Week5-Handling Wikipedia Problem Articles-진사우 (CHEN SIYU)

 Summary:

We know that Wikipedia, as the world's largest and most popular online encyclopedia, allows users to freely edit content, but it also faces a multitude of "problematic articles." These articles may contain false information, bias, unreliable sources, editorial battles, or advertising campaigns. The Wikipedia editing community addresses these issue articles through rigorous review mechanisms, consensus discussions, deletion procedures, and page protection to maintain the platform's reliability and neutrality.



Interesting points:

1. Pages featuring hot topics or controversial figures often spark an "editorial war," where editors from different perspectives continuously modify the content to align with their views. For example, during U.S. presidential elections, candidates' pages often undergo frequent editorial changes. If this continues, Wikipedia will temporarily lock the page and restrict editing permissions for specific users.


2. Wikipedia has featured many satirical or absurd entries, such as "explosive dogs," which were prankedly described as a fictional canine weapon. Although these contents will eventually be removed, they often attract significant attention and discussion before being deleted.


3. Wikipedia not only relies on volunteer editors but also uses automated robots (ClueBot NG) to detect and undo destructive edits. These robots use machine learning algorithms to identify obvious malicious changes, such as gibberish or inappropriate language.



Discussion: 

I think Wikipedia's open editing model is both an advantage and a challenge. Openness allows knowledge to be updated quickly, but it also carries the risk of inaccurate information. Therefore, community governance is crucial. Wikipedia's deletion policy sometimes sparks controversy. Some entries may have been deleted for "not meeting the visibility criteria," while supporters argue that this violates the principle of freedom of information. For example, entries for certain niche cultures or figures often face the risk of being deleted. Although Wikipedia emphasizes a "neutral perspective," some articles may still be subjectively influenced by editors, leading to content tilting towards one side. How to achieve a balance between free editing and information accuracy is a challenge that Wikipedia continues to face.




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