WikiAngela

20 things you didn’t know about Wikipedia

Posted by Angela Beesley on March 11, 2007 (Wiki, Wikimedia, Wikipedia)

Perhaps you know these 20 things, but the press is very confused. In response to the ongoing cluelessness of reporters, Andrew Lih has revamped Wikipedia’s Press Kit and Erik Möller has created a page with “10 Things You Did Not Know About Wikipedia“.

Together, they give these 20 commonly confused points:

1. We’re not for sale.
2. Our work belongs to everyone.
3. We speak Banyumasan.
4. You cannot actually change anything in Wikipedia.
5. We are deeply committed to quality.
6. We don’t want you to trust us.
7. We’re not alone.
8. We are only collectors.
9. We’re not a dictatorship.
10. We’re in it for the long haul.
11. The Wikipedia does not have volunteers worldwide.
12. The university did not start a Wikipedia for its students to collaborate.
13. The Wikipedia Foundation did not announce a new project.
14. People should not view the wiki article for the latest information.
15. Wikipedia does not have 1.7 million articles.
16. Admins do not have editorial authority in Wikipedia.
17. Wikia is not a Wikimedia project.
18. One person or group of people are not in charge of particular articles.
19. Wikipedia was not hit by surge in spoof articles or vandalism.
20. Wikipedia.com is the wrong address.

How many of those did you already know?

See the press kit and 10 things page for explanations of these.