Week5：My Wikipedia Edit and Goffman theory study-----MUYE

This week, my learning focused on two main areas: first, studying Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory and applying it through real-life observation; and second, understanding how to delete others’ edits on Wikipedia and the rules involved in that process.

Through learning Goffman's theory, I gained a deeper understanding of the concepts of “front stage” and “back stage” behaviors, and how people perform different roles in various social settings. To put the theory into practice, I conducted a small observation experiment: I invited some friends to my home but asked them to pretend they were unfamiliar with the place. By observing their behavior and speech, I noticed that even in a familiar private space, when the social rules changed (such as “pretending to be unfamiliar”), people adjusted their actions and adopted more “front stage” behavior. This experiment helped me better understand Goffman’s idea that social interaction is a kind of performance.

In terms of Wikipedia editing, I initially thought deleting someone else’s edits would be simple—just click “edit” and remove the content. However, I quickly realized that the process involves many important rules. For example:

1.You must have a valid reason for deleting content and clearly explain it in the edit summary.

2.You cannot delete sourced information without justification, unless the source is unreliable or violates Wikipedia’s policies.

3.Every edit should follow the three core principles: neutrality, verifiability, and no original research.

4.Engaging in discussion on the Talk Page is also an important step when dealing with content disputes.

Through this experience, I learned that although Wikipedia is an open platform, it operates under a well-defined set of guidelines that ensure objectivity and credibility.

In conclusion, this week’s learning deepened my understanding of the rules behind social behavior and improved my awareness of responsible online editing. These insights are highly valuable for my future studies and work in the fields of media and social information.