Rerun : Wikipedia launched with the cheery words “Hello World!” on 15th January, 2001.

The project arrived almost by accident, as the side-project of a more serious effort by tech entrepreneur Jimmy Wales to create an online encyclopedia called Nupedia.

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why before Wikipedia came about Wales briefly peddled pornography; discuss why 9/11 was unexpectedly beneficial to Wikipedia’s growth; and reveal how many times Olly watched the Hindenburg disaster on Encarta 95… 

Further Reading:

• ‘Fail study: Jimmy Wales and Nupedia’ (Wired, 2011): https://www.wired.co.uk/article/fail-study-jimmy-wales

• ‘Wikipedia's 20, but how credible is it?’ (DW.com, 2021): https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-as-wikipedia-turns-20-how-credible-is-it/a-56228222

• ‘Wikipedia - Behind the Encyclopedia’ (Company Man, 2021): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6TTLZzEQHo

This episode first premiered in 2022, for members of 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!

We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors

The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.

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