Week5- Wikipedia Edit- YU JIE 여결

Summary

Wikipedia's success is not just due to its extensive content, but more importantly, it fosters a culture of community collaboration. This platform has always promoted openness, equality, and free collaboration, appearing to be an ideal community without a leader. But in reality, someone always steps forward to guide the way, coordinate issues, and address conflicts.

These guides do not speak through formal power, but through personal influence, contributions, and community recognition. They are crucial forces for maintaining the platform's stable operation by resolving differences internally, promoting development, and addressing external challenges.

However, as the workload increases and responsibilities grow heavier, this role often faces pressures beyond its individual capabilities. If mishandled, it can easily lead to dissatisfaction and controversy. Even in a decentralized, participatory community, the presence of guidance and organization remains inevitable. Wikipedia's experience shows that even the most ideal collaborative model requires someone to take on direction and responsibility.


Interesting points

Although the Wikipedia community emphasizes equality and openness, it naturally sees some leaders emerge in practice. They lack official authority but are responsible for decision-making and coordination, a role that is particularly special.

The existence of this role is not about opposing collaborative spirit, but rather about the community still needing someone to step forward and maintain order when faced with disputes or issues. Everyone doesn't want a genuine superior, but they hope someone will step in to solve the trouble.

These leaders' positions are actually quite fragile. They seem to be wearing hats that look like crowns but are easy to break, and they could easily lose support if they aren't careful. Maintaining this role requires both trust and significant pressure.

There is always a contradiction between the ideals of the community and reality. Although everyone hopes to create a utopia without power struggles, emotions, divisions, and conflicts within human nature make it difficult to fully realize this ideal. To keep this ideal alive, the community had to accept certain compromises, such as tacitly allowing these informal guides to emerge.


Discussion

Why do people always need guidance in a community where everyone appears equal and collaborative?



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