Wikipedia and its Credibility

In High School i was always told by my teachers to never use Wikipedia. I was always taught that it was not a realible source. but after reading teh "wikipedia" chapter in "New New Media" i was intrigued.

I Still don't believe wikipedia is a reliable source for getting information for formal presentations, projects, and papers. However for day to day use is seems helpful. But the fact that "2,750,000 articles written in english- none of those articles was written by an appointed expert" (Levinson 85).  After reading that it shocks me at how popular the website is, i mean why do people use this?

Then i got to thinking about that, why does everyone use this website? Its because everyone can , "one need not have an account to edit on wikipedia" (Levinson  93). Anyone with internet connection has access to the website and is able to toy with it.

So with that thought people might not use it as a #1 reliable source but that fact that anyone can use it must be appealing to people  and thats why its so popular.

However Wikipedia still seems to me sketchy for information, after the whole pickle vs. Pericles" story levinson told , it is just proof that not everyone uses wikipedia to get the right information out there, it could just be one big prank for some people.

Even though "the experts found an average of four inaccuracies  per wikipedia article and three per Britannica article" (Levinson 93).  I still find that the fact ANYONE and use wikipedia and edit it is much less creditable than an actual encyclopedia.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever edited on wikipedia? have you ever used it as a reliable source?

Steve Carell expresses his feelings about wikipedia in an episode of The Office in a sarcastic way, here is the short clip.

Advertising and Bloging

Paul Levinsons, "New New Media" the book we are reading in class.

 After reading the second chapter in Paul Levinson' "New New Media", Levinson discuses advertising in blogging.  After reading i had to disagree with the thoughts of advertising in blogging. To me, it seems like blogging should be a an ad-freee environment, it is supposed to be your thoughts.

       It seems bis to me to be blogging and have to cater to advertisers, it seems like it could sway your blog. Jeff Jarvis, creator of entertainment weekly, says "The advertisers are trying to buy a bloggers voice and once they've bought it they own it".

     This statement struck me and i would have to agree with it. Blogging needs to be an individuals on voice and an advertisements are distracting and messy.

 Blogging is meant to me simple and for entertainment, when it becomes a business and profit hungry thing, it can become fore difficult.

    Levinstion also stated Jervis saying " money puts literal words in bloggers mouths- or via their fingers in their blogs" (levinson 33).

 As a new blogger I know i do not have that much experience, however it just is more appealing for me to read a more personable blog then one splattered in advertisements.

 What are your thoughts? Does good blogging have ads? does it even matter? Do you find it distracting when a blog is covered with ads?

Here is a list of some popular blogs, most of them do have advertising. However i find it less personable and disorganized. The ads are a distraction from your blogs thoughts.

Just a funny cartoon on blogs.

Why "New New" Media?

in our new book we are reading in class called "New New Media" by Paul Levinson. We are introduced on "new new media" and the difference between "new media" and "new new media". Levinson discuses many different types of media, mainly he focuses on  Facebook, blogging, YouTube, Wikipedia, Myspace, Digg, Secondlife, Twitter, and podcasts.

      Levinson shows us how many new types of media have sprung up  in the past 10 years, and how 4 years ago there were not even some of the things that we use today in media.
     "One of the defining characteristics of new media- clear since they arose over a decade ago in the mid-1990s-is that people can use, enjoy and benefit from them on the users rather then the medium's timetable, once the content has been posted online" (Levinson 3).

    We see that in todays society the user is able to use media his/her own way. We no longer have to wait for the morning newspaper or for a specific time to watch a t.v. show or listen to a radio show, we can record our television shows on our DVRs and TiVos. We can look up podcasts and newspaper articles online We are able to control what media we use on our own time. Media has become more convient for users. In this video levinson discusses more new media ideas.

     Basically new media today is changing everyday and being updated to for the consumers needs. We are able to access what we want where we want, all because of new new media.

Growing up online

I wouldn’t consider myself an active online user. I have a Facebook page, email, and that’s basically all I use for my personal enjoyment. After watching frontlines “growing up online” It made me somewhat angry. Yes it is more common for teens to have some sort of social networking site, its just normal. However when adults try to prevent and protect us from it sometimes it can be overkill.

 Like the story of the one mother and her son, if that was my mother I would lock her in a closet. Seriously that woman needs to learn that the more she tries to pull in her kids the more they will want to pull away. 

Not all kids are online doing bad things if they are good kids with good morals they won’t be getting into trouble. I personally feel like I have come from a good family background and I have good morals I know what is right from wrong when putting things online. My friends and I have even mocked people who try and post ‘provocative’ pictures of them selves, it is not seen as ‘cool’ it is seen as trashy.

Most of the kids that get in trouble online are ones that don’t have a solid home life. The reason these kids use the Internet to escape is that there is something in their lives they are escaping form. It isn’t the Internets fault.

            The Internet is definitely a huge part of our generation but since we grew up with it, us kids are aware of the dangers and know the rights from wrong.