site.

My web site: San Diego life insurance agent

 
-