Wikipedia

The year Wikipedia was launched is the same year that I returned to college after a nine year absence from the higher education realm. I don't know if there's any symbolism in this, but I do know that it was - and continues to be - absolutely enthralling to be introduced to such a remarkable repository of information. That same energy of excitement contributed to my shifting from feeling perpetually, thoroughly nervous about being back in school to being consumed with enthusiasm for what I was learning (in my studies and on Wikipedia).

It became an experience of studying for the sheer enjoyment of it. And in the midst of that enjoyment I grew from being a feeling-sorry-for-himself-guy, who believed he never was smart enough to finish a bachelors, to completing one and then going on to grad school to earn a masters degree.

It's remarkable what some learning can do for one's self-esteem, as well as one's out-look on life and the world.

And that's a core component of what this gift of information and knowledge called Wikipedia is. Information and knowledge not only from all over the world, but also available to any part of the world where people can access the internet... and where people who want to learn, grow, expand their horizons, even change their lives, can do so without having to pay for privileged access or already happening to belong to the right group.

Hmmm... growing healthy self-esteem around the world through learning and sharing knowledge. Gotta love the beautiful subversiveness of that!

Now, I'm well aware that Wikipedia has had its share of critics, even outright detractors. My sense is that they feel threatened by the egalitarian nature of the Wiki phenomenon. It totally messes with what they believe to be "the order of things", blurs the hard lines between "expert" and "non-expert", skews the distinction between "fact" and "opinion". This is sad because the solution to their concerns is very simple: pitch in, contribute! Set straight any record you believe needs to be straightened!

Anyhow, I am by no means a historian (armature at best), but in the final analysis I can only think that Wikipedia is for us, in our era, what the ancient great Library of Alexandria was for its users.

And that is of no small value.


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By Prince Rahman