In "Wikipedia Wisdom”, Wolverton (2007), writes, “Launched Jan. 15, 2001, it is already the ninth most popular Web site in the Unitd States, according to Alexa Internet, a company that monitors Web traffic” (para. 9). As you know, Wikipedia is now famous all over the world as an encyclopedia online. Anybody can access this site freely and anybody can check its terms easily and quicky. This site is very convenient and a new product which a new generation created. That is why Lengel (2006) states that Wikipedia became famous with only just six years. However, in fact, many professors argue with Wikipedia because it has some problems.
It is clear that professors argue with Wikipedia because it makes students lazy, and sometimes Wikipedia has wrong information because anybody can edit and access it freely. That is why Wikipedia lacks in truth and sometimes includes malicious information. Therefore, Wikipedia should always try to carry right information as much as possible, protect human rights, and tell users it might lack in truth more officially.
First, Wikipedia should try to tell only right information as much as possible. Many users who view Wikipedia, of course, want right information quickly. Although some users know Wikipedia lacks in truth and sometimes it has wrong information, unfortunately, most users would believe what Wikipedia says because most users visit this site before they are familier with the terms. Wolverton (2007) argues it leads to Internet vandalism. Therefore, when users carry information online, Wikipedia should check information and sometimes delete information which might include wrong information and make a link to other sites related to its terms. Even though Wikipedia is made by users, it is also used by users to get information. That is why Wikipedia needs to try to carry right information as much as possible.
Second, because anybody can edit anytime, Wikipedia sometimes threatens human rights. Therefore, Wikipedia should make users have an account and deal with someone who carried malicious information. According to Wolverton, “users can add, alter, or remove information without registering a user account, giving those who visit the site free and anonymouse reign over the available information” (2007, para. 7); it shows risk because it is without a user account. That is why Wikipedia should make user’s accounts, to protect the effection human rights.
Finally, Wikipedia might lack in truth. Therefore, Wikipedia needs to advise users about that and lead users to other sites to get more real information for users. In addition to this, users should also not depend on only this site. Users need to know the fact that this site can be created just by anybody. Students should use not only this site but also other sites to make papers which they hand in to professors. Most of the professors can find out whether the information is from Wikipedia or not. Therefore, if you want to get a high score or good evaluation, you should not depend on only information from this site.
In conclusion, Wikipedia should try to give users right information as much as possible, protect human rights, and tell users it might lack in truth more officially. Users should not forget that it does not always give accurate information. And also, nowadays, people can choose anything freely. That is a good point, but it always includes several risks. Therefore, users should recognize the risks and be careful anytime.
References
Lengel, J. (2006, February 7). Authority. Teaching with Technology. Retrieved on April 23, 2006 from
http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_technology/article.shtml?ID=12
Wolverton, J. (2007, January 22). Wikipedia Wisdom. Valley Vanguard. Retrieved on April 23, 2008 from http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141
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