Blog Entry #4

Blog Entry #4: Wikipedia

For class this week, I was asked to edit a page on Wikipedia and write about my experience. I was tasked specifically with finding a topic and page that I could make an improvement on, such as fixing a mistake or adding a relevant fact. I've detailed the steps and experience down below!

Steps to editing a Wikipedia page, including the "Talk" tab

I started by looking up my hometown, Boulder, Colorado. As I grew up here, I knew I'd have a lot of insider infomation and would be able to spot discrepancies. I found one about the cruisers, noting that they were popular and organized when I was in high school. While the page was correct in the fact that there are issues surrounding underaged drinking and drugs, it isn't as underground or "insiders only" as it was made out to be.

I then went over to the talk page, which did take me a second to navigate, and posted my thoughts on it. As I didn't have time to wait, I did decide to add a citation, so that I could experience the editing process. When or if I hear back from others, I'll post their comments (although it looks like a relatively inactive page). I also saw that the page needed some sources that took me about two minutes to find.

What the experience entailed

Below I've attached screen shots of the talk page, other comments on the talk page, the section I'm editing specifically, and my own comment on the topic.

As I am new to Wikipedia editing, I also included a comment about that. I used that opportunity to show what it looks like when something is being posted on the talk page (screenshot down below).

Finally, I went to the editing page and added in a citation. I've attached how the page looks in its source format and its visual editor format (the format I used). I also attached screenshots of each step.

Final thoughts and viewpoints

In summary, I found this to be a very fun and interesting experience. I'm hoping that I'll get some comments as well, as that was a feature I was looking forward to. I also found the Wikipedia page on how to edit pages to be very helpful (screenshot below). I think I also trust Wikipedia more, as I found out that you can view the editing history (screenshot below). This helps hold people accountable, and I think it makes people less inclined to share misinformation, as that's the socially responsible behavior. I also really enjoyed the community aspect. I'll definitely be using Wikipedia more; even if it's just for fun.

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