Wikipedia and the Two-thirds World ::

Jimmy Wales founder of Wikipedia was reported widely (e.g. on BoingBoing and SlashDot) as saying that the totally open encyclopedia "may soon be available in print for readers in the developing world".

Stephen the Greenflame (in an email) pointed me to this cartoon. Which prompted me to think about other ways in which this is surely "stupid idea of the century". Think what a print edition of Wikipedia will cost, any estimates of the number of zeros? My guess is that (at least in NZ$ if not in greenbacks) you'll need three. Now, for $1,000 you could get a cheap PC, with a DVD of Wikipedia, which could be updated every six months for peanuts. A print Wikipedia is inappropriate technology!

Jimmy, don't take something that (almost?) works and by imitating the past make it a useless prestige project - because that's what a print Wiki would be! ¶ 6:50 AM [to Del.icio.us]

Wiki..... a dreadful little idea in the first place. It seems just completely bizarre to me that anyone take seriously the suggestion that Joe Blow on the street with an internet connection can contribute to an "encyclopedia" and that collection have any value at all. Joe may not know what he's talking about. And then along comes Sally Ax-to-Grind and she corrupts Joe's corrupted entry- "improving" it. It's just dreadful. And then to suggest that the whole hodgepodge of mis- and semi- information be subjected to print- or better, that paper be subjected to it... A genuine crime against nature (trees) that!

By  Jim, at November 7, 2005 9:09 AM  

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