Blogging through Wikipedia (2025)

Summary of this week's learning. This week, I also focused on the importance of citations in Wikipedia articles. Reliable sources are what keep Wikipedia trustworthy, and adding proper citations helps improve the accuracy and credibility of the content.  I learned more about how to improve cites, edit them, and even the different ones we can use. Whether it’s a news article, a book, or a research paper, every fact should be backed by a verifiable reference, for me, the most important aspect about it is the simplest one, making sure the reference is reliable. I also like that Wikipedia asks for every article to have external citations to improve it's reliability and quality. Editing Wikipedia isn’t just about adding new information, it’s also about making sure what’s already there is well-sourced and people can thrust it.

 Summary of this week's learning. This week I tried to focus on getting to understand the ways I can help to improve other articles on Wikipedia by checking the sources are high-quality. When writing any academic document I always try to be as accurate as possible when it comes to sources, my interpretations and the ones of the authors I'm citing are always well-clarified to make sure the hard work of other people is differenced from mine. When checking into others' citations I tried to use the same logic, even when Wikipedia is an encyclopedia and you are not supposed to post your opinions there, I saw a couple of examples of people writing in the articles information with no source to it, which makes me believe it was something they heard or saw somewhere else and just didn't mind posting it there. From the ones I encountered, my experience was most of them being false information however, they also make a piece of previous or upcoming information more impactful.

Collective Intelligence and malicious intent After working on a few Wiki edits this week I've realized how easy it would be for someone to mess with the hard work of hundreds of people, Wikipedia is one of the most friendly platforms I have interacted with when it comes to the way it accepts people's contributions, even when it's obvious the purpose of it is inviting the interested ones to keep perfecting and creating the articles, I also think it's a warm way of making everyone's efforts valued. But this openness also has its risks. Any person interested can edit an article, which means even people who haven't gotten the preparation to make those changes can make mistakes, share biased opinions, or even intentionally vandalize high-quality articles. A well-written piece can be changed in seconds, sometimes for the worse. Still, what makes Wikipedia special is its community. Editors work hard to correct errors, follow guidelines, and keep information accurate. ...

 How Wikipedia has helped me improve my anthropological understanding of the world? Throughout my three years studying Social Anthropology I've always heard the same old phrase from my Professors: No one knows more or the same than anyone, that's what makes knowledge precious. Of course, they were talking about the kind of information we get when we are doing fieldwork, but without knowing I've used it to understand everything around me. When getting into this course I had a prejudice when it came to information I cannot attribute to one author. If no one is held accountable for a mistake in their own work then how can I be sure I can thrust the intentions behind its creation? The few scientific articles I've written never contained any Wikipedia information because of it, but after learning all the policies and filters the platform has to make sure the articles are high quality my vision of it has changed. Without noticing before I was doing what my Professors always t...

Goffman’s Theory in a Nutshell Before diving into the film, here’s a quick recap: Goffman argues that social life is like a stage. People are like actors performing roles for others, using settings, costumes, and scripts to control how they’re perceived. There’s a front stage , where we present our polished selves, and a back stage , where we can relax and be more “real.” Now let’s apply that to Casablanca . Rick Blaine: The Man with Two Faces Rick, the owner of Rick’s Café Américain, is the perfect example of Goffman’s front stage/back stage theory. • Front Stage Rick is cool, cynical, and emotionally detached. He repeats, “I stick my neck out for nobody.” That’s his public persona—the tough guy, politically neutral, emotionally untouchable. • But behind the scenes, Back Stage Rick is a romantic idealist still heartbroken over Ilsa. We see this when he drinks alone after she walks into his bar, and again when he risks everything to help her and Laszlo esca...

Title: Wikipedia: My Free Treasure Trove of Knowledge and Learning Companion   Introduction   In the internet age, there are countless ways to acquire knowledge, but Wikipedia remains my most trusted free encyclopedia. Whether I need to quickly verify a concept or dive deep into a subject, Wikipedia always provides a wealth of information. Today, I’d like to share what I’ve learned from Wikipedia and how it has transformed my approach to learning.    1. Breadth of Knowledge: From History to Technology, It Covers Everything Wikipedia encompasses almost every topic you can imagine. For example:   - History: I once used Wikipedia to explore the detailed history of the "Silk Road," including its trade routes, key cities, and its impact on cultural exchange between East and West.   - Science: When learning about "CRISPR gene editing," Wikipedia not only explained its principles but also listed key scientists and ethical debates.   - Trivia: Did you know? Ba...

