This week, we are discussing Wikipedia which is a user generated online encyclopedia that can be used as a very reliable research tool. The reason Wikipedia can be used to research reliably despite many criticisms is because users are willing to post accurate information and defend articles from vandals. As Clay Shirky (pgs.136-137) said “Evidence that enough people care about an article, and that they have both the will and the tools to defend it, has proven enough to demoralize most vandals.” But what if those who care for an article are also the vandals? This is just the case for Daniel Tosh.
As seen in this link to the Tosh.0 blog (Warning: video clip and hyperlinks to wiki page edits contain vulgar language, view at your own risk), Daniel Tosh told his audience to go online and edit his Wikipedia page much like Stephen Colbert instructed his audience to edit various Wikipedia pages. Unfortunately for Tosh, his followers are not quite as devout as Colbert’s followers. Instead of positively contributing to his Wikipedia article, his fans thought it would be more fun to vandalize his article by inserting a wide array of jabs, bashes, flames, and their own brand of humor. The end result? Wikipedia was forced to lock the article down and fix what had been done.
Although this might be an isolated case, what if this became a reoccurring trend on Wikipedia? Although Tosh’s article was vandalized, it was done by his fans which shows that those who care about a subject will not necessarily have its best interests at heart when editing its Wikipedia article. In short, what this all means is that although Wikipedia is generally a reliable source of information, viewers must be very careful of the information they see and still further research their subjects.
I think by flaming Tosh they were showing his best interests.
ReplyDeleteI don't actually watch his show very often but it seems to me the flame behavior and attitude is something that comes with his sense of humor.
By flaming and changing the page in a negative way they may of just been reinforcing his behavior in some way.
First off, I love TOSH. Second off, Wikipedia is a ground for anyone to post whatever they want. People like Tosh and Colbert mess with a good thing, and create the need for more vandals on the site. If they didn't reinforce the behavior that these vandals are using, and even encourage it, I feel like less people would mess with such a good thing, like Wikipedia. However, at the same time, I feel like the humor that the fans portray is comical and makes for a good laugh, but vandalize your own page, not others is my 2 cents.
ReplyDelete