Remember Trans Europe Express? They had some big hits in the 1980s, including a song with the refrain “”Wiki, wiki, wiki, wiki.” Too bad they were not around long enough to enjoy the fruits of their labor….
Lets talk about wikis, who should contribute to them and what is the best way to manage mass collaboration. It’s not easy. Quite frankly, I have been impressed with the knowledge of many wiki contributors. They get it. And, they seem to research their topics before committing to the Web.
Having said that, I would never – ever – rely on a wiki as a primary source of information. I would never reference a wiki, base a thesis on a wiki, or overstate the information obtained through a wiki. I blame my legal training. But, it is important to know that the source of important information is an expert. Life is complicated and the decisions we make rest on the facts. The Web 2.o has opened a world of possibilities with regard to having access to information. During the past few months, I’ve been in wiki mode. But, I haven’t found information that is not otherwise available as a primary source.
I don’t think wikis should be exclusive to experts. If that were the case, they would become a redundant source of information. But, maybe they should include an attribution. I’m not trying to contact the wiki authors, but, if history is any guide, asking people to verify their claims is one way to en sure that you receive the highest level quality work. In turn, we would establish a solid floor for wikis, and, people like me, that will still seek the primary reference, can at least feel like they are at a more solid starting point.