What did Wikipedia bring me? Hey, friends! Today, I want to chat with you about my amazing discoveries on Wikipedia. Did you know that Wikipedia is like a supermarket for knowledge; it has everything, and I'm always welcome to browse it. Imagine a library that never closes, filled with books of all kinds. This is how Wikipedia feels to me. Do you want to learn about the secrets of the universe, ancient stories, or the gossip behind movies? Just click the mouse, and you'll find anything. It's hard to believe how easily so much knowledge can be obtained. The best part of Wikipedia is that it taught me things not found in textbooks. For example, I've recently become fascinated with various art movements, including Impressionism, Surrealism, and Cubism. Doesn't that sound rather upscale? I also discovered some super cool artists, who have now become my idols. It feels like there's a private guide taking me to explore any field I want to know. Wikipedia also taught m...

1. Summary This week, I focused on Wikipedia citation editing and learned about its importance in enhancing article credibility and accuracy. I realized that adding citations is not just about linking sources but ensuring their relevance, reliability, and neutrality. Editing Wikipedia requires critical thinking and collaboration, with each edit contributing to a global shared resource. 2.Interesting Highlights Wikipedia allows citing various types of sources, such as news reports, blogs, and social media, which differs from traditional publications that rely mainly on academic sources. This flexibility brings diverse viewpoints but also makes it more challenging to assess the reliability of sources. I also noticed that Wikipedia links can become invalid over time, requiring continuous updates, which means editors take on additional responsibility. 3.Discussion Wikipedia's openness raises the challenge of assessing the credibility of sources. To address this, clearer guidelines and ...

  1 . Interaction Observation Reflection  For this observation task, I visited a convenience store near campus and quietly watched the interactions between customers and staff. I focused on a short exchange between an elderly cashier and a university student. The student bought coffee and a rice ball, and the cashier kindly joked, “Coffee again? Don’t stay up too late.” The student replied, “I need this to survive the day.” They both smiled — a brief but meaningful moment. Using Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory, I saw this as a small performance. The store is the  front stage , and the cashier and student are  actors . Their speech, body language, uniforms, and even the items they touched are  props . Each plays a socially expected role, maintaining politeness and warmth. This task helped me realize how even everyday moments are rich with social meaning. It taught me to observe more closely and appreciate the small “social performances” happening all around...

 1) Summary and link to your edit: During the third week, I edited the English Wikipedia article for Infinity Nikki (无限暖暖). Specifically, I added two pieces of information related to the number of wishlist additions the game received on Steam. The edit aimed to reflect recent developments and growing anticipation for the game. Edit history link: Infinity Nikki  2) New insights or interesting experiences: The most difficult part of this editing process was finding suitable and reliable sources to support the added content. Many entertainment news articles in China are hosted on streaming platforms or less formal media outlets, which are often not recognized as reliable by Wikipedia standards. After some effort, I eventually cited a source found directly on the game’s official website, which met the requirements and allowed me to complete the edit successfully. 3) Questions or issues for further discussion: This experience made me wonder: to what extent are official websites acc...

1. Summary This week, I learned how Wikipedia strives to ensure the reliability of its information. Although Wikipedia is an open platform that anyone can edit, it strictly enforces the credibility of sources. Not only the factual accuracy but also where the information comes from is extremely important. Wikipedia requires verifiable and trustworthy sources to confirm the content. This reflects the responsibility Wikipedia holds as an encyclopedia. 2. Interesting Points One interesting aspect is that because Wikipedia evaluates information based on its sources, newly published research or fresh facts are often not immediately reflected. Even if something is true, without verified sources, it can be difficult to include on Wikipedia. This illustrates a dilemma between i nformation reliability and information timeliness. Also, the process where editors judge the trustworthiness of sources often leads to conflicts and negotiations, which shows that Wikipedia is more than just a “c...

