Youtube, wikipedia, urbandictionary, etc. and freeloading
 

We can all agree that the internet is for porn.

This question, however, relates to the 1.3% or so of the internet that is not hardcore gonzo porn.

Basically, you have webpages set up primarily as commercial services--your amazons, wal-marts, etc. Those are easy enough to explain.

You also, however, have some webpages that are set up primarialy as community information centers. They may make some ad revenue, but they are pretty much there to collect community knowledge. I am thinking here of sites (like in the title) like youtube, urbandictionary, wikipedia, etc. Sites where people know something cool, or have a cool file, and take the time to put it up on the web for the general public to access.

I find myself using those sites more and more. When someone was posting on the board the other day about an intentional walk pitch that was hit into the outfield, I went right to youtube to watch it. When I hear a term I don't understand, I go right to urbandictionary or wikipedia.

And, most times, they have just what I need. And, I find myself getting upset when they don't.

That said, I have never added something to any of these community knowledge sites--and I have no real plans to. I have nothing against adding information to the internet. I just don't want to be bothered to take the time.

I wonder, however, who the people are who maintain these sites, and whether they will eventually get tired of doing it. I am, shamelessly, freeloading off their efforts. What do they get from it? What motivates someone to put cool stuff on youtube? Why don't they just send it to their friends? Is there a presteige value to being one of the main contributors to such a thing? Is that enough to keep people doing it?

Basically, what is the dynamic (psycological, economic, etc.) that is causing people to provide me with all of these cool videos and knowledge--and is it sustainable?

2/3

I think wikipedia is an unbelievably great concept... I'm floored that it ever got enough momentum to reach a critical mass, but now that it (obviously) has, I think it's one of the greatest things I've ever seen.

besides free porn. right?

Well, yeah. I was just following along with the silly premise of where we'd focus in this thread.

The porn thing wasn't even that funny of a throwaway joke. Certainly not worth letting my own thread get threadjacked before it started. Oh well, my own silly fault for dropping a p-bomb. Hard to ignore, those.

Agreed. And I have no idea who takes the time to write those articles. I can't imagine being bothered with it.

For what it's worth, I have often wondered this same thing. I think there are some people that get a little thrill out of contributing to these things. They think people will see their names next to a bunch of important contributions and eventually think, man that xxxx guy is great! Always on the ball with these contributions. So tireless!

Who knows really. I, too, am a fan of it, though.

People love to teach others about things that they care about.

Isn't that similar to people who blog? I've never, ever, ever read a blog. Don't plan on starting. But, I imagine there are people who tireless add their thoughts to their blog daily, for all the world to read, and get some satisfaction out of it.

Therein lies the greatness. No one person has to write the long articles. Someone starts with a definition, and the user community adds, edits, and changes the entry. No one person has to be an expert, it's a collective effort.

I have no idea who writes the Wikipedia articles I read, and I've never bothered to check. So, I doubt they're getting much recognition out of this.

My guess is that they're posted by people (probably students and academics) who have already written papers on the topics for other reasons, and are sharing the work because it really doesn't take any more effort on their part.

Wikipedia is an interesting site for sure. Just check out the article history to get a sense of how the articles are built.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...action=history

wait a sec...

I haven't ever contributed to wiki. And I don't know anyone who has... And from the sounds of it, you guys don't either.

If no one we know is contributing, and wiki includes a crapload of information, then this is all leading to the logical conclusion that wiki is completely written by either (1) aliens or (2) god

.wow.

It is interesting to see how many updates are done just to remove vandalism. Keep in mind as you use these sites that they are user-created and will not stand up to academic scrutiny. They are great bits of information and can teach quite a bit, but don't ever try to cite them as sources for anything else.

This thread is perfect, it was a lunch conversation I just had with a co-worker. I think wikipedia is the most amazing site I've ever seen. I can easily say I spend 1 hour a day on the site, minimum. I'll often just find myself reading link-to-link, ending up in places I hadn't anticipated.


Now, I've never contributed anything major to the site, but I have made minor corrections or additions from time to time. Maybe I should set out to seriously add (or create) a page on soemthing at some point.



I agree with every word. I'm both amazed it worked, and floored by how good it is (and getting better every day).

you forgot baseball players from Ghana...

These days I read it instead of a book before I go to bed. I love the following the links.

the people who contribute to these sites can't believe this is a forum which started as a place to discuss text football simulation (which is also beyond them) and has turned into an eclectic catch all of discussion. and its members come here every day - 99% of the world finds this site totally absurd.

also, I read this morning that YouTube has reached an agreement with NBC to promote their fall lineup (http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news.php?newsId=3777) Youtube is without a doubt a very commercial oriented site.

some night you should add that werewolves don't drive

It's pretty cool that someone even took the time out to put a small write-up about the game on there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_Office_Football

Do you know for a fact though?

Oh, I'm farily certain. No video has ever been produced of a driving werewolf as a werewolf. They even got it right on Seinfeld in the one where Jerry was itchy with his chest hair. Notice, he was on a bus and Kramer was driving.

Anyone know if that's an acurate statement?

Since Token Asian Guy has disappeared you may want to revise the diverse part.

Barkeep49 was one of the editors.

We shall soon find out.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?q...-&msgr_status=

Be clear that it is when they are the werewolf.

No way the American Werewolf in London was driving.

That's what is called a hunch. You've got no hard evidence, man!

Nor do you, Mr. Scott Drove To THE Prom.

There are some very wise comments on that page. Certain people should take note.

I would say that in terms of size and diversity, we are certainly among the top 95% of forums.

I'm not buying your teen wolf hocus pocus. the majority will say not in human form.

It may depend on your definition of forum too. As in, do you count every intance of VB, EasyBoard, PHPB, etc. installed anywhere on the internet? Then I'd say you're probably right, but then IHOF's Message Board might fit in the top 95% under that criteria.

Well, we sure as hell won't forget soccer players from Ghana.

I'm the Jeeber of IHOF.

snicker....

I always like comparing versions on wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...oldid=43342883

So is IHOF Jeeber the cthomer5000 of FOFC?

Sounds like we have a confirmation.

marie l:

"Yes, I've seen them on the freeway."

You just blew my mind...

From Wikipedia

LAFF

It's being researched right now by top scientists. We really don't know what he is. And we certainly dont know what I become if Jeeber someday becomes the Jeeber of IHOF.

Teve Torbes would be proud.

Contributors to wikipedia-type sites are, to a lesser degree, the same sort of people who man the volunteer fire companies and ambulance corps. They see something to which they can contribute and they simply do it.

I admire these sorts of folks, but I have no attention span to

It could also be an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters.

It probably is... "top 95%" is a pretty low bar. :)

People running these websites do have the opportunity of a payday down the road as witnessed by Jump the Shark being sold to TV Guide recently for well over a mil. That site was run by one guy.

Stuff like this makes me sad. Such a silly little idea for a website...why couldn't that have been my silly little idea? :(

Someone got it...

He wasn't alone.


What is scary is that I have spent the last few nights reading Wiki, jumping from page to page as cthomer described...reading up on comic book characters.

*shudders*