buZzWord! – Wikiality or "Wiki Mob Law"

Wikiality: n. Wikipedia + Reality = truth based on consensus rather than fact. The growin’ popularity of the encyclopedia, for which the pbulic writes and edits entries, gave rise to the term. Jaron Lanier expressed his doubts and concerns in an interview with german weekly “Der Spiegel”, that a collectiv (swarm intelligence) can create a sort of higher intelligence and superior opinion. This kind of thinking, as he explains, has lead in history to political disasters several times. Always when a “big one”, an idea of e.g. community, collectiv, nation or product, becomes more important than the individual, than the riks of totalirism winning are high. Wiki-mob law is dangerous, as the authors do not reveal their identiy and hide behind pseudonyms. As soon as the author reveals his identity, it will be easier to identify whether we get punked or a facts are distorted by propaganda. Digital structeres, he concludes, are technical standards and those can be deleted, but cannot evolve in contrast to man kind of human society. His nightmare: In 20 years from now, the majority will decide based on the arithmetic median of opinions. 1984 – here we come!

Leave a Comment