Wikipedia Makes A Change

I like Wikipedia and consider it a great resource.   I also like the concept of Wikipedia -- that an on-line encyclopedia could be user written and edited.   Currently, Wikipedia has over 3,000,000 articles in English -- most of them well-researched and written.   

In the last few days, Wikipedia has announced a change in the way it operates (at least in its English version).   It has instituted a level of oversight.   Now many articles will have to be approved by one of Wikipedia's trusted editors before it will be allowed to be published to the website and become a part of the on-line encyclopedia.

Since Wikipedia announced the change, there has been a bit of turmoil on the internet about it.   Some see the change as necessary, while others see it as an abandonment of the principles the site was founded upon.

I must side with the former opinion.   I think the change needed to happen.   As I previously said, most articles were well-done.   But it seems like there are always a few nuts who want to screw things up for the vast majority, and there were a few whose research was sloppy or they just let their religious or political dogma interfere with their accuracy.

To be usable, an on-line encyclopedia needs to be accurate and trustworthy.   There were not many mistakes in Wikipedia (either inadvertent or intentional), but it doesn't take many to destroy trust.   I believe the change Wikipedia is making will enhance that trust.

As for those who think Wikipedia is abandoning its principles, I just don't think that is true.   It is still, and will be in the future, user written.   Going through an appropriate approval process does not change that.   It just weeds out the very few who were trying to do harm to the marvelous site built by millions.

I applaud the change being instituted by Wikipedia, and wholeheartedly support the web site.