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48: Wikipedia w/ Annie Rauwerda, The First Boring Number, and Perpetual Stew
Sep 28, 2023
Annie Rauwerda discusses the history of Wikipedia and the concept of boring numbers. They explore the evolution of encyclopedias, the limitations of the Wikipedia interface, and the enduring impact of Wikipedia. They also delve into the controversy of editing a Wikipedia page and share their experience of creating a perpetual stew.
01:34:43
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Quick takeaways
- Wikipedia's origin story reveals its transformation from a failed pornographic web ring to a user-edited, free encyclopedia.
- The concept of the first boring number (268) highlights the psychology and sociology surrounding numbers and their perceived significance.
Deep dives
The Origins of Wikipedia and the Birth of the First Boring Number
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, started as a web ring called Newpedia, which featured subscription-based soft-core pornography. However, Newpedia failed to gain traction. Out of desperation, Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger decided to create a free encyclopedia called Wikipedia, where anyone could edit the content. In its early days, Wikipedia saw rapid growth as people enjoyed contributing articles. However, the content lacked depth and had biases, with a focus on certain topics. Spanish Wikipedia even split from the main project due to concerns of potential advertisement. Despite financial struggles, Wikipedia managed to survive with an influx of donations, leading to its continued success and establishment as a nonprofit foundation. Through the years, Wikipedia has expanded in various languages and remained committed to the idea of free knowledge. Currently, it faces challenges related to AI usage and disinformation, prompting discussions to ensure the accuracy and credibility of its content.
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