Wikipedia

1) I don't really use Wikipedia that often. Like most people I never use it for school related research because ever since high school my teachers have told me not to. I do like to use it to look up random facts. Someone mentioned before that they usually Google search the topic first then click on the Wikipedia link and I do that too. I mostly use Wikipedia to learn things about bands I like or pop culture. I didn't know that people could edit Wikipedia so easily. I knew that it could be done but I figured it was a long complicated process.
2) I don't think that Wikipedia can conquer expertise. I don't think it's possible because of the fact that anyone can just come along and add/change information whenever they please. In the Schiff reading she talks about people getting into editing wars. How are we supposed to know who is right unless we double check other sources? There are also those people who edit stuff just to edit and they don't add any real content. Just because a page has been "updated" recently doesn't mean that it has actually been updated. I think Wikipedia is awesome and it's really cool that anyone can contribute but we aren't all experts. I wouldn't consider myself to be an expert on anything and I could edit a Wikipedia page if I wanted to.
3) When I read the Bilton piece it kind of opened my eyes a little. I guess I've never really thought about how there is so much sharing going on online. It's just something everyone does without thinking about it. That is what the internet is for. When I find something interesting online it's a natural reaction to share it with someone. I think people do it for free because it's fun. Why not share your ideas with the world free of charge? Why not post a video on your friends facebook wall? It's entertaining.