  Summarize Deadline 3 assignment was to add citations. To do this, I completed the Training: For Students module "Adding citations". I looked around the list of Korea-related topics that lacked references. Then I decided to edit an article about South Korean singer Seo Taiji. Here is my contribution: The popularity of their music marked a departure from the trot style of music that previously dominated Korea's popular music scene. [citation needed] This sentence needed citation that trot was dominant in Korean popular music before the Seo Taiji era. I read several papers about Seo Taiji via Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) and I was able to find the paper "A Study about Sociocultural Meaning of Seo Tai ji Syndrome" by Gena Jang. I immediately added citation to Wikipedia: The popularity of their music marked a departure from the trot style of music that previously dominated Korea's popular music scene.  [8] The footnote is like this: 8.  Jang, G...

  Summary This week, I made two small edits to the Chinese Wikipedia article on  Tianhe District , which happens to be my hometown. I added two new references to support parts of the article that previously lacked proper citations. The first source is the  2022 Annual Report on Government Information Disclosure  from the Tianhe District Government, which I used to back up statements about the district's geographical role and urban planning. The second source is an official list of provincial-level universities in Guangdong, which helps support information about the educational institutions located in the area. Both sources are from government websites and help improve the reliability of the article. New Things I Learned While looking for sources, I realized that even though I’ve lived in Tianhe for years, there’s still a lot I didn’t know about how it’s positioned within Guangzhou’s urban development strategy. For example, official documents describe Tianhe as being ...

1. Summary This week, I worked on translating the Chinese Wikipedia article Big-Headed Kid and Small-Headed Father into English . While the translation itself wasn’t too hard, I ran into some issues when it came to adding references—especially for video sources. One of the original references was a video on Bilibili that seemed to be the original cartoon, but since Bilibili is a user-uploaded content platform, I wasn’t sure if it counts as a reliable source by Wikipedia standards. I also checked some official Chinese sites, but maybe because the show is pretty old, I couldn’t find any official version of the video there. That made me hesitate—should I still use the Bilibili link since the video looks legit, or should I leave it out and try to find something more “official”? 2,Interesting points One thing I noticed during the process is how iconic this show is in China, but how little information there is about it in English. Translating it made me realize how many cultural works mig...

Summary     edit  The document was related to the singer's album, so a source for various figures was required. In addition, there was a lack of source for clear arguments about what they wanted to express. Due to the characteristics of the field of music, non-experts were able to make their own arguments, so they brought the part where the parties introduced the song themselves as a basis. I believe that clarifying the original creator's intent in music is essential to prevent various issues. This is even more important on knowledge-based platforms that serve as repositories, such as Wikipedia. Any new, interesting, or unusual items learned Music documents gave us a glance at the recordings of each country. If the source is sufficient, you can think of it as a "receipt" or "report card" of the work. Identify at least one question, concern, or discussion Most of the statistical evidence for the document came from the Gaon Digital Chart. The site is fully rel...

  Summary: Wikipedia faces challenges in pursuing openness and transparency, including legal, management, and social structures, and needs to find a balance between freedom and control. As rules and procedures continue to increase, it has impacted the open discussion atmosphere in the community. Wikipedia's experience shows that complete openness can lead to chaos, while excessive management limits creativity, thus requiring a delicate balance between transparency, fairness, and inclusivity. Interesting points: Wikipedia faces a series of complex issues in maintaining openness and transparency. How to comply with legal requirements while maintaining openness becomes a challenge when facing legal challenges. To address potential legal risks, Wikipedia established an office intervention mechanism, which, while quick to respond, could also be misused by some individuals and undermine community trust. As the community has grown, complex rules have emerged, affecting flexibility. Especi...

 1.   How much I have read Currently, I haven’t read the entire book, but I have read the first three chapters, particularly the sections on the concepts of “frontstage” and “backstage,” as well as how he describes how we manage others’ perceptions of us through our behavior in daily life. By reading these sections, I have gained a deeper understanding of Goffman’s theory of social interaction and have begun to reflect on my own behavioral patterns in daily life. 2.   Is it difficult? I find some of the theories proposed in this book interesting, especially the way Goffman uses the analogy of social interactions as theatrical performances. His ideas have given me a fresh perspective on interpersonal communication. In today’s society, our actions are often influenced by public evaluation and expectations. Goffman points out that when we present ourselves on the “front stage,” we are driven by the attention of others and societal expectations, whereas in the “backstage,” we...

