Blogging through Wikipedia (2025)

Week 12 Reflection: Collaboration and Co-Creation — Understanding the Evolution of Wikipedia Articles Name：CHENYHUNLIN This week, I gained a deeper understanding of how Wikipedia articles gradually develop into high-quality entries. In the past, I often viewed Wikipedia as just a tool for quick reference. But in reality, it's more like an evolving knowledge ecosystem. Wikipedia articles rarely begin as polished or complete. Most start as brief “stub” entries and, over time, are expanded and refined by numerous editors who contribute content, structure, and reliable citations. This growth process demonstrates the decentralized nature of knowledge production: no single editor-in-chief, no closed peer review—just the ongoing collaboration of thousands of volunteers worldwide. What impressed me most was the logic behind Wikipedia's article assessment system. Unlike traditional publishing, where quality is controlled by authors and reviewers, Wikipedia relies on community consens...

Week11  Extra Blog for Project 4: Advertising and the Construction of the Family Ideal Name：CHENYUNLIN Case Selection: To explore how advertisements construct the image of the "ideal family," I searched through major video platforms and advertising archives. I ultimately selected a 2021 television commercial by a major home appliance brand as my case study. This ad sparked public discussion after its release, especially around issues such as “maternal anxiety,” “division of household labor,” and “representation of female roles.” Content Analysis: In analyzing the ad, I focused on visual framing, character roles, dialogue, and background music. I paid particular attention to how the roles of “mother” and “father” were portrayed, and how the children interacted with the family environment. I also applied theories we learned in class, such as gender role studies, the “myth of the family,” and semiotic analysis. Advertisement Analysis: The ad features a family of four: a mo...

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  第十周反思：我们都是数字时代的“拼贴工作者” Name: CHENYUNLIN 在当今这个信息泛滥的世界，我意识到我们每个人都变成了一种“拼贴工作者”——不是用剪刀和胶水，而是通过复制、粘贴、改写和转发，从互联网上拼凑出我们自己版本的现实。 我们过去以为获取知识就是“找到答案”。但现在，真正的挑战恰恰相反——不是信息匮乏，而是 信息量过大 。搜索结果层出不穷，文章重复，真相往往难以辨别。我们的角色不再仅仅是“记忆”，而是 过滤 和 评估 。 这也改变了我对写作的看法。过去，写作意味着表达原创思想。现在，它往往意味着 汲取 他人的思想，并加入一丝自己的声音。广泛阅读并不意味着写得好，巧妙地整合资源并不意味着真正理解。挑战在于如何在纷繁复杂的信息中保持自己的观点。 本周，编辑一篇维基百科文章时，我印象深刻。我想添加一个简单的事实，但花了很长时间才找到一个符合标准的 可靠来源 。这让我意识到，在数字时代， 光有观点是不够的——你需要证据来支持它 。 这周我最大的收获是：面对铺天盖地的信息， 谨慎比速度更重要 。表达是权利，但核实是责任。

 If Wikipedia is an open and collaborative temple of knowledge, then what supports it is not only the code and the server, but also a profound ideological tradition. In Chapter 2, Joseph Reagle takes me back to the ideological roots of Wikipedia, exploring how it integrates free culture, network idealism and collaborative ethics, and finally achieves today's world's largest encyclopedia. Hacker culture and free spirit The spiritual gene of Wikipedia can be traced back to hacker culture and the free software movement. Reagle describes in detail the "hacker ethics" that emerged in MIT, California and other places in the second half of the 20th century: knowledge should be shared, technology should be free, and creation should be open. This spirit not only gave birth to open source projects such as Linux and GNU, but also had a profound impact on Wikipedia. Wikipedia founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger were deeply influenced by this culture. They believe that technolog...

  Week 9 Reflection: When Truth Looks Real — Learning from Wikipedia Hoaxes Name: CHENYUNLIN When Truth Looks Real: Learning from Wikipedia Hoaxes In an age of overwhelming information, many people rely on Wikipedia as their go-to source for quick facts. But behind its open-editing model lies a surprising truth: some well-crafted hoaxes have managed to fool readers—and even the media—for years. Wikipedia’s list of hoaxes reveals just how convincing false information can be when it is written in an academic tone and supported by fake citations. Some entries, like Jar’Edo Wens , stayed online for nearly a decade without challenge. Others were translated into different languages, cited by books and articles, or even taught in classrooms. These hoaxes came from a variety of motives: amusement, social experiments, satire, or simply to test the limits of Wikipedia’s open system. Regardless of intent, the result was the same—misinformation that spread far and wide. Reading this list...

Week 8 Reflection: Reliable Sources  Name：CHENYUNLIN Summary: In Wikipedia’s editing system, “verifiability” is more important than “truth.” This means whatever you add must be supported by a reliable, third-party published source. Wikipedia’s standards for reliable sources include: Has the source been published? Is it a formal publication like a book, journal, or news media? Is there editorial oversight? Has the source undergone editorial review and fact-checking? Is it authoritative? Is the author an expert in the field and affiliated appropriately? Is the content original research or firsthand investigation? Original research is not suitable for Wikipedia. Is it a secondary source? Even when citing research, third-party independent analysis or commentary should be prioritized. Reflection: In the internet age, almost everyone has a platform to express opinions. However, Wikipedia’s standards do not deny the value of personal voices but emphasize that knowledge must be veri...