The Wikipedia Effect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

I just tried contributing to Wikipedia, the wonderful free-for-all online encyclopedia that, despite being written by the likes of you and I, is actually factually accurate and increasingly comprehensive.

(I like to think) I am articulate and well-informed individual so I thought it would be easy to share my accumulated mind-vomit and extend our collective wisdom. I never really intended to but then I came accross their article on Jean Piaget, only to discover it was woefully brief.

I thought that even I would be able to improve on it, but when i sat there trying to find a few choice words to set before the world, I found I was somewhat tongue-tied. It’s different here because no-one reads it and even if they did, they would quickly realise I’m unreliable!

Now if this had been an exam, it would have been a different story, with the adrenaline flowing and a deadline looming I’d have scrawled a screeds worth. In the end I was content to add the bit about Albino Swallows and a list of his professorial posts.

Very small first steps. My next two contributions were not much better. But maybe I’ve found my niche, you may notice a theme!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_Nielsen_Effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Line_Effect

Watch this space.