Want to know which is Wikipedia's 2000th Featured Article?

OK, this is not usual Long Sunday fare (but then what is?). However, right now I am extraordinarily proud of my students.

If you want to know why, look here, and then perhaps here.

Comments

[matt]

Inspiring work;bravo.

[Cornchops]

I'm not sure I'm as enthusiastic about this turn of events as you seem to be. No doubt new media are changing the nature of the scholarly enterprise. But is this to be the great triumph of the 21st Century, another universal encyclopedia? We'll have to invent a new term for philosophe, one that similarly characterizes that loosy-goosy allegiance to philosophy. File-o-softs?

"File-o-soppy": a 'file' (metaphorically speaking) that is in fact a soppy (ie. water-based, fleshy) storehouse of knowledge. Clickity-clack, the sound of knowledge production.

Let's not forget that Wikipedia is also home to articles on "East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry," "World of Warcraft," and "Highschool Musical," which are just as extensively researched as the article on "El Señor Presidente" and likely far more informative to the wikipedia readership.

Let's be frank. I love people, too, and when someone does something with (e-)paper that I'm proud of, I too feel the urge to post it on the (e-)fridge. But let's not exaggerate the nature of this achievement, lest it lower our sights still further. To hit our mark, however seldom it occurs, we must know, at least in outline, what we are aiming at. I think your project is lovely but I do not think it is Great. I'm writing this not to take the piss out of you but because I find this quote in praise of your work wildly overblown:

"This is a remarkable project, and a herculean task realized in the short time span of less than 15 weeks. Jon and his students are model for thinking, sharing and contributing with the open space of the internet. An important act of faith and intellectual responsibility. It is ever so impressive.” —Jim Groom

No, no, no.