Summary This week  I am translating this entry  Also made some other minor edits, such as updating deadlinks, adding references, etc. Interesting points I found that the English Wikipedia may have higher requirements than the Chinese Wikipedia, perhaps because it has more users and can more rigorously monitor whether the entries are complete. I also know a very comprehensive reference website about games。I know that when editing Wikipedia, I need to pay attention to whether the content is important and whether it conforms to the entry.Cannot add content at will Discussion I want to know, if the description of the entry that appears when searching Wikipedia is not appropriate, how can I modify it?

 1.Summary   This week, I mainly studied Wikipedia citation editing, and I gained a lot from it. Wikipedia, as the world's largest online encyclopedia, boasts a vast community of volunteer editors. When editors contribute content to Wikipedia, citation functionality is an indispensable part. Citation not only enhances the credibility of an article but also allows readers to trace it back to its source, verifying the accuracy and reliability of the information. 2.Interesting Points By inserting appropriate citations into the article, editors can link its content to reliable sources such as academic research and news reports. Wikipedia offers various citation formats, with the most common being books, journals, web pages, and other sources. Editors can easily insert these materials by citing templates, making the article content more rigorous. What particularly interests me is that Wikipedia's citation function differs from that of traditional publications in that it is not limi...

  In everyday life, we often act like performers, carefully playing different “roles” in various settings: the “good student” in class, the “obedient child” at home, the “curated life” on social media. These aren’t just “pretend” behaviors; they’re what Erving Goffman calls “performances in social interaction.” His dramaturgical theory suggests that we are all actors in a social play, constantly shifting between the “front stage” and “back stage,” trying to maintain the impressions others have of us. The film Pleasantville (1998) offers a vivid portrayal of this theory. Through the story of two modern teens who get trapped in a 1950s black-and-white TV show, the movie uses the emergence of color as a metaphor for the transition from “social performances” to “self-realization,” perfectly reflecting Goffman’s key concepts of roles, stages, teams, and impression management. 1. Stages Goffman talks about the front stage and back stage in social life. On the front stage, we perform...

1）Summary Joseph M. Reagle Jr.’s Good Faith Collaboration: The Culture of Wikipedia examines how Wikipedia’s unique culture of open collaboration functions. The book explores core principles like"good faith presumption" (assuming contributors act with good intentions) and"neutral point of view"(NPOV), which have allowed Wikipedia to grow into the world’s largest crowdsourced encyclopedia. However, Reagle also highlights tensions between Wikipedia’s idealistic vision and its real-world challenges.   2）Interesting Points 1. The Power of "Good Faith"– The expectation that editors act in good faith reduces conflict and fosters collaboration, even amid disagreements.   2. Bureaucracy in an Anti-Bureaucratic System– Despite its open ethos, Wikipedia developed complex rules (e.g., deletion debates) to manage disputes, creating an accidental bureaucracy.   3. The Gender Gap– Less than 15% of Wikipedia editors are women, leading to biases in content coverage (e.g.,...

1) Frontstage and Backstage: The Performances in The Sting  - Frontstage: The Public Performances Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff are both masters of the art of performance. Their con game requires them to be incredibly skilled at managing their public persona, especially when interacting with their targets. The key to their success lies in the way they present themselves on the frontstage – in the world outside the con. Johnny Hooker, for example, is a small-time hustler who presents himself as a naive, inexperienced grifter to the mob boss, Doyle Lonnegan. He has to act the part of a rookie, someone who is easy to manipulate, in order to gain Lonnegan’s trust. Every move he makes, from his clothing to his speech, is carefully designed to create a certain impression in Lonnegan’s mind. He plays the role of the simple, street-smart con artist, all the while positioning himself for the big play. Similarly, Gondorff plays his own frontstage role, carefully constructing the image...

