Week 15 ---What I Learned from Editing Wikipedia-HONG HAOTIAN

 A lot of people use Wikipedia to look things up, but not many actually contribute to it. I was the same—until one of my classes required us to either create or edit a Wikipedia article. At first, I just wanted to get the assignment done, but the process ended up changing the way I think about knowledge and information.

1. It’s not about what you know, but what you can prove

When I first started editing, I thought as long as I knew the content and could explain it well, I’d be fine. But I quickly hit a wall. One of the core rules of Wikipedia is verifiability. You can’t just say, “This actor is really good.” You need to back it up with sources—like reviews from reliable media or published interviews. If not, your edits might get deleted or flagged.

That made me realize: writing isn’t just about expressing your thoughts—it’s about building an argument with solid evidence. Honestly, it felt like academic writing, but in a stricter and more public setting.

2. Writing “neutrally” is harder than it sounds

Wikipedia strongly emphasizes a neutral point of view. That sounds simple, but it’s actually really hard to do. For example, when I was editing an article about a controversial social event, I naturally leaned toward one side without even noticing. But Wikipedia forces you to present all sides fairly, avoid emotional language, and clearly separate fact from opinion.

This taught me to pay more attention to how I write and to be more careful with my words—something that’s useful way beyond Wikipedia.

3. Editing Wikipedia isn’t a solo job—it’s collaborative writing

One of the coolest (and sometimes most frustrating) parts of editing Wikipedia is that your work isn’t final. Other users can change what you wrote, question your sources, or suggest improvements. Sometimes you have to go through multiple rounds of discussion before everyone agrees on a version.

At first, I was like, “Why are people changing my stuff?” But then I realized that this is actually what makes Wikipedia valuable: it’s a space where people work together to create better content. I’ve heard about “collaborative learning” in school, but this was the first time I truly experienced it.

4. Editing Wikipedia is a form of public participation

One time, I worked on a page about a lesser-known historical figure. It wasn’t a famous topic, and probably not many people will ever read it. But I still felt like what I did mattered. Because even small edits like that help preserve information and give visibility to topics that might otherwise be ignored.

It made me realize that we’re not just consumers of information—we can also be contributors. That’s a powerful feeling.

5. I started thinking more critically about information

After editing Wikipedia, I became more skeptical about the information I come across online. When I see news articles, I start asking myself, “What’s the source? Is it reliable?” Even when I scroll through trending topics on social media, I feel the urge to fact-check.

In short, Wikipedia taught me to think critically, and that’s probably the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from the whole experience.

6.Final Thoughts

For most people, Wikipedia is just a place to look up facts. But for me, it became a training ground for how to create knowledge. I learned how to research, write objectively, collaborate with strangers, and think more critically about the world around me.

As an ordinary college student, it feels pretty amazing to be part of something bigger—to know that even my small edits can help build a more open and reliable knowledge base for everyone.