Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 12:56:36 -0500
From: Steve Abrams <sapuppets-AT-gmail.com>
To: puptcrit <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Subject: [Puptcrit] wikipedia


Here is why I think  we should pay more attention to wikipedia.

On many google searches, wikipedia is the first or second or third source to
be presented.

If you google the word  "puppeteer" wikipedia comes up first.

To the casual internet surfer, and almost everyone under 40, wikipedia is
most likely to be the first source that will be consulted. It is a window
through which a lot of the world might be taking its first look into the
world of puppetry.

Individuals on puptcrit  might be able to help make wikipedia a more
accurate representation of puppetry.
I would love to see articles on wikipedia about Rufus and Margo Rose, Martin
and Olga Stevens, Remo Bufano, Jan Bussell, Waldo Lanchester  just to name a
few who are not there.

There is a  wikipedia article on Tony Sarg but his name is not on the
wikipedia list of "notable professional puppeteers"
Someone with a working knowledge of the quirks of wikipedia might be able to
make that missing connection

Wikipedia  has a page "adult puppeteering" Only 9 companies are named. The
names listed are excellent but not even close to comprehensive

Yes wikipedia sometimes gets things wrong or gives a distorted picture.
 People love to roll their eyes and use it as an example of  how the
internet is not always the best source. Im one of those people. I complain
about it, I use it sometimes, and then look for other sources, but I am not
at all sure that ignoring the problems with wikipedia is the best strategy.


There are other internet puppetry wikis out there too.. Wapedia has a puppet
wiki and there is a separate Muppet wiki  each with its own style and own
quirks.

There is discussion of building a better wiki, that's fine but
I think wikipedia is here to stay, and I think it will continue to be a
place that many people will look at first.

Why dont we pitch in and help to make wikipedia better?
Make it a better representation of the world of puppetry

If we want the general public to be better informed about puppetry then why
not put the information where the general public already tends to look for
things?

It would be interesting  to hear (on list or off list) from puptcritters who
have had success adding things to wikipedia.
Maybe if puptcritters have had experience with wikipedia, they could help to
make it a better reference.
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