 1) Frontstage vs. Backstage in Casablanca    - Frontstage in Casablanca Rick Blaine is a great example of someone who plays a role on the frontstage. At Rick’s Cafe Americain , he is the detached, cynical club owner who doesn’t get involved in the politics of World War II. His persona is one of emotional distance, which keeps him safe from the chaos and emotional turmoil around him. He hides his feelings and past relationship with Ilsa in order to protect his public image. The role he plays is strategic – one that keeps others at arm's length while allowing him to operate in a morally ambiguous, war-torn world.     - Backstage in Casablanca The backstage is where things get interesting. In private moments, especially when he’s alone or with close friends like Sam, Rick’s true feelings begin to surface. When Ilsa reappears in his life, the cold, aloof exterior cracks, revealing a man still deeply affected by their past and the love he never truly got over. The b...

 1.summary This week I edited Wikipedia, mainly adding citations. This was an experience that gave me a deeper understanding of how to ensure the accuracy and reliability of information. I found that adding citations correctly is not simply copying and pasting the source link, but carefully identifying the content of each citation to ensure their relevance and accuracy to the article content. This requires not only a certain level of critical thinking, but also strict judgment of the authenticity of the information. I deeply felt the importance of Wikipedia as a global collaborative platform. 2.Interesting Points When adding citations to Wikipedia articles, I found the diversity of sources surprising. Some entries require citations to academic journals, books, or government reports, while others require news sites or blogs. Each citation must meet strict formatting requirements, which is not only to support the article, but also to ensure the authenticity of the content. Another in...

 I read all of Erving Goffman's book, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. I found it both fascinating and thought-provoking. Goffman's exploration of how individuals manage self-performance in everyday social interactions feels very relevant, especially when applied to contemporary social situations. 1）Did I Find It Interesting? Yes! Goffman takes something simple, like ordering coffee or having a conversation, and makes it feel like a performance. His ideas about Frontstage and Backstage  behavior—how we manage our image in public and private spaces—really fit in with me. It’s interesting how we all play different roles depending on who’s around us and where we are, even if we seem to be just going about our day. His examples and metaphors are so easy to understand, and they made me realize how much of our lives are structured for the benefit of others. It made me see social interactions as these complex little performances, which is cool. 2）Was It Difficult? Ther...

              - Self-presentation in the interaction between couples in a cafe - Observation time: 2 : 30 PM on March 27, 2025 Observation location: Starbucks Caf e   near the campus Participants :   A young couple in the ordering area 1） Summarize My recent sociology assignment focuses on observing social interactions in public spaces, with a particular emphasis on how individuals behave in everyday situations. This exercise, named Interactive Observation Assignment, allowed me to apply Owen Goffman's theory of self-expression to real life. Specifically, I chose to observe the interaction between a young couple at a local cafe. In this blog post, I will share what I did, what I learned from this assignment, and how it helped me gain a deeper understanding of social behavior and character performance. 2)  What Did I Do? One Sunday afternoon, I went to a cafe near the campus to observe a young couple interacting in public. I chose a comfo...

 1.  What did I do? In this interactive observation, after thorough discussion with my group members, we chose Subway as our experimental setting and decided to place our order by singing. In the preparation phase, we created a schedule that included specific times for implementation, the process, and notes on what to observe and record. Subway is typically a fast, standardized dining environment, where customers directly state their orders to the staff, and the staff follows a set process to provide service. Therefore, to break this conventional social interaction, we decided to express our food choices through singing. Our plan was to mimic popular songs and integrate our orders into the lyrics, using a humorous and creative way to communicate with the staff. During this process, we not only observed the staff’s reactions but also paid attention to the expressions and body language of other customers, recording them in real time. My goal was to challenge social norms through...

  This week, I made steady progress on my translation assignments—I’ve already completed two articles, which means I’m halfway done! However, I also had to tackle the "How to Make 10 Weekly Edits on Wikipedia" task, and honestly... it’s a bit tedious. At first, I thought it would be quick, but finding meaningful edits that actually improve articles takes more effort than I expected. Remember how I said I’d work on my favorite actor’s Wikipedia page? Well, I did—and it was eye-opening. As I dug deeper, I found  so many  errors and unverified claims. Some were minor, like incorrect film release dates, but others were outright false rumors presented as facts. It made me realize the downside of Wikipedia’s "anyone can edit" model: misinformation spreads easily if no one checks it. I spent hours correcting mistakes and adding proper citations, and even then, I’m not sure if some biased edits will slip back in later. On a more positive note, I also learned about